Lake Tahoe · United States · Freshwater · Sand slope
Zephyr Cove
Flat sand, old bottles, and an easy entry for new divers
Area photo: Jeff Hopper jeffhopper · CC0
Zephyr Cove is a Nevada-shore beach entry into 6 to 8 m of water over a flat bottom, mostly sand with larger groups of rocks clustered to the north. It suits newer divers, and old bottles have been found here, which gives it a following among divers who go looking for them. Boat traffic is heavy, so the diving stays by the dock pilings at the north end of the beach.
Where it is and how deep
39.0060° N, 119.9472° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
Site maps published elsewhere
The dive
Turn right as you come into Zephyr Cove for the north parking lot, where the fee runs $10 to $25 and there are clean restrooms and picnic tables near the shore. Enter from the sandy beach and the water drops off gradually to a flat bottom of roughly 6 to 8 m (20 to 25 ft) further into the cove. Use the dock pilings at the north border of the beach as your reference — staying near them is the safe line here, and it is not advisable to dive south of the beach area.
The bottom is mostly sand, but it is not featureless: larger groups of rocks are clustered to the north, and the ever-changing composition is what makes the site hold up for experienced divers as well as for people on their first dives after certification. Old bottles have been found here, so it also has a following among divers who go looking for them. Boat traffic is heavy, so tow a dive flag — the law is strictly enforced here and everywhere else on the Nevada side of the lake.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Off-season | Off-season |
Season follows Lake Tahoe: Prime months run July to September; shore access such as D.L. Bliss State Park closes to vehicles once snow sets in, and deep water stays near 4°C even at the height of summer.
Know before you go
- Heavy boat traffic through the cove: tow the required dive flag, which is strictly enforced here, and keep out of the water south of the beach area entirely.
Sources
- Lake Tahoe Dive Sites — Sierra Diving Center
- Zephyr Cove — OpenStreetMap
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