Meeks Bay - Lake Tahoe - Meeks Bay CA

Meeks Bay - Lake Tahoe is a shore accessible fresh water dive site, located at 7941 Emerald Bay Road, Meeks Bay, CA 94612. This dive site has an average rating of 3.70 out of 5 from 10 scuba divers. The maximum depth is over 150ft/46m. The average visibility is 71-80ft/22-24m.

10 miles south of Tahoe City and 8 Miles North of Emerald Bay on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. There is a daily parking fee, ranging from $6-10, depending on the time of year.

The office opens at 8am and they DO check your parking passes.

Lake Tahoe is considered an altitude dive as it at about 6,200 elevation. Shore entry with a buoy line about 100 yards out, so motorized vehicles are supposed to stay out (I have see jet skis within the buoys though).

It’s only about 10-12 ft deep at the buoys, but, there is a sloping drop off. I went over 100 ft deep and never even saw the bottom.

At 35+ ft. you can sometimes see Crawdads and small fish, lots of old tree limbs.

Be careful of swimmers from the shore to the buoys and make sure you give yourself room on the beach, as others will close in on you.

Good place for a beginner to dive or some new who wants to practice skills.

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Comments

Brendin - 8/10/2014 12:06 PM

I went scuba diving here on 7/25/2009. Average viz: 26-30ft/8-9m.

Brendin - 8/10/2014 12:00 PM

I went scuba diving here on 7/20/2008. Average viz: 36-40ft/11-12m.

Brendin - 8/10/2014 11:55 AM

I went scuba diving here on 7/19/2009. Average viz: 31-35ft/9-11m.

Smithsgold - 8/05/2014 1:22 PM

I went scuba diving here on 8/3/2014. Average viz: 71-80ft/22-24m. Water temp: 61-65°F/16-18°C.

Canthon - 4/08/2013 5:09 PM

I went scuba diving here on 8/5/2012. Average viz: 71-80ft/22-24m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
Had the BSA join us for some trining and completing the Open Water Dives. All in all it was good. A little challenging because a couple were young but still wanted to do it and succeeded.

Canthon - 4/08/2013 5:07 PM

I went scuba diving here on 8/4/2012. Average viz: 71-80ft/22-24m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
Another great set of Dives. Surprisingly not too many people at the beach. An idiot Boat decided to camp out and tie off on our Dive Bouy! REALLY! She was quite startled when I surfaced next to hear and blew my AIR Whistle! She about jumped pverboard it was really funny. After that, the sherif came to assist with the boater issue and distancing them from our bouy and the swinm line.

Green_Achers - 4/10/2013 7:16 AM

I would have cut their line. Odd that the Sheriff bothered because on the California side of Tahoe, there’s no law to keep a boat away from a dive buoy/flag. It’s only illegal if it was a ski flag or if they hit a swimmer (diver). On the Navada side of the lake, they would have been cited. Either way, they’d have a cut tie-off line.

Canthon - 4/08/2013 4:50 PM

I went scuba diving here on 8/3/2012. Average viz: 71-80ft/22-24m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.

We got to the lake to have a little R&R. The weather was incredible and couldnt have been any better. The surface was 88 degrees and at 98 feet it was as usual incredible.

Renee was having difficulty with her computer and was overly focused on it and was not paying attention to her slipping into the abyss. I quickly reacted and scooped her out of the darkness while she was trying to dunp air not even realizing I had just pulled her from dropping while we are leaving. Potential accident avoided - remember to dive with a buddy (one that cares at least).

Canthon - 4/06/2013 3:36 PM

I went scuba diving here on 9/23/2011. Average viz: 71-80ft/22-24m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
came across an old engine block and some pulleys. Lots of huge timbers in the middle of the bowl. Havent been to the north side just yet but lots to explore.

Canthon - 4/06/2013 3:31 PM

I went scuba diving here on 9/23/2011. Average viz: 61-70ft/19-21m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C.
Not much to see. An occasional curious trout or a big crawdad. Thermocline at 60 and at 80. Very intense thick thermocline at 80 - very cool to see.

Canthon - 4/06/2013 3:27 PM

I went scuba diving here on 9/23/2011. Average viz: 11-15ft/3-5m. Water temp: 61-65°F/16-18°C.
This was really fun to watch the little blue fish dart in and out. The Trout and mackinaw would cruise in and around us as we lit up the crawdads on the floor. Dash this way, dart that way oh how exhilarating! The three of us gathered enough crawdads to make a feast. It must have also be quite a scene to have been on shore watching the lights dancing all over the place. As we surfaced and began walking out cheers and clapping were heard by a couple sitting on the beach listening to some music.

This is a must for all levels. Incredible fun if you want to experience a different side of Tahoe!

Canthon - 4/01/2013 7:25 PM

Rating Added: 4
It is a great place for a night dive. Bring a goody bag and a boiling pot, plenty of Crawdads for a feast! Viz was greater than one could see. On the south side at 95 feet there is a sunken runabout. If you look up you can see the sun peaking into the water. Must dive - just for the euphoria. It only lacks challenge. Daytime if you stay to the rims you will see a little life - at night it really comes alive.

Smithsgold - 10/13/2009 12:42 AM

Get there early if you go there on the weekend during the Summer !!!

rdruhip1 - 3/31/2009 10:33 AM

I was at 65’ and vis was probably 80’ go to the north point where the rocks are and you could see trout. bring at least a 7 mil with hood

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