About Who's Been Here Dive Log Revisions Knight’s Ferry Bridge 17968 Covered Bridge Rd, Knight’s Ferry, CA 95361 (209) 881-3517 | More Info Max Depth: 21-25ft/6-8m Average Viz: 91-100ft/28-30m Entry Type: Shore Bottom Composition: Rock Aquatic Life: Plenty To See Rating: 2.50 by 2 divers Spring: 50-55°F/10-13°C Summer: 66-70°F/19-21°C Fall: 61-65°F/16-18°C Winter: 50-55°F/10-13°C Green_Achers: Avg Viz: 71-80ft/22-24m. Water Temp: 56-60°F/13-16°C. 9/08/2017 Green_Achers: Avg Viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water Temp: 56-60°F/13-16°C. 7/16/2016 Green_Achers: Avg Viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water Temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C. 10/02/2015 10/05/2015 7:58 PM Green_Achers

Knight’s Ferry Bridge is a shore accessible fresh water dive site, located at 17968 Covered Bridge Rd, Knight’s Ferry, CA 95361. This dive site has an average rating of 2.50 out of 5 from 2 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 21-25ft/6-8m. The average visibility is 91-100ft/28-30m.

Knights Ferry Bridge is the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi at 330 feet (100 m) in length. It’s listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The river it spans is the Stanislaus river and is fed by New Melones Dam. Not far down stream is the put-in for class I-II rafting (there are a couple rental companies there through the summer). There is a small rapids up stream of this dive location. The river can rise 20+ feet as the dam releases more water. The minimum depth at the bridge is ~20 feet, so that can become 40+ feet of water.

Generally, the water flow is slow at the bridge, due to the depth and width of the river at this location. Diving can be challenging as the water flow increases (controlled my New Melones Dam). You can see all the varieties of river fish (some seasonal runs), tons of crawdads, few freshwater clams, other wild life such as tadpoles to frogs, mosses, etc. This is in the mother lode, so gold is available to a skilled or lucky prospector [verify the laws before prospecting here].

Comments

Kkbk - 6/26/2022 9:17 PM Rating Added: 3 I was here back in the early 90’s. At the time, it was a fun drift dive. I have not been there since but hope it’s just as good and I hope to do it again some day.

Green_Achers - 9/08/2017 10:21 PM I went scuba diving here on 9/8/2017. Average viz: 71-80ft/22-24m. Water temp: 56-60°F/13-16°C. Salvage dive with detectors.

Green_Achers - 7/17/2016 8:40 PM I went scuba diving here on 7/16/2016. Average viz: 51-60ft/16-18m. Water temp: 56-60°F/13-16°C. This was our third salvage dive today and boy was the 58 degree snow melt water cold (due to the current flushing away all heat our bodies generated). Not super worth the effort today, but you never know until you try.

Green_Achers - 10/05/2015 8:24 PM I went scuba diving here on 10/2/2015. Average viz: 91-100ft/28-30m. Water temp: 66-70°F/19-21°C. This was our first river dive and at this location. Bobby was well rewarded. It had been a long time since the McKim’s last diving, so this was mostly a retraining mission.

Green_Achers - 10/05/2015 8:04 PM Rating Added: 2 While there are plenty of places one can dive, this location may not be one you’d select for several reasons. The hike in/out makes this a tough dive. Also the river has current so that could further tire a diver. However, there are certain benefits to a diver that’s aware... so I think it’s all worth the efforts.