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Map of Elephant Butte Reservoir
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IntermediateBoth

Elephant Butte Reservoir

New Mexico, United States
Open Water suggested3–46 m depthBoth entry

Elephant Butte Reservoir at a glance

Elephant Butte Reservoir is a intermediate both dive site in New Mexico, United States with depths of 3–45.7 m (10–150 ft). Typically most favorable Dec · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Channel catfish, Walleye, and White bass. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Wind model · graded 2h ago
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Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Very poor to zero visibility, especially below 30 ft; heavy summer boat and PWC traffic; fluctuating water levels; entanglement on lost fishing tackle.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Thu
Sun7:00–18:00
Mon7:00–21:00
Tue7:00–20:00
Wed7:00–21:00
Thu7:00–21:00
Fri7:00–21:00
Sat—

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:50 · Sunrise 6:18 · Sunset 20:12

Source: Open-Meteo wind · graded 2h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

What Divers Say

Known for: Channel catfish, White bass, Common carp
Best time: Cooler months after boating season when sediment settles; only in higher water years.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. Jan65% 13 kn
  2. Feb44% 15 kn
  3. Mar27% 17 kn
  4. Apr33% 17 kn
  5. May25% 17 kn
  6. Jun38% 15 kn
  7. Jul65% 13 kn
  8. Aug73% 12 kn
  9. Sep79% 12 kn
  10. Oct69% 13 kn
  11. Nov74% 11 kn
  12. Dec83% 11 kn

December hastypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

  • Channel catfishCommonly seen
  • WalleyeOccasionally seen
  • White bassCommonly seen
  • Largemouth bassOccasionally seen
  • Common carpCommonly seen

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.

Site details

New Mexico's largest-capacity reservoir on the Rio Grande, named for the volcanic core island near the dam, with maximum depths over 150 feet. It was historically a regional dive destination — divers explore volcanic rock around the butte from shore or rented boats — but years of low water have stirred fine sediment so that visibility is now often only ~3 feet, dropping to near zero below 30 feet. It remains open to diving but is generally regarded as a poor-visibility novelty dive today.

boatmuckshore

Very poor to zero visibility, especially below 30 ft; heavy summer boat and PWC traffic; fluctuating water levels; entanglement on lost fishing tackle.

Reviews

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