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Map of Lake Sakakawea (Garrison Dam area)
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Lake Sakakawea (Garrison Dam area)

North Dakota, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested2 m (5 ft) depthBoth entry

Lake Sakakawea (Garrison Dam area) at a glance

Lake Sakakawea (Garrison Dam area) is a both dive site in North Dakota, United States with depths of from 1.5 m (5 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Northern pike, Painted turtle, and Smallmouth bass. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 19:00 · sunset 18:39

Wind forecast for this hour · 10:00 · run 9 h ago
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Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Wind and waves on a very large lake, cold water below the thermocline, boat traffic

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Sat
Sun9:00–19:00 favorable

5 kn wind (5 kn wind)

Mon9:00–19:00 favorable

8 kn wind (8 kn wind)

Tue9:00–16:00 favorable, 16:00–17:00 moderate, 17:00–19:00 favorable

10 kn wind (10 kn wind)

Wed16:00–18:00 moderate

14 kn wind (14 kn wind)

Thu9:00–19:00 favorable

5 kn wind (5 kn wind)

Fri9:00–14:00 moderate, 14:00–19:00 favorable

9 kn wind (9 kn wind)

Sat9:00–19:00 favorable

4 kn wind (4 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 7:48 · Sunrise 8:19 · Sunset 18:39 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo wind · updated 25 Oct, 00:23 GMT-5

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Lake Sakakawea (Garrison Dam area)

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.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Northern pike, Crayfish, Walleye
Best time: July and August (water in the 60s F, calmer winds)

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. January, 62% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  2. February, 56% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots
  3. March, 62% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots
  4. April, 46% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 15 knots
  5. May, 57% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  6. June, 64% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  7. July, 74% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 12 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 71% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 12 knots
  9. September, 73% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 12 knots
  10. October, 54% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots
  11. November, 66% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  12. December, 68% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots

July has typically 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

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

The third-largest reservoir in the US, formed by Garrison Dam on the Missouri River, and the standard open-water training and fun-dive lake for North Dakota's dive community. Water near the dam face is the clearest in the river system (15-20 ft on good days), and shallow bays hold aquatic grass beds sheltering fish, turtles and crayfish, with rock formations and fossils on the lake bed. Lake Sakakawea State Park near Pick City provides ramps and shore access.

boatshore

Wind and waves on a very large lake, cold water below the thermocline, boat traffic

Reviews

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