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Map of Sand Harbor (Diver's Cove)
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IntermediateShore entry

Sand Harbor (Diver's Cove)

Nevada, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggestedALTITUDE DIVING3–27 m (10–90 ft) depthShore entry

Sand Harbor (Diver's Cove) at a glance

Sand Harbor (Diver's Cove) is an intermediate shore dive site in Nevada, United States with depths of 3–27.4 m (10–90 ft). Typically most favorable Jul–Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Lake trout (mackinaw), Crayfish (crawdads), and Rainbow trout. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Next window today· 8:00–19:00 · favorable & moderate · sunset 18:07

Wind forecast for this hour · 4:00 · run 6 h ago
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Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: ALTITUDE DIVING

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Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Wed
Sun8:00–15:00 favorable, 15:00–19:00 moderate

12 kn wind (12 kn wind)

Mon18:00–19:00 favorable

21 kn wind (21 kn wind)

Tue8:00–13:00 favorable, 13:00–16:00 moderate, 16:00–19:00 favorable

9 kn wind (9 kn wind)

Wed8:00–15:00 favorable, 15:00–16:00 moderate, 16:00–19:00 favorable

7 kn wind (7 kn wind)

Thu8:00–12:00 favorable, 12:00–15:00 moderate, 17:00–18:00 moderate, 18:00–19:00 favorable

13 kn wind (13 kn wind)

Fri8:00–9:00 favorable, 9:00–10:00 moderate

10 kn wind (10 kn wind)

SatNot in the forecast yet

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 6:52 · Sunrise 7:20 · Sunset 18:07 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo wind · updated 24 Oct, 22:26 GMT-7

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Sand Harbor (Diver's Cove)

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: Crayfish (crawdads), Tahoe sucker
Best time: Year-round; weekday mornings in summer to beat crowds, or fall/winter/spring for empty parking and the best visibility. Expect open water classes on weekends except mid-winter.

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, 91% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 6 knots
  2. February, 88% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 8 knots
  3. March, 86% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 9 knots
  4. April, 98% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 8 knots
  5. May, 94% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots
  6. June, 98% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots
  7. July, 100% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 100% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots, historically most favorable
  9. September, 98% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 9 knots
  10. October, 98% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 8 knots
  11. November, 97% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 6 knots
  12. December, 88% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 6 knots

July and August have 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 June 2026

Site details

Diver's Cove at Sand Harbor, in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, is the lake's most popular dive site: a sheltered, buoy-marked cove averaging about 30 ft deep with giant granite boulders and pass-throughs, a PVC buoyancy obstacle course, a small sunken barge, a Project Baseline monitoring station and other man-made oddities. Beyond the swim buoys a sandy hill slopes quickly into deeper water with large sunken trees and rocky outcrops (a sunken motorcycle lies off nearby Sand Point in about 90 ft). The gently sloping beach makes entries easy, but at ~6,225 ft elevation this is altitude diving, and Nevada requires a dive flag. Arrive before the 8 a.m. opening in summer - parking fills fast.

reefshorewreck

ALTITUDE DIVING — Lake Tahoe surface is ~1,900 m (6,225 ft) - altitude tables/computer altitude mode and conservative ascents required. Boat traffic from two adjacent boat ramps when outside the buoy-marked cove (NV dive flag law applies). Cold water year-round below the thermocline. Sandy slope beyond the swim buoys drops off quickly into deep water. Summer crowds on the beach and in the parking lot.

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