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Map of West Lake Okoboji (Arnolds Park / Pillsbury Point)
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IntermediateBoth

West Lake Okoboji (Arnolds Park / Pillsbury Point)

Iowa, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested3–42 m (10–136 ft) depthBoth entry

West Lake Okoboji (Arnolds Park / Pillsbury Point) at a glance

West Lake Okoboji (Arnolds Park / Pillsbury Point) is an intermediate both dive site in Iowa, United States with depths of 3–41.5 m (10–136 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see White bass, Northern pike, and Bluegill. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

No window today· next: tomorrow 10:00–14:00 · favorable & moderate

Wind forecast for this hour · 20:00 · run 20 h ago
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Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Heavy summer boat traffic, multiple thermoclines, reduced summer visibility, cold water below the thermocline

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

SunNo window

9 kn wind (9 kn wind)

Mon10:00–11:00 moderate, 11:00–12:00 favorable, 12:00–14:00 moderate, 15:00–19:00 moderate

12 kn wind (12 kn wind)

Tue9:00–18:00 moderate

10 kn wind (10 kn wind)

Wed11:00–12:00 moderate, 12:00–19:00 favorable

10 kn wind (10 kn wind)

Thu8:00–10:00 moderate, 10:00–19:00 favorable

10 kn wind (10 kn wind)

Fri8:00–13:00 favorable, 13:00–16:00 moderate

9 kn wind (9 kn wind)

Sat8:00–15:00 favorable, 15:00–17:00 moderate, 17:00–19:00 favorable

10 kn wind (10 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 7:17 · Sunrise 7:47 · Sunset 18:21 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo wind · updated 25 Oct, 00:27 GMT-5

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near West Lake Okoboji (Arnolds Park / Pillsbury Point)

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: White bass, Bluegill, Yellow perch
Best time: Spring and fall for visibility; summer for warmth (5/4/3 mm wetsuit most of year, drysuit in winter/early spring)

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, 61% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  2. February, 58% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots
  3. March, 49% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots
  4. April, 34% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 16 knots
  5. May, 63% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  6. June, 61% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 12 knots
  7. July, 82% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 81% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots
  9. September, 79% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots
  10. October, 57% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  11. November, 64% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  12. December, 69% 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 June 2026

Site details

West Lake Okoboji is a 3,800+ acre glacial lake and the clearest, deepest natural lake in Iowa, with visibility ranging from about 12 ft in summer to 40-70 ft in winter and early spring. Popular dives include three submerged pipelines (Pillsbury Point, the Milford Tower and The Inn), a truck that fell through the ice in the 1940s in Smith's Bay, scattered boat remains, and rocky points with drop-offs. Most aquatic life is seen between 10 and 40 ft, though the lake bottoms out around 136 ft.

boatshorewreck

Heavy summer boat traffic, multiple thermoclines, reduced summer visibility, cold water below the thermocline

Reviews

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