Lake Pleasant is one of the most popular lakes in Arizona for scuba diving. Located near Phoenix, this lake is always changing and offers many secluded coves that make for an interesting dive. The lake has a good thermocline and a maximum depth of over 150 feet. The average air temperature in summer is 81 to 85 degrees. Shore diving and boat diving are available at this lake, which has a sand and rock bottom. The topography on the bottom of the lake is beautiful and marine life is abundant.
Davis Wash, on the Apache River in Maricopa County, is a nicely secluded lake without many divers. The bottom consists of muck and mud, and visibility can be fairly poor. However, marine life in the area is abundant. The maximum depth is 41 to 50 feet.
Lake Mohave, located in the Mohave Recreation Area, has a maximum depth of 121 to 131 feet, and the bottom is a combination of clay and muck. The lake offers both shore and boat entry for divers and has plenty of marine life, including schools of bass and bluegill. Divers will find many wrecks and even a submerged town. The Campsite Point entry offers a few small-craft wrecks. A submerged school bus and van are also in the cove.
This 90-foot body of water was created after the completion of the Davis Dam. The current is fairly swift, so this location is recommended only for experienced divers. The bottom consists of clay and muck, and the average visibility is 16 to 20 feet. The area is accessible only by boat.
The Salt River, also known as the Black and White River, is a tributary of the Gila River. The maximum depth is 16 to 20 feet, with a clay and muck bottom. It's mostly a tubing location, and divers often find items that have been dropped by the tubers, as well as many interesting artifacts. Marine life, though, is scarce.
