I,
for one, did not until just recently. My "day job" put me in Las
Vegas for several weeks, and I discovered the joy of fresh water
diving along with the hospitality of Drew's Dam Divers.
For five years Pat and Drew Bodin have been showing divers the wonderful world beneath Lake Mead, and the Colorado River downstream of Hoover Dam. Both are Coast Guard licensed captains, divemasters and avid divers. They currently have a small fleet of three boats. The Scubadrew is a 32-foot long Canaveral custom boat and is USCG certified for 15 divers, Lake Mead only. The other vessels, the Scubatoo and the Spectrum are pontoon type, 26 and 24-feet long respectively, and operate in both Lake Mead and the Colorado River. All offer a smooth ride, and can get divers from dock to dive site in under a half hour.
Drew's Dam Divers offer two distinctly different experiences. In Lake Mead much of the diving is along steep-sided walls that form a long winding canyons and vertical drop-offs. There are schools of fresh water fish: striped bass, bluegills, carp and large-mouth bass. Artifacts from the construction of the dam are also found at diveable depths. The lake is glassy smooth, and depths run between 20 feet to deeper than you'll ever want to go. Water temperature varies seasonally so call ahead for what style of suit to bring.
Below the dam you are diving in the Colorado River. This can be a leisurely drift dive or Mr. Toad's Wild Ride depending on the rate of water release at the dam. Shooting down the river at four knots or so, and skimming vertical faces and large boulders is an exhilarating experience. This is also a great place to see and photograph the endangered razorback sucker, Xyrauchen texanus. Water temperature is a constant 55 degrees, and this is an advanced dive due to the swift water.
Dive charters are generally scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Monday holidays, and other days on request. Tanks, weight belts and weights are provided for a two-tank dive, along with sodas, water, and light snacks. Divers are met either at the Lake Mead Marina or at Willow Beach, approximately 15 miles below Hoover Dam.
Diving with Pat and Drew is relaxed and fun. There is always a divemaster in the water for safety and to point out hard to find artifacts or shy fish. It was very clear that they were committed to showing their clients the best time possible, and making the experience memorable.
The bottom line was that I had a ball with Drew's Dam Divers. Not only did Pat and Drew create a fun and exciting adventure, but the diving was quite good as well. I came away with good photos of fresh water fish and even an endangered species, and had a great time. Would I go back? Absolutely!
For more information, call 800-291-2650, email at info@damdivers.com, or visit their web site at www.damdivers.com.
Bruce Watkins is a frequent contributor to California Diving News, usually about Central and Northern California Diving. But this one time we'll forgive him for submitting an article about diving Nevada (?!)
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