A wonderful state with picturesque hideaways and spectacular mountains, New Hampshire offers more than just great mountain biking and hiking opportunities. Whether you live in the state and are looking for a new place to dive, or if you're planning to visit New Hampshire and wonder whether you ought to bring your dive gear along, you'll find that there are some great dive sites in the state, with Lake Winnipesaukee being home to several wrecks that can keep you occupied for quite some time. Boasting more than 300 miles of shoreline and covering 72 square miles, the lake has been a popular place for centuries.
Diving Lake Winnipesaukee: Features and Highlights
Located in central New Hampshire and easy to access from various points throughout the state, Lake Winnipesaukee is an excellent place for divers of all levels to explore. One of the best locations for training and easy access is Clark's Point, which is open day and night, all year round. The shoreline here is rocky and shallow, but quickly drops away to a depth of 15 feet. Toward the northern edge of the site, you'll find a rocky seawall that provides a means for navigation, and which leads out to depths of about 30 feet. All throughout this area, you'll find intriguing rock formations, many of which are decorated with patches of white freshwater sponge; in addition, there are cusk and bass, catfish, and perch swimming among the boulders and submerged trees.
Approximately 150 yards offshore, you'll find an underwater cliff that drops away to a depth of about 80 feet, and toward the south, there is an overhang to explore. As you make your way from one area to the next, keep your eyes open for artifacts! Once the site of America's old summer resort, Clark's Point is a great place to find everything from bottles to dishes to old clay pipes. Some divers have found even more interesting things, including guns and even false teeth, probably lost by hapless swimmers taking the waters more than one hundred years ago.
At Rum Point, there are more rock formations and another wall, and at Parker Island, cuts and tunnels, along with exposed veins of sparkling quartz crystal add an element of magic to your dive. With a splendid wall that drops from 40 feet to 60 feet, this site is also a good place to find fish and other aquatic life.
Another popular site is the Lady of the Lake, a 125 foot steamboat lying in just 30 feet of water. Scuttled in 1895, this old ship is still quite intact and offers penetration opportunities for qualified wreck divers. It's located in Smith Cove, which is in Glendale. Home to smallmouth bass and hornpout, carp, yellow perch, sunfish, and even the occasional freshwater eel, this wreck is one of the lake's best.
The Horseboat Barge, which is one of the earliest vessels the lake has to offer, was actually powered by a team of horses that walked on treadmills; it became obsolete when the steam engine was invented. Lying just off Bear Island, in 40 feet of water, the barge's hull, as well as tools and heaps of coal make for an interesting dive.
The wreck of the steamer Belknap is a good snorkeling site with depths between 5 and 15 feet, and at Diamond Island, where the Navy tested underwater lasers back in the 1950's, you'll find a sunken cruiser and a railway track, along with other military artifacts.
Other wrecks include the Laker Wreck, which is on the east side of Ship Island; it and two others are easily accessible, as they are at depths between 10 and 40 feet; nearby, you'll find huge rock formations, walls, and ledges that offer the opportunity to dive to a depth of about 100 feet.
These are just a few of the most popular dive sites Lake Winnipesaukee has to offer. There are two dive centers at the lake, and there are all kinds of topside attractions and amenities, not to mention accommodations that range from rustic campsites to posh bed and breakfasts. Grab your favorite dive buddy and head to New Hampshire. Lake Winnipesaukee might be chilly, but it is a unique and intriguing place to log some bottom time.