Tanana Lake
Alaska Fish and Game regularly stocks this lake during the summer, ensuring an abundance of impressive pike in the weed beds. Test The Waters, a reputable dive organization, relies on this site as a primary training location for various classes. The large gravel beach provides an excellent spot for pre-dive announcements, safety checks, and gear preparation. Additional amenities include picnic tables along the beach, which provide a convenient place to store belongings, receive shore support, and display dive flags and other essential equipment.
The strategically situated parking lot allows for easy gear transportation, as divers can back up their trucks within a few feet of the water. Furthermore, the shared space with a boat rental service that offers canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards adds an enjoyable bonus to the dive experience. Any items such as phones, wallets, or glasses that are inadvertently dropped from these boats can be returned to their rightful owners through the boat rental service.
With a visibility of 3m and a maximum depth of 6m, this beginner-friendly dive site promises an exciting underwater exploration. Located in the United States, specifically in Fairbanks North Star, Alaska, at 99701, this site offers a convenient and captivating diving experience for both local and visiting divers.
Diving Conditions Score for Tanana Lake
Average conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Tanana Lake
Depth
6m
Visibility
3m
Experience Level
Weather Conditions for Tanana Lake
Wave Height
1m
Wind Speed
9.2 m/s
Water Temp
18°C
Visibility
5.7km
Cloud Cover
55%
Wave Period
8s
Air Temperature
21°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Dive Score Chart for Tanana Lake
Best time to dive: 12:00 with score 7.460833333333333/10. Water conditions: Waves 1m, Wind 4.7 m/s.Best night dive time: 18:00 with score 6.732433333333334/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Optimal diving conditions at Tanana Lake are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Score: 7.5/10
Waves: 1m (8s), Wind: 4.7 m/s
Score: 6.7/10
Waves: 1m, Wind: 7.2 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Tanana LakeAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Tanana Lake
The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.
Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Seasonal DiveScore Chart
This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Best Season for Tanana Lake
Winter
Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.
Best Months for Tanana Lake
Ideal Conditions for Tanana Lake
Water Temp
17.0°C / 62.6°F
June
Visibility
19.2m / 63.0ft
December
Wave Height
0.2m / 0.7ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Tanana Lake
Tanana Lake shows typical northern hemisphere patterns with June being the warmest month (17.0°C) and January the coldest (-24.2°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 0.2m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in January with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). January is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during January to March, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.
Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 18, 2026