The Saddle - Carter Lake
The Saddle at Carter Lake is a popular dive site for both Open Water training and recreational diving. With its gentle slope and limited visibility, it caters to divers of all levels, from beginners to advanced. Whether you're practicing Navigation, Search and Recovery, or Night/Limited vis diving, this site offers the perfect conditions.
Expect to encounter a variety of local fish during your dive, including walleye, bass, and crawdads. If you're lucky, you might even spot some bluegills in the trees at high water.
Located near Loveland, Colorado, Carter Lake is easily accessible within a 30-40 minute drive from High Plains Scuba. The bottom of the lake gradually slopes, surrounded by rocky shorelines on the north and south. Divers will appreciate the convenient parking near the entry point and the parking lot located above the site, ensuring hassle-free access.
Not only is Carter Lake a preferred training location for dive stores in the surrounding cities, but it also serves as a picturesque spot for recreational divers. Its scenic beauty and pleasant weather make it a wonderful destination for non-divers to enjoy as well.
Get ready for a fantastic diving experience at Carter Lake, where the underwater world awaits you. The visibility may be around 2m, with a maximum depth of 8m. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced diver, this dive site in Larimer County, Colorado, United States, guarantees an unforgettable adventure.
Expect to encounter a variety of local fish during your dive, including walleye, bass, and crawdads. If you're lucky, you might even spot some bluegills in the trees at high water.
Located near Loveland, Colorado, Carter Lake is easily accessible within a 30-40 minute drive from High Plains Scuba. The bottom of the lake gradually slopes, surrounded by rocky shorelines on the north and south. Divers will appreciate the convenient parking near the entry point and the parking lot located above the site, ensuring hassle-free access.
Not only is Carter Lake a preferred training location for dive stores in the surrounding cities, but it also serves as a picturesque spot for recreational divers. Its scenic beauty and pleasant weather make it a wonderful destination for non-divers to enjoy as well.
Get ready for a fantastic diving experience at Carter Lake, where the underwater world awaits you. The visibility may be around 2m, with a maximum depth of 8m. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced diver, this dive site in Larimer County, Colorado, United States, guarantees an unforgettable adventure.
Diving Conditions Score for The Saddle - Carter Lake
6.1
Above AverageDecent conditions, proceed with caution.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for The Saddle - Carter Lake
Depth
8m
Visibility
2m
Experience Level
beginner
advanced
Weather Conditions for The Saddle - Carter Lake
Wave Height
1m
Wind Speed
10 m/s
Water Temp
18°C
Visibility
15km
Cloud Cover
57.5%
Wave Period
8s
Air Temperature
20°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for The Saddle - Carter Lake
Alpha
Dive Score Chart for The Saddle - Carter Lake
Best time to dive: 6:00 with score 7.113333333333333/10. Water conditions: Waves 1m, Wind 10 m/s.Best night dive time: 0:00 with score 6.613333333333333/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Sunrise at The Saddle - Carter Lake: 06:00
Sunset at The Saddle - Carter Lake: 18:00
Optimal diving conditions at The Saddle - Carter 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.
Best Overall
6:00Score: 7.1/10
Waves: 1m (8s), Wind: 10 m/s
Best Night
0:00Score: 6.6/10
Waves: 1m, Wind: 10 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for The Saddle - Carter LakeAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at The Saddle - Carter 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 The Saddle - Carter Lake
Winter
Avg. Score: 9.9/10
Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.
Best Months for The Saddle - Carter Lake
January
Score: 10.0
February
Score: 9.9
December
Score: 9.8
Ideal Conditions for The Saddle - Carter Lake
Water Temp
24.0°C / 75.2°F
June
Visibility
20.1m / 65.9ft
October
Wave Height
0.2m / 0.7ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for The Saddle - Carter Lake
The Saddle - Carter Lake shows typical northern hemisphere patterns with June being the warmest month (24.0°C) and December the coldest (20.0°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 22, 2026
Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.
4 Dive sites near The Saddle - Carter Lake in
Got feedback?
Help us improve this dive site by giving us feedback.