My brother in law Jon has a boat, so we do most of our diving off of it. Basically we just look around for a site that looks interesting, anchor, and drop in. We usually try to find a spot that's not too deep, as there's a sharp thermocline, usually around 15 to 25 feet, depending on the weather. I've been up there in July, and the thermocline was around 15 feet, and visibility was only around 10 feet. A month later, after nice hot weather and little if any rainfall, the visibility jumped to around 30 feet, and the thermocline moved to around 25 feet. In the warmer season, we'll dive with just 3mm wetsuits, but sometimes you need to double-up or wear a thicker suit.

During the day, there is usually not a lot of life to see. The trout usually stay out of visual distance, probably scared off by the bubbles. There are a few crawdads in some areas, and sometimes small fishies in grassy spots. In a few shaded spots, we found dozens of newts hovering in the water. They are easy to catch, and fun to play with, especially for the kids.

We've found several locations to dive in this lake that we like:

Kinney Creek: Wow! This place is absolutely beautiful and serene. It's a secluded section of the lake, and easy to miss. From the main section of lake, it looks like just a small cove, but as you enter the cove, it bends off to the right. Follow the bend, and it bends again, until eventually it opens up to a larger pool area. At the very far end, the lake stops when it meets Kinney Creek waterfall, as pictured on the right. Just be careful on those rocks. In July 1999 I slipped on a large rock near the falls, fell, and dislocated my shoulder, so watch your step. The water is 10 to 15 feet deep at the back, and drops down deeper out into the pool. It's chilly, but clear and full of newts. The kids caught newts from the boat while we dived.

Breitenbush branch: Mostly shallow area, good for snorkeling. Not a lot a life, except crayfish and some tiny trout.

"F" Dock: This is a boat dock. I'm not sure of the legality of diving here, but nobody has given us any trouble yet. I usually do a couple dives under the dock looking for goodies people drop, and I've found all sorts of odd things. Jon and I have also done night dives from this dock. Just be careful to NOT do a giant stride off the end, like Jon and I almost did. Just before we jumped, we shined our lights into the water, and there were two steel cables right below the surface. That could have been painful!

If you find any good diving spots at Detroit, please let me know. It's a huge lake, and the view is beautiful.