Emerald bay

Emerald Bay is a dive area on Lake Tahoe, California, home to the Emerald Bay Maritime Heritage Trail — a collection of five wrecks spread across four sites within the bay. The bay takes its name from its emerald-green water, and all dive sites are accessible by boat, though shore diving is possible by canoe or a long overland carry with gear. A mooring buoy marked for divers' use is in place at the barges site.

The wrecks range from shallow to moderate depth and vary considerably in size. Two wooden barges — 85 and 106 feet long — are the largest and easiest to locate, sitting between 10 and 50 feet (3–15 m); the smaller of the two can be seen from the surface. The Florence M. passenger launch, 27 feet long, rests at around 60 feet (18 m) near the largest sunken tree in the lake. A wooden fishing boat of 15.5 feet sits in approximately 35 feet (11 m) of water, and a hard-chine skiff — slightly shorter — lies at around 60 feet (18 m) close to the barges.

Visibility in the bay is poorer than elsewhere on Lake Tahoe, with the water running colder and darker at depth. The site is diveable year-round for those who can reach it, with crowds ranging from low in winter to very high in summer. Boat traffic is a significant hazard during the warmer months when the bay is extremely busy; divers should carry a surface marker buoy (DSMB) at minimum. The site suits beginners through advanced divers.