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LakeFreshwaterSource Checked

NBM Dive Site Resource

Payette Lake

McCall, Idaho, United States

A high-elevation Idaho lake used for shore diving, training, and properly supported ice diving.

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Historic Picture Placeholder

Old-fashioned maritime line drawing reserved for a future historic photograph
Historic Picture PlaceholderHistoric photograph pending research and rights review
WaterFreshwater
AccessOpen access
ExperienceCold-water and altitude-aware open-water divers
Maximum depthAbout 300 ft / 91 m in the lake; shore sites vary
Best seasonBest open-water access late spring through fall; ice diving requires specialist support
VisibilityVariable; clear periods are reported

Aquatic life at this dive site

What divers may encounter

Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.

Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) — photograph
Recent deep-water survey encounter

Lake Trout

Salvelinus namaycush

Idaho Fish and Game recorded lake trout in its 2025 Payette Lake survey. Divers are most likely to encounter this cold-water species along deeper slopes and structure.

Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Open Aquatic Life Profile →

Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) — photograph
Recent structure-oriented encounter

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

Idaho Fish and Game recorded smallmouth bass in its 2025 Payette Lake survey. Rocky shoreline structure and drop-offs provide the most plausible encounter areas.

Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Open Aquatic Life Profile →

Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) — photograph
Recent schooling encounter

Yellow Perch

Perca flavescens

Idaho Fish and Game recorded yellow perch in Payette Lake in 2024. Divers may find small schools near vegetation, bottom transitions, or protected shallows.

Robert Colletta

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Site media

Photographs

Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending

Contributor media

Dive videos

Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending

Published reference location

Location map

The marker shows the public coordinates associated with this profile. Confirm current access, moorings, and departure details before the dive.
Published reference coordinates44.91222, -116.11917
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Map zoom level 6 of 11

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Recent field observations

Diver-reported temperatures

Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.
Automatically checked
No recent diver reports from the past 14 days

A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.

Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.

Diver field observation

Report temperatures

Reports publish automatically when the date, depths, and temperatures pass the checks. You must be signed in to submit.

Depth readings

Why divers know this place

Highlights

Glacial mountain lake, granite shelves, fish, and accessible shoreline entries.

Before you arrive

Access notes

Confirm legal entry, parking, weather, ice status, dive-flag rules, and current local guidance before diving.

Plan within your training

Conditions and hazards

Altitude, cold water, depth, silt, ice overhead in winter, boat traffic, and remote response.

At the site

Facilities and support

Public park and town facilities; arrange fills and local support in advance.

Independent resource notice

This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.