Snorkeling and scuba diving to an ancient Oregon forest

Peak Northwest

Oregon isn’t much of a snorkeling or scuba diving destination in the way people typically think of the activities: There are no tropical waters here, no clownfish or coral reefs.

What Oregon does have is Clear Lake, a beautiful setting high in the Cascade Mountains where divers and snorkelers can swim through crystal clear waters to an ancient underwater forest.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we speak to Bend-based freelance journalist Haley Nelson, who shadowed scuba divers at the lake last summer. She talks of a beautiful, otherworldly scene, which divers must brave frigid waters to see.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

• How Clear Lake, and its underwater forest, were formed.
• Just how cold is the water anyway?
• Diving in Clear Lake requires some specialized gear.
• There are other things to do at Clear Lake, other than explore underwater.

-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor

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