Green River

One of Utah's most unique scuba experiences is drift-diving the Green River from Flaming Gorge Dam to Little Hole. This is an advanced level dive, and should only be done by those with proper training, experience, and physical fitness! Also, drift diving should only be done when the river flow is low -- below 2500 cubic feet per second. (Above this, the viability gets poor and the flow is too fast for comfort!) For information on Green River outflow from Flaming Gorge Dam, check the following site: http://www.uc.usbr.gov/wrg/crsp/crsp_40_fgd.txt. Photo provided by Michael Weyland Atlantis Divers, Vernal UT

It's 7 miles from the Dam to Little Hole. Imagine drifting those miles through crystal clear flowing water filled with rainbow trout, brown trout, some lake trout, rocky mountain whitefish and an occasional carp--the view enhanced with a backdrop of long grasses, ferns, and algae, plus some submerged pine trees and boulders of assorted shapes and size. Look toward the sky and spy the undulating surface water dispersing light rays in a spectrum of chaotic beauty. Photo provided by Michael Weyland Atlantis Divers, Vernal UT

The time on the surface is as awesome as the experience underwater. Look at 1000 foot tall rock cliffs towering to a cerulean blue sky obstructed only by soaring eagles and ravens. Watch the deer, river otters, beaver and rabbits watching you as you drift through their habitat. Enjoy the seasonal changes of the trees, brush, grasses and river color.

Be sure and take your snorkel with you. But when surface-floating through any of the rapids, put your regulator in your mouth! Divers have been hung up for over a minute on rocks in a rapid before getting themselves free. If you get hung up, you will find it difficult to see because your mask will leak heavily or completely flood from the turbulance. Trying to locate a regulator that's "swingin' in the breeze" will be near impossible.

When floating through the rapids, keep your hands out in front of you, palms out. If you hit a rock head on (or rather,WHEN you hit a rock head-on), you will easily deflect it and roll around the side. The feeling of speed is extraordinary! It feels like your flying in a jet aircraft at tree-top level. Some of the rapids are very shallow, so keep your knees relaxed and trailing behind you so you don't rap yourself on a knee-cap. Photo provided by Michael Weyland Atlantis Divers, Vernal UT

Special Equipment Preparation: Scott Gudmundsen recommends that you remove your octopus and gauges. (You'll need caps and O-rings to fill the holes -- only those who know what they're doing should fiddle with the first stage in this way!) A second regulator creates an entanglement hazard, and will be prone to free-flowing. And it will pull loose no matter where you stash it. A computer or depth gauge has no use in the river and will just get banged up. Take EMT shears and at least one sharp knife -- fishing line and ropes are commonly tangled among the rocks in the river. Remember your snorkel.

Surface Support: A support team with a raft or drift boat is a must, although some "Super Divers" do the whole 7 miles with double tanks. You'll want to stop along the shore once in a while to eat and R&R. Also, you will need someone to carry all the salvage you find along the way. Fly rods are the Big Ticket items! You'll pass plenty of lead or pig iron anchors lost on the bottom. These will have long pieces of rope flowing downstream from them. The gas station at the lodge will buy anchors for $15. Tackle boxes, sun glasses, etc., are all to be found.

Regulations: If you plan on riding in the raft for ANY portion of the river, you will need a life jacket. Don't try to tell the Ranger that your wet suit is positively buoyant. Rules are rules. You will be ticketed if you don't have a life jacket when in the boat. (You don't need one, however, when you're in the water.)

All divers should get some training and instruction before diving the river. Atlantis Divers in Vernal offers a River Diver specialty training program at their store. To dive the river, you should either complete the specialty course (can be done the day before your dive), or hold an advanced (or higher) certification. The dive shop will arrange river dives for groups of divers, at a minimal fee that covers their expenses of gas, support boat, etc. Photo provided by Michael Weyland Atlantis Divers, Vernal UT

Getting there: Click here for map.
Ogden: Take I-84 east to Echo Junction where you'll pick up I-80 eastbound, then follow the Salt Lake directions.
Salt Lake: Go east on I-80, to a couple of miles past Ft. Bridger. Turn right (south) on W-410, continuing on W-414 in Mountain View. This road becomes U-43 as it crosses into Utah. In Manila, east takes you north along the west shore of the reservoir to W-530. South (right) on U-44 takes you to US-191, which turns north past the dam to Dutch John and the eastern shore (and Mustang Ridge).
Provo: Orem 800 North exit eastbound US-189 up Provo Canyon to Heber, then left (north) on US-40/US-189. Turn right (eastbound) on I-80, then follow the Salt Lake instructions above.
Alternate: From I-80 (Ogden divers on I-84 will need to come south about 20 miles on I-80), turn south on US-40/US-189. Drive straight through Heber, continuing east on US-40 when the routes separate. In Vernal, leave US-40 for US-191 northbound.