Emerald Bay was designated an underwater state park in 1994.
As a scuba diver in Emerald Bay, you will enjoy
an experience unavailable to most visitors to the
lake. You have the opportunity to view and touch
the artifacts of an age long past.
Emerald Bay State Underwater Park is the resting
place for many boats, launches and barges used in
the lake before the turn of the century, during
the heyday of Emerald Bay Resort and used in the
construction of Vikingsholm.
Please be aware as you view and enjoy these artifacts
that we all have the responsibility of protecting
them for others to see and enjoy. All artifacts
you find while diving in the State Parks are protected
by state law and may not be taken or disturbed regardless
of size or value.
In 1994 the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in cooperation
with the California Department of Parks and Recreation
installed a mooring buoy at the barge dive site
located on the southern shore of Emerald Bay. Two
historic barges lay in 35' of water at this site.
This is also the location of a dump site possibly
used by Emerald Bay Resort and others from 1884
until 1953. Small artifacts from the dump may be
found at the Northwest corner of the western most
barge. Please leave in place all artifacts you may
find.
Emerald Bay Resort was situated on the North shore
of Emerald Bay where Boat Camp is currently located.
If you dive in this area you will find a variety
of artifacts from the resort including telephone
batteries, old tires, sinks, toilets, an old pier,
a diving platform, at least five dories and two
launches. One diver even reported seeing a model
A Ford!
