Wreck Dive Lake Mead B-29 Airplane Wreck, Nevada

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Ever wanted to dive more than 100 feet to see a plane that was once a national secret at the dawn of the Cold War? Lake Mead has you covered. A B-29 Superfortress, an aircraft most commonly associated with the atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, went down here on July 21st, 1948. That morning, the plane took off from China Lake, California, to conduct high-altitude research. The mission profile called for the plane to ascend to 35,000 feet, then descend as low as possible to record readings for a new intercontinental ballistic missile guidance system. As the plane descended over Lake Mead, the pilot apparently lost depth perception above the smooth water and the crashed into the lake. All members of the crew managed to escape before the B-29 sank. The B-29 at the bottom of Lake Mead remains in remarkable condition and displays a high degree of preservation due to the cold, dark freshwater environment. The aircraft sustained considerable damage during the crash event in 1948, losing three of its four engines. Record low water levels have brought the sunken Superfortress within reach of recreational divers for the first time ever, and the aircraft will only get easier to reach as the reservoir continues to shrink. Location: Tech Diving Limited (TDL) requires that all divers have Advanced Open Water and Nitrox, plus proof of 50 dives. The site is accessed by a down line on a buoy, with a crossover line laid out for almost 80 feet across a silty bottom to the plane itself. Depth: 100 ft. plus TIPS: Tech Diving Limited (TDL) requires that all divers have Advanced Open Water and Nitrox certifications, plus proof of 50 dives. A recommended equipment list is at divetheb29.com. Depths vary with the amount of water in the reservoir; check with TDL or other local dive shops like Sin City Divers for the latest conditions. To calculate depths, subtract site elevations from current lake levels as published online by the Bureau of Reclamation (B-29, 960 feet; Agg Plant, 1,000 feet; PBY, 930 feet). Currently, TDL is the sole operator licensed by the National Park Service to guide dives on the B-29. However, there are several other outfitters that provide guided diving and instruction at Lake Mead. Check Lake Mead National Park’s website for a list of approved guides and instruction services.

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