Dive-site story
Perch Lake is a natural artesian sinkhole situated just outside Santa Rosa in eastern New Mexico. Used frequently as a training site alongside the nearby Blue Hole, this spring-fed karst lake features several sunken training platforms, submerged vehicles, and fish habitats placed on the silty bottom. A pronounced thermocline develops in summer, with cooler, darker water awaiting divers who descend past the initial drop-off. Because the lake sits at high elevation, all dives require altitude diving calculations.
Submerged training platforms and small wreckage sunk for diver exploration
High-altitude freshwater sinkhole topography surrounded by desert landscape
Seasonal blooms of tiny freshwater jellyfish drifting through the open water column
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Late spring through early autumn offers warmer surface temperatures and favorable weather for shore entries.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth BassMicropterus salmoides | Common | ||||||||||||
| BluegillLepomis macrochirus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Channel CatfishIctalurus punctatus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Freshwater JellyfishCraspedacusta sowerbii | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Painted TurtleChrysemys picta | Common |
Marine forecast
