About This Route
Nestled in Many Glacier Valley at 5,558 feet, Swiftcurrent Lake provides shore dives from the dock near Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, with easy access via the Highline Trail shortcut. Depths reach 100 feet; explore boulder fields and beargrass meadows underwater, spotting arctic char amid glacial till.
Safety Considerations
Temperatures dip to 42°F; hypothermia sets in within 20 minutes sans protection, per REI cold-water charts. Glacial outflows create unpredictable currents near Hidden Creek; test with drift line pre-dive. Poor viz (5-15 feet) from silt; use lights. Grizzly bears frequent shores; dive with buddy and bear spray ashore. Altitude protocols essential; no dives beyond 80 feet. NPS mandates group size of 4+ for remote areas.
Essential Gear
Essentials: 6/5/4mm hooded wetsuit (Henderson Thermaxx), pony bottle for bailout, compass and surface marker; drysuit inflation system; Ursuit for extreme cold. Pack NRS tow float for surface swims.
Emergency Tips
Entangled? Cut line with dive knife, inflate BCD slowly. Yell for inn staff or use air horn; Many Glacier Ranger Station 0.5 miles away. Warm rewarming at lodge; watch for immersion pulmonary edema symptoms like cough.
Case study: Diver rescued in 2021 after current sweep; always monitor inflows. Practice skills at pool first.