Squaw Lake is a small, spring-fed lake located in the hills just above Applegate lake in Southern Oregon. (West of Medford). Follow the signs to Applegate, then continue on around the west side until you see signs leading you to squaw. There is a gate blocking the road about 1/4 mile from the water, so you'll have to hike your gear in. There are carts available for free at the gate, so you can usually make it in 1 trip.
The diving is pretty nice. Because it is spring fed, the water is very clear, but also very cold. Below the thermocline, it's in the 40's year 'round. It's a natural lake, and although there is not a lot to see, the clear water makes it a lot of fun to dive. Worth a dive or two to check it out. There are a few camping areas around the lake, and a nice, quiet place to hike and fish.</P>
Surface temperature gets up to the 60's in mid-summer. The thermocline will get you - it will suddenly drop 20 degrees almost instantly at around 20-30 feet. Snorkeling in a shorty or even a swimsuit in mid-summer may be fine, but scuba divers need the whole shabang to stay warm.
