Diving into Woahink Lake

written by Kjersten Hellis | photography by Rick Obst

Woahink Lake’s glassy surface and murky water hide a secret. The lake doubles as an obstacle course for recreational scuba divers and is home to several mock shipwrecks, a yellow submarine, and an 18-foot plastic shark, Mary 18, named for the dispatch call sign of fallen Eugene Police officer Chris Kilcullen. The lake is not a tropical paradise, but many scuba companies in Oregon choose to certify clients in this lake because it is a protected area suitable for beginners.
Scuba aside, Woahink Lake is also a natural wonder. Located in Florence, it is a cryptodepression lake, meaning it is below sea level. The deepest point of the lake is 74 feet, making it about 36 feet below sea level. Woahink also offers great fishing spots to catch largemouth bass or rainbow trout.