Lake Mead National Recreation Area Superintendent William K. Dickinson announced the extension of the diving restriction of the portion of the Lower Overton Arm until January 21, 2009:

Northern Boundary-North 36 degrees 15 minutes (located near the Overton Islands)
Southern Boundary-North 36 degrees 10 minutes (located near Middle Point)

This area remains closed to SCUBA and all forms or underwater diving, unless a permit has been issued by the Chief Ranger’s Office or qualified technical divers use one of the required authorized escorted technical diving permit holders.

The NPS has made a decision to continue escorted technical diving opportunities at the site.Applications are currently being evaluated (for resource protection, technical capabilities, ability to operate safely, and the ability to effectively interact with NPS staff) by the NPS Submerged Resources Team and Lake Mead National Recreation Area staff the week of January 21, 2008. On February 1, 2008, up to two Commercial Use Authorization permits will be issued for escorted technical diving at the B-29 site.

The restriction is necessary to protect a sensitive archaeological resource, the submerged B-29 aircraft. The B-29, and the site upon which it rests, are managed by the National Park Service under the National Historic Preservation Act. 

For more information, please call the concession office at Lake Mead National Recreation Area at 702.293.8923.