announced in an email<\/a> that Lake Mead dive operations would be put on hiatus, effective immediately, due to staffing shortages and the need for more equipment and training.<\/p>\n\u201cThe park temporarily stood down its dive team to ensure safe operations while personnel complete required training and certifications,\u201d an NPS spokesperson told Outside<\/em>. \u201cThe decision was based on operational safety requirements and the availability of certified dive team personnel to perform this specialized function.\u201d<\/p>\nLake Mead is one of the deadliest NPS sites in the country, accounting for roughly seven percent of all national park deaths over the last decade. It\u2019s also one of the most popular sites; in 2025, more than six million people visited Lake Mead. That same year, the recreation area recorded 18 deaths\u2014more than any NPS site. High fatalities at the desert lake are driven by a mix of busy boating, sudden weather shifts, open-water swimming, and extreme heat. One of the park\u2019s dive team\u2019s key responsibilities is recovering the bodies of drowning victims.<\/p>\n