Difficulty
intermediate
Viz (last reported 83630h ago)
Max Depth
20 ft
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Salt Creek
Salt Creek Recreation Area is located on the wild, Northern shore of the Olympic Peninsula. This wonderful park of 196 acres and 90 campsites houses many fortified bunkers from a World War II defense site. Underwater is just as fascinating: wolf eels, telia anemones, sculpin, sea cucumbers, sponges, and urchins, to name a few of the wildlife. The sites located along this shore are considered by many to be the best diving in Washington.
Salt Creek County Park is located 11 miles West of Port Angeles. Traveling West from Port Angeles on 101, bear right in about 5 miles onto 112. Six miles further, turn right as shown below.
Salt Creek is also known as Salt Creek Recreation Area.
Access
shore
View
Nearby Shops
Tide Report
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(6)
Zentacle
Sep 21, 2021, 1:06 AM
scuba
There are camp sites everywhere throughout the park, and parking spaces are easily found for the visitor.
This trail head is located next to camping site #5.
Under Construction!
There are a couple of locations to enter the water from these rocks. Watch for swells, and help your buddy in and out.
Gear up at your car. It's an easy hike down to the water.
Entry should be relative easy for an intermediate diver, depending upon the conditions. Also check out the entry next to site #58 if this one looks too difficult.
This trail head is found next to site #62.
Note the closing time on the sign, incase this is just a day trip for you.
At the curve in the road, continue straight into the recreation area.
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Jeff Miller
Mar 30, 2015, 12:00 AM
scuba
We dove this site March of 2015. This site is a great place to dive, but I would really recommend doing it at high tide only. We dove near low tide and were only in about 6ft of water most the time ha-ha. There are a couple stair cases that lead down, we used the one out at the point. It is narrow, and then we had to climb down the rocks to walk out and dive. Vis was poor and the surge was strong. I think in the right conditions, this would be an amazing site to dive. A lot of plant life within the kelp and lots of smaller fish, you have to look close to see the micro life here. No real current to speak of just surge like others have mentioned. Gear up in the parking area and hike down. Again, high tide or you might as well just snorkel it.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Anonymous
Apr 4, 2008, 12:00 AM
scuba
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Richard
Nov 18, 2004, 12:00 AM
scuba
This is about the best shore diving spot in Washington. There's the potential for surf, but currents are actually pretty minimal in close to shore. The kelp beds are spectacular and very lively, with oodles of invertebrates and loads of small fish. Despite its marine reserve status, large fish are not common. Despite the local guidebooks current planning descriptions, I have dove here without regard to currents. You're more likely to have a problem with surf and/or surge. Diving before the summer afternoon sea breeze comes up is helpful.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Ron Simmons
Apr 1, 2004, 12:00 AM
scuba
Salt Creek is a dive site that offers many rewards for a diver that looks for the out of the way dive site. I started diving here in winter of 1978 have dove this site in all 4 seasons. It can be a challenge to dive here. The surge can toss you around or sweep you across the bottom. But if you watch the weather conditions and tides you can enjoyable dive. I like starting at the east end by the kitchen and heading west and coming out on Tongue Point. The reef with the kelp beds are is so spectacular in the spring with all of the new fishes swimming in schools. It is so colorful here like being in some aquarium seen. The depth is around 25-35 feet all the way. The exit is nice, and if you time the swell you can be standing up with your fins in your hand and walk out. Enjoy your dive.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Curt Johnson
Mar 12, 2003, 12:00 AM
scuba
This is worth the drive. Many people from "away" camp at the park to dive there. I feel that the best diving is down the stairs at the west end of the park. It is shallow, but is a labyrinth of gorgeous benthic organisms. It can be dived at any time of the year, but because of the exposure, you must watch for surf. The normal array of fish - lingcod, Irish lords, rockfish, wolf eel, perch - are present. A careful search will most likely be rewarded with several octopus. Organisms normally expected in the ocean often drift in here. A neat dive from a beautiful location.
Originally posted on shorediving.com