The premier shore diving sites in Washington are found throughout the Puget Sound area. We have included our favorites in and around Seattle, stretching as far South as Tacoma, Fox Island, and the Gig Harbor areas. All have unique inlets and coves, and are easily accessible shore diving opportunities for your enjoyment. Bear in mind the conditions vary considerably with the changing tides, currents and seasons of the year. Check with your local resource providers for the information to make your dive experience the safest and best possible. Enjoy!

Washington

Mason County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States



Mike's Beach Resort is right off of Highway 101 about 50 miles north of Olympia. Very easy to find.

Lilliwaup

Mikes Beach Resort



Small turnoff on HWY 101; room for three or four cars only. 
Gear-up in the parking area and walk down a fairly steep hill for shore access to the canal.
There's a 250-300' surface swim to the North wall; not sure on the depth but it's no problem to hit 100 FSW and deeper if you so wish. There's also a small rock structure 90 degrees from the entry point.
The animal life is abundant, Wolf Eel's, spotted Rat Fish, GPO's, Nudibranch's and much more.
This site is only dove by the hearty because of the steepness of the hill.
Tide and current are of little concern at this site on Hood Canal.  


Jorstad creek

Like the close-by Sund Rock area, Octopus Hole is very popular with Scuba divers who enjoy diving the wall to view various underwater creatures, including but not limited to Lingcod, North Pacific Giant Octopus, Wolf Eel, and nudibranch.

The most popular wall to dive in this area is about 200 yards long and starts at roughly 40 fsw, going down to roughly 50-60' fsw, depending upon the tide. Many divers use a large tree that has partially fallen out towards the water to help find the beginning of this wall. Once they have done the surface swim out to this tree, they can then drop down to the wall. Another, smaller wall is accessible, at roughly 90 fsw. This wall is nearly straight out from where most divers climb down from highway 101.

Because Octopus Hole is a conservation area, no hunting or gathering of any kind is permitted. The area also has very limited parking. Essentially, parking areas are nothing more than small turnouts on the highway. There is no formal trail or pathway. Getting gear down and back from the water requires good balance as you walk down on large irregular rocks to the water. Sometimes two trips is better, remove weights or camera gear on one trip. In spite of this, the Octopus Hole is quite popular. Access is always free of charge.

This area is not current sensitive. Source: Wikipedia.org

Octopus Hole is a designated conservation area on Washington's Hood Canal. It is located right off Highway 101 just over three miles from Hoodsport.

Octopus Hole

Sund Rock is by mike's dive shop at Hoodsport on 101.  There is a 15 dollar fee for this dive but they have showers and bathrooms. From what I have been told you can find a path and dive Sund Rock free.

Great dive. Info on site is at "Hood Sport 'N Dive".Wall dive. Aquatic life includes sea anemones, sea cucumbers, crab, shrimp, rockfish, sculpin, lingcod, wolf eels, and spiny dogfish shark.

In order to access Sund Rock you must pay entrance fee to "Hood Sport 'N Dive" on

24080 N. Hwy 101 P.O. Box 1445
Hoodsport, WA

Once entrance fee is payed a nice open parking lot is avalible to set up gear just 5 feet from the water. Very nice area.

Sund Rock

A life-encrusted intake pipe extends out, running north-south. You'll find the pipe starting at about 15' and running down to 100 feet, more or less depending on the tides. Look for GPOs under the supports. The start of the pipe is located near the center of the parking area. (There's really two pipes, but one is shorter.) Octopus Gardens Dive Shop has a good map and write-up of this site on. Point Whitney (near the Washington State Shellfish Laboratory) is a fine site on the Hood Canal north of Hoodsport.

Point Whitney

Historic former Mosquito fleet and 100-ft long ferry dock; this .3-acre park is now an ideal spot for fishing and scuba diving. In 1995, the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners transferred ownership of the Point White Pier to the Bainbridge Island Park & Recreation District.

Point White Pier (Crystal Springs Pier)

Lot's of life to see and photograph. There are two wrecks at the site which host a ton of critters. No current to worry about. there is a Honey Bucket at the end of the fishing pier and a small coffee shopat the parking area.

Limited parking along the access area, about 3 or 4 cars max., but there are plenty of places to park off the road which leaves you a very short walk.

Harper's Pier is also known as Harper's Ferry.

Harper's Pier

Agate Pass is a 4.666666666666667-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Washington, USA West which is accessible from shore based on 3 ratings.

Agate Pass

This site has it all!  Well, almost-- no wrecks, no Whale Sharks-- but if you are looking for interesting marine life, this is the place.  With a creviced wall at about 30 to 60 feet deep and 100 feet long, you'll spend most of your time exploring the nooks and crannies.   Wolf Eels and Octopus are the highlights.  Bring two tanks, and plan to spend the day in the area-- but not the night, as the gates are locked at dusk.  If you aren't familiar with using the tide tables, don't dive this site-- the current can surprise you!

Found in Gig Harbor, about 6 miles NW of Tacoma.  Take either exit of Highway 16 to get to Gig Harbor, and wind your way around to the North part of the harbor.  

You'll find yourself on Peacock Hill Ave NW. 
Make a right on 96th Street NW, then a left on Crescent Valley Drive.  
In less than a mile, turn right onto Hallstrom Dr. NW and follow the signs down to the park.

Remember the landmarks going down, as you won't find "Gig Harbor: This Way" signs coming back up!

Sunrise Beach Park



Just South of downtown Seattle, take the West Seattle Bridge to hop over to West Seattle. Just before the bridge ends, make a right onto Harbor Ave SW. Drive Northwest until you round the point and find yourself heading Southwest on Alki Ave SW. The whole stretch is considered Alki Beach Park, but drive to the end of the beach section before parking. Just before the beach residences, there will be a pathway down to the beach.

Alki Junkyard (Alki Beach Park)

Public restroom and shower at edge of beach. Keep clear of the fishing dock and ferry as they are no-dive zones.

Free street parking. Very easy entry from beach north of the restaurant / ferry terminal. 

Mikes Beach Resort

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Mikes Beach Resort