Cave/Tech Diver Moving to PNW

[AeroSpartacus]

Hey, I'm a (primarily) cave diver that's planning to move to Seattle later this year (August/September timeframe) from Atlanta. I'm looking to get an idea of what the diving 'situation' is; if there are any good local dive shops, dive groups, locations, etc. From what I can tell, there aren't really any caves to speak of but I would be interested if anyone knows of anything like that that's remotely drivable, or if there's anything else noteworthy as far as tech diving or wreck diving goes (or maybe even just solo diving, separately). Tangentially related, is there any shop that will give me a cave fill for my tanks?

For some background of myself, I own a Choptima rebreather (certified to 170 feet / helitrox, as well as cave CCR crossover), and have just under 100 total cave dives post-certification currently between FL and Mexico. I'll probably get certified for normoxic trimix (~230 ft) sometime in the next year. I also have a cave DPV certification, though I don't own my own at this point. I have a drysuit and several different undergarments, but no heated undergarments; is it cold enough water there that I should look at getting those soon?

Outside of the tech stuff, I do still enjoy the occasional recreational diving to look at critters.

 

[Cthippo]

While not large, there are some holes in the ground that are full of water north of Rosario beach at Deception pass. I have kayaked into them and one book I have says there are more under water. The current isn't bad, but the area gets lots of surge.

 

[CascadianDivers]

Welcome to the Pacific Northwest.

We’re in Oregon but commute up to Seattle and Vancouver, BC for diving 6-10 times /yr.


We’re primarily shore divers and photographers. But you have come to join us in some of the best cold water diving anywhere in the world. There is a lot to do in both sides of the Puget sound and surrounding lakes.

For dive shops we really enjoy 8 Diving in Des Moines, WA, just a little south of Seattle propper. They are a GUE centric shop but have everything you need for tech diving including He fills, doubles support and organizing group tech dives in the area. Reach out to them for more local specific information.

I am not personally familiar with a lot of scuba friendly caves in the area. They exist all over including in the sound but are poorly documented and rarely if ever dived. You would be the first person I know of exploring these features and laying lines.

While we are short on organized cave parks do have a lot of protected marine areas, underwater parks for divers, and wrecks of all kinds to explore. If you can’t find a cave you can definitely find a wreck worth exploring in the area or a cold water reef worth visiting agian and agian.

If you are not already equipped get a dry suit with thick fleece undergarments. it will make your pnw experience a lot better in and out of the water. We don’t use electric undergarments personally but we keep our dives to 45-90 minutes in length. Longer dives, snowy days, or deco stops may necessitate heated gear.

Take a look at the Northwest Dive Club - Homepage forums. They are a region specific dive forums and have some dives and local expertise to help get you acquainted with the local scene.

Also grab a copy of 151 dives. It’s a great starting point of some of the diving you can get in the area.

151 Dives in the Protected Waters of Washington State and British Columbia

By boat, from shore, or by dive-kayak, enjoy exciting dives in Washington and British Columbia's famous emerald waters

www.mountaineers.org

Otherwise if you have specific questions feel free to reach out. My wife and I are still on our path to tech diving with an interest in deep reefs and wreck diving. But we would be happy to share anything we know with you to get set up.

Good luck and welcome to the pacific north west.

 

[Boarderguy]

Lots of good diving around here with a healthy diving community. Summer time is 6-gill season in the south sound. They're seen in the 80-100 ft range most of the time. You have the opportunity to dive with fin thieving bastards as well. We do have an issue of algae bloom during the warmer months that makes the shallow areas really suck for vis. One of the good things (imo) is you can get deep here with almost no effort so you can put your trimix cert to use. There are quite a few tech dives(wrecks) in Lake Washington that are worth the effort as well.

Eight diving is about the only tech oriented shop left around that I can think of. It's about 30 min south of Seattle. For every day diving Underwater Sports in Seattle can take care of you. They fill O2 up to 100% with the appropriate cert.

Facebook groups are the go to as well.

Marker Buoy Club
Kelp Crawlers
Thursday Night Divers

 

[Bump_Head]

Just thought I’d add to the provided info. North Vancouver Island has sections of Karst geology. Some decent cave diving in low flow season and lots of exploring still to be done. Research “Wet Dreams”. May not be Mexico but it’s relatively close by and relatively undiscovered.

 

[rjack321]

There are quite a few (~350-400) wrecks down to 300ft in Puget Sound and Lake Washington in particular. Unfortunately, there are basically no charters going to any of them anymore. And the local knowledge to actually dive them is fading fast. That is an area ripe for "rediscovery" but only if you invest in a boat. About 6-8 of them are scooterable from shore. Most can be found on NOAA multibeam bathymetry fairly easily except for the vis being very limited.

There are at least a dozen choptima suitable caves on Vancouver Island, but the closest is going to be 10 hrs of travel north. You'll need to find folks who trust you enough to bring you to them. They are not publicized, and high clearance 4WD is mandatory for basically all of them apart from wet dream.

You'll probably want heated undergarments outside the summer times when the deco stop time is generally bearable for the wrecks. Vancouver Island caves are 3 to 5C require heated undergarments for any significant dives.

 

[Underwater Tourist]

@rjack321 whats the depth of BC caves?I imagine they all deep tunnels in hard rock?

 

[rjack321]

@rjack321 whats the depth of BC caves?I imagine they all deep tunnels in hard rock?

The limestone is heavily metamorphosed into a dark marble with some igneous intrusions (which are often magnetic which sucks). Much of the bedding plane is vertical or at the very least radically tilted. Depths vary A LOT. Some of the short shallow systems might only be 10m long and 1m deep between dry passages. Then there's the deepest cave dive in Canada in northern BC which is 400ft basically straight down (and 2C).

Vancouver Island examples:
Wet dream is a max of 45m
Reappearing River is 75m max
Devil's Spring 120+m
Devil's Bath 50m
Tsulton Rising 38-40m
Gspot is 41m max

 

[AeroSpartacus]

Thanks everyone for all the details, this is really helpful! Sounds like I'll probably be looking at getting heated undergarments before too long, especially for fall/winter. I'm a bit of a baby for temperature after mostly Mexico and Florida, I'll have to toughen up a bit I'll check out all those groups as well.

 

[davehicks]

Thanks everyone for all the details, this is really helpful! Sounds like I'll probably be looking at getting heated undergarments before too long, especially for fall/winter. I'm a bit of a baby for temperature after mostly Mexico and Florida, I'll have to toughen up a bit I'll check out all those groups as well.

Welcome to the PNW! There is great diving around here, and it's not always about caves and deep. We have amazing and big animals to be seen here and colorful tiny bits as well. With Puget Sound and Hood Canal near by, and British Columbia and Vancouver Island a road trip away, it's a rich diving paradise.

Check out Porpoise Bay Diving, in Sechelt Inlet for deep wall diving with gorgonians and cloud sponges. It's a great example of what's available.