Diving in Seattle / Olympic National Park September 9-11, 2018

[Trailboss123]

A couple of other things.
1. There is a very nice shore dive right in Tacoma that is not really current or tide sensitive. It is called Les Davis Marine Park. There is a very good chance that I could buddy up with you to dive there on the 23rd and/or 24th.
2. As for the Olympic Peninsula. You might want to consider basing yourself in Hoodsport, WA. Not totally sure what your objectives and desires are while on the peninsula, but Hoodsport is a quaint little town with great access to hiking in the mountains, Cushman Lake is beautiful! and some killer shore diving at Sund Rock or Octopus Hole (also not current or tide sensitive). There is a dive shop right in Hoodsport that is tech diving oriented. Here is an accommodation link for my favorite place to stay in Hoodsport and a link to the dive shop. You could also check airbnb or VRBO- but Glen Ayr is a great place to stay.
Glen Ayr Resort – Skokomish Tribal Enterprises
Home - Hoodsport 'N Dive

 

[tmassey]

Wow, thank you all!

This is quite a process. Thank you so much for your help.

Regarding Seattle/Lynnwood: we have seen the light. We're probably going to move both parts of our stay to Federal Way (before and after Olympic/Yellowstone/Portland). Closer to Olympic and diving, and not much farther for visiting Seattle. My wife has found a highly-rated AirBnB, but we haven't booked yet.

Regarding Olympic NP: The reason we are going to Olympic is to see rainforest -- my wife has wanted to do this for 20 years or more. And I now know that means the west side of the peninsula. So Hoodsport is not ideal: 3+ hours to Hoh. Forks seems like a better option (and both are better than what we picked in Fort Townsend! ). And I *completely* missed the need for a ferry. Navigation in your town is... challenging. Wow.

So: Arrive Friday evening 9/7; Saturday is downtown Seattle; Sunday morning is diving, rest of day touring something in that area likely. Monday is the long drive from Federal Way to Forks along the *top* of the Olympic peninsula (and visiting Hurricane Ridge along the way). Tuesday is Hoh rainforest and Kalaloch tidepool. Wednesday we leave for Spokane (on the way to Yellowstone/Jackson Hole/Portland).

Back to Tacoma (or Federal Way) Saturday night 9/22. Diving Sunday morning, rest of day touring something in that area likely. Monday is either visiting Seattle or Tacoma (whichever we prefer), and fly home Tuesday afternoon.

Right now, I have no real idea on what I'll be doing for diving. It looked like I had a great line on a charter with Bandito's on the 23rd. But that's actually going out of San Juans -- so that's out! I left a message with Tacoma Scuba regarding their charter on Ocean Quest on 9/23.

There are two places that have said they would see what they might be able to put together. I called 8Diving and spoke to George. He said he'd talk to people in the shop and see if there's any interest in a store-organized dive on the 23rd and he'll let me know in a few days. I also got a call back from Kathy at NorthWest Dive Charters. She said she could probably find people for both days and that there's a great new GUE dive shop in Des Moines... So it looks like both places might be able to work together to make something happen!

@Trailboss123, thank you very much for your offer. I may take you up on that! I'd love to nail some of these items down. Right now, though, I've got two different groups trying to see what they can do for me and I don't want to waste people's time and effort, so I think I'm going to have to pause for a moment and see what comes about.

My last concern: Kathy was mentioning that a charter would likely be from 6:30AM to as late as 3 or even 4PM. That's a long day. Is that what most any charter is going to require? If so, I may need to focus more on shore diving, just for the time element...

Again, thank you all very much for your help! It is a tremendous help.

 

[Deco up the slope]

Hi tmassey,

I can hook you up bro. I live near Lynnwood and we have a ton of great diving here. Edmonds is awesome, Possession Fingers is awesome, Keystone is awesome, Skyline is awesome, etc.

I have lots of doubles and would be happy to hook you up with some filled with delicious 32%. Also have an extra scooter if you want to go play around.

I’d be happy to be your buddy and guide but if you’re staying in Tacoma that might be a problem because that’s a long ass drive! Also....I’m a “non-fan” of most of the dive sites down there like Les Davis and Redondo.

Cheers!

 

[tmassey]

I just wanted to update this. It looks like I've been squared away for the 9th. I'm going out with 8Diving.com. @Deco up the slope : Thank you *so* much for your offer, but unfortunately I had already switched over to Tacoma...

Still footloose and fancy-free for Sunday the 23rd. @Trailboss123 has made a couple of suggestions, which I appreciate. Given the length of time for a typical boat trip (it seems a 2-tank trip takes like 8 hours...), it looks like I'll be focusing on shore dives. I'd like to wrap up in early afternoon at the latest.

At what point would someone (say, me!) be able to figure out what the tides will be doing on September 23, and how it would affect diving options?

I'm set up for doubles, so I'd really like to rent a set of doubles for Sunday. I'll be coming in from Portland on Saturday, and staying in Federal Way. Any suggestions on a dive shop I should consider?

Thank you very much for your info!

 

[tmassey]

And one other thought: what shore dives might you suggest to highlight Pacific Ocean specific scenery? I've done Great Lakes and South Florida / Keys / Caribbean diving exclusively. This is my first opportunity for something different!

Thank you very much!

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

For twinsets, you have 2 choices: 8diving.com or 8diving.com. Both located in Des Moines, near Federal Way.

My favorite shore dive in Keystone Jetty, but that requires a bit of dive planning. I'd suggest boat diving if you can with the Oceanquest out of Des Moines (close to 8) or Bandito Charters out of Tacoma. Both great dive charters.

There have been a number of 6 gill shark sightings at Redondo Beach.

How far are you willing to dive for shore dives? Send me via PM your email address and I'll send you the dive planning document I've been working on for open water students (Puget Sound region), that has a fair bit of info for you (just about to publish, I just need permission to use one dive map before I do so).

 

[tmassey]

I'd say 30-60 or so minutes? If it were just me, I'd drive farther: I drive two hours to get to the Great Lakes shipwrecks off the tip of the thumb here in Michigan. But it's the entire family being dragged around to deposit me someplace and pick me up, so shorter is definitely better.

My goal on the 23rd is to head south. On the 9th we'll be heading north, and the idea is I get dropped off at 8Diving as the family heads towards Seattle. On the 23rd I'm hoping to get dropped off somewhere as the family heads to Tacoma.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

For twinsets, your choices are 8diving.com and 8diving.com.

I'd say 30-60 or so minutes? If it were just me, I'd drive farther: I drive two hours to get to the Great Lakes shipwrecks off the tip of the thumb here in Michigan. But it's the entire family being dragged around to deposit me someplace and pick me up, so shorter is definitely better.

My goal on the 23rd is to head south. On the 9th we'll be heading north, and the idea is I get dropped off at 8Diving as the family heads towards Seattle. On the 23rd I'm hoping to get dropped off somewhere as the family heads to Tacoma.

You could get away with Keystone Jetty on Whidbey Island. They go explore the park that's nearby while you dive. That is what I'll do with my girlfriend next time I head up there.

23rd sounds like a good day for diving with Bandito.

 

[tmassey]

If Google is correct, Whidbey Island is 2 hours from where I'm staying (Federal Way) -- each way, and very much north. I'm looking for Tacoma area if possible. And Bandito is diving the San Juans that day. So both of them are out.

It has been suggested that I look at Les Davis pier and Titlow marine park. Octopus and wolf eel both sound like great things to go looking for at both of those places. I'm a reasonably experienced current/drift diver: we dive the St. Clair River regularly here, and that's a 4+ knot current -- literally. (Ref: USGS Current Conditions for USGS 04159130 ST. CLAIR RIVER AT PORT HURON, MI )

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

@NWGratefulDiver

Bob, are you going to be around then?