Diving spots in/near Washington State

[kaylee_ann]

Depends on where you are going. Edmonds Dive Park is amazing, but you need to benup for some long surface swims.
My favorite spot is Rosario Beach at Deception Pass. It's an easy beach entry and tons of life. I'm actually headed out there this afternoon.

If you want an easy but cool non-overhead wreck dive there is one in Lake Whatcom.

What is the experience you want to have?

wrecks are awesome, I've always wanted to dive one.
as for what I want...a site with a lot to see. like sea life, underwater plants, etc. not incredibly hard to get to, but it doesn't have to be super simple either. semi-long swims are fine by me; if it's super awesome, I'll swim forever LOL

 

[kaylee_ann]

Sounds like you won't be surprised here then. We can definitely help you find the best diving opportunities for you when you make it out to the PNW.

Just to give you a little context... My dive last night at Redondo (Des Moines, WA) looking for sixgill sharks was 55°F water temp and 10-15 ft visibility at depth (about 5 ft viz in the shallows) -- that was considered good conditions this time of year, but if you come in a few months, it will likely be 10-20ft viz at all depths and 50°F or so water temp.

oh yeah. what I forgot to tell you- which may be important- is that I don't have a drysuit. I'll be getting a 7mm wetsuit/hooded vest/booties and the works, eventually. not sure if it's enough. I was totally comfortable in 75 degree water with all of that, but I get cold so so easily. it sucks
eta- my open water dives were in 50-ish degree water (thermoclines), I think I had a 5mm wetsuit and I was absolutely freezing lol

 

[OrcasC205]

oh yeah. what I forgot to tell you- which may be important- is that I don't have a drysuit. I'll be getting a 7mm wetsuit/hooded vest/booties and the works, eventually. not sure if it's enough. I was totally comfortable in 75 degree water with all of that, but I get cold so so easily. it sucks
eta- my open water dives were in 50-ish degree water (thermoclines), I think I had a 5mm wetsuit and I was absolutely freezing lol

People here that dive in wetsuits generally wear a 7mm two-piece Farmer John - that's what my daughters and I wore during our open water training. It was cold even though the weather was warm at the end of September. And to be honest, it was harder to dive in those than in a drysuit due to the buoyancy change due to compression and the lack of mobility.

One thing to consider is getting your drysuit cert while you are out here -- I can recommend a couple of very good instructors that will get you going in the right direction if you are interested in going Tech eventually.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

if I had a ton of money, that wouldn't even be a question- I'd be packing my bags right now! haha

Yikes!! Only five more sunrises before boarding! I gotta start packing here pretty soon.

 

[kaylee_ann]

People here that dive in wetsuits generally wear a 7mm two-piece Farmer John - that's what my daughters and I wore during our open water training. It was cold even though the weather was warm at the end of September.

And to be honest, it was harder to dive in those than in a drysuit due to the buoyancy change due to compression and the lack of mobility.

Oh, really? I never noticed difficulty in buoyancy control or anything, but I was wearing a one piece with a hooded vest underneath. Maybe that's the difference?

One thing to consider is getting your drysuit cert while you are out here -- I can recommend a couple of very good instructors that will get you going in the right direction if you are interested in going Tech eventually.

That'd be awesome, thanks! Feel free to send me a PM if you'd like.

 

[kaylee_ann]

Yikes!! Only five more sunrises before boarding! I gotta start packing here pretty soon.

man I'm jealous!! how long are ya staying?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

If you mean southerly on the West Coast, the same conditions apply all the way down the coast. Diving in San Diego in October a couple years ago, viz was down to 5 feet due to surge and water temp was 53°F. The next day was better viz (like 20 ft) but the water was just as cold. Same conditions are true from my experience diving in Monterrey in August and September.

San Diego and south to northern Baja is weird. The cold Alaskan current can upwell and touch the coast that far down. They even have bull kelp I heard!
But then north in the LA area inside the Channel
Islands it can be in the low 70’s, like Catalina.
Up where I am it’s completely exposed and the temp is 46 to 53 year around with no thermoclines.
The ocean is too active for a thermocline to form.
But it is wild!
Great hunting, if you’re into fresh seafood.

 

[VikingDives]

Hey! I'm doing a cross-country drive in a few months and, of course, want to work diving in somehow. Being that WA is on the coast and not incredibly far from other West Coast states, I figured there'd be something. But I'm not sure what. Any ideas of some really good places I shouldn't miss? Thanks!

If you can make it to my neck of the woods, you can dive for free. Just dm me so we can set up dates.

 

[OrcasC205]

Oh, really? I never noticed difficulty in buoyancy control or anything, but I was wearing a one piece with a hooded vest underneath. Maybe that's the difference?

LOL. The last time I dove in a thick two piece wetsuit was my 6th dive (including the 4 from my OW cert), so maybe it was just that I wasn't very good.

That'd be awesome, thanks! Feel free to send me a PM if you'd like.

I will send a DM shortly.

 

[kaylee_ann]

San Diego and south to northern Baja is weird. The cold Alaskan current can upwell and touch the coast that far down. They even have bull kelp I heard!
But then north in the LA area inside the Channel
Islands it can be in the low 70’s, like Catalina.
Up where I am it’s completely exposed and the temp is 46 to 53 year around with no thermoclines.
The ocean is too active for a thermocline to form.
But it is wild!
Great hunting, if you’re into fresh seafood.

I can’t stand thermoclines! One minute you’re all relaxed in 70 degree warm water, the next, you’re being frozen alive in 50 LOL.