I'm here in Tacoma for the expo and was wondering where would be the best spot too spend a day killin time? Called Rick with Bandito, and he said he didn't have anything until this weekend. Recommendations?
Joe
Joe
Tacoma's dive sites?
- Thread starter The_DivePirate
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USIA
Contributor
Check out Edmonds Underwater Park. About 45 minutes away, but a pretty cool low key dive. Especially on a Friday when there aren't a bunch of new students spazzing out when they have to take their masks off underwater.
OP
I'm assuming North to Edmonds, but then where?
USIA
Contributor
OP
Right on! But it says that you must have a buddy, anybody looking too dive tomorrow?
Joe
Joe
I can't dive tomorrow but there are dives much closer than EUP. There is Les Davis Park right there in Tacoma. If you feel like driving up toward Seattle there is 3 Tree N. in Burien, and just across from downtown Seattle at Alki there is Seacreast Park (Cove 2).
All 3 of those sites are not current sensitive. For the record EUP is the only one that prohibits solo diving.
You can find site descriptions/directions here:
Puget Sound Diving and Hood Canal Dive Site Maps and Directions to Washington Dive Sites
OP
Thanks for all the info! Seems as though Redondo beach may be easiest, would that be a good choice? Not really worried about the drive, considering the distance I've already traveled. Just looking for the best bang for the buck.
Joe
Joe
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Joe ... definitely head out to Redondo ... it's a great site, easy entry and exit, and right now there's lots to see.
Enter on the beach just north of Salty's restaurant. Surface swim out to the corner of the pilings you'll see on your left (as you look out). Descend there and swim south till you hit a guide rope. Follow it down to a 60" culvert pipe at about 45 fsw. Right now the pipe's covered with nudibranchs like these (I took these there Tuesday evening) ...
Look carefully under the pipe ... you'll see a few dozen little green and orange heads peering back out at you (penpoint gunnels).
Just below the culvert pipe is a small boat. Look toward the stern on the downslope side ... there's a moderately sized octopus denning under there. Look around carefully, especially around the stern of the boat for grunt sculpins ... they tend to like this spot.
After you're done with the boat, head north at a depth of around 40 feet. You'll come to two small boats, connected by a rope (bow-to-bow). Check out around these for more critters, then make your way to the stern of the deeper of the two. You'll find a large (3" diameter) rope there. Follow that rope north. You'll encounter what looks like a bunch of pipes put together in the shape of a boat. Swim around this and look into the disintegrated ends where the pipes join ... gunnels and grunt sculpins tend to like to shelter in those areas. Continue north along the rope, passing three piles of old street lamp reflectors, a kitchen range and dishwasher, and finally the remains of an old VW beetle. Last Tuesday this bug was covered in nudibranchs ... I found a couple really neat Hermissenda Crassicornis nudis there ...
Just west of the VW is a small rock reef. Sometimes you'll find an octopus tucked into the rocks ... most times you'll find a Red Irish Lord or two hanging around.
When done, head back upslope and look around in the detritus for shaggy mouse nudibranchs, hermit crabs, and Stimpson sea stars.
Navigation at this site is very simple ... out is west, in is east, south takes you to a steeper, deeper dropoff, and north takes you where most of the shallow structure is.
Enjoy ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
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