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

Chelan 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

There is the Chelan Scuba Cache here for geocachers just up slope from the old car that sits at about 111ft.  The slope drops off quickly with some loose rock so do not hand on the rocks. Not much fish but the old car is in good shape and the steep slope and huge boulders add to the dive.

Easy entry from shore, just a few steps down the large rocks to the water from the end of the guard rail. Easy pull off and parking on the side of the road.

Manson

Lake Chelan Car Wreck

The T-dock is a great place for a leisurely dive, bottle hunting or grabbing a few crabs.  The pilings on the old dock are always interesting to explore.

Take exit 189 off I-5 in Everett, and head West on 526.  Then head North on 525.  Follow signs to the Mukilteo Ferry.  Take a right at the intersection just after you pass of over the railroad tracks  (See the aerial photo).  Just past the hotel on your left, turn left into the parking area.

Mukilteo T-Dock

A semi-interesting dive.  By swimming west off of wharf, there are sporadically placed piles of rocks, tires, and other debris.  Wildlife is located around these piles.  This dive site can also me combined with 100 foot rock.  Depth is 15 feet at west side of wharf and becomes very deep as you swim west.  Bottom is sandy and moderately sloping.  There is a small kelp forest that grows in the summer off of the parts of the wharf that have fallen into the water.   
This wharf closed in mid 90's.  You can swim under it though it is shallow and there is little to see.    

Small parking lot east of Wharf,  do not park in front of drive ways.

Meadowdale Wharf is also known as Haine's Wharf.

Meadowdale Wharf

This dive is a large glacial erratic (huge rock deposited by glacier).  It is almost 100 feet at the deepest.  The rock;s dimensions are about 20 feet high and 30 feet long.  Lots of hidden spots for cool animals.  
To get to sight:  from the surface you will see a white buoy (this buoy is south of the warf and can be seen on Google Earth.  Swim to, and descend on this buoy.  Bottom will be roughly 50 feet.  You will notice that you are in a shallow trench, get in the middle of this trench and swim west, the rock will become visible in a few minutes of swimming.     

Park in Small Parking lot near the Warf. 

100 Foot Rock

This is a site you can come back to dozens of times and never see it all.  Set up specifically for divers, you'll find wrecks, bottles, and sea life galore--  but don't even think about bringing anything back with you!  Navigation is relatively easy with the well-placed system of buoys and ropes that lead to many of the underwater sights.

Just North of Seattle, take Exit 177 off I-5 and head West toward the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry on 104.  Just before you find yourself at the Ferry, take a left on Main Street, cross the railroad tracks, then turn right into the park.

Edmonds Underwater Park

Enter in at the very southern end of the Edmonds Marina Breakwater.  Hit the 40 foot contour and swim north-ish keep at around 40 feet.  Large piles of rocks, logs, and kelp are sporadically placed making for some pretty interesting reefs.  Lots of rockfish, lingcod, and cabezon.  
This is a high current area.  Lots of boats too so carry a dive flag (it's the law) and surface close to shore.  The weakest current at Point Edwards (about where this dive is located) is during max ebb or max flood.      

Park at Edmonds Marina Beach Park

Edmonds Breakwater

The Edmonds Oil Dock can offer all the sights of Puget Sound.  It's a bit more technical than other dives in the area due to the complications of current, but it's very worthwhile.  Go with someone experienced in the area for the first dive.

Just North of Seattle, take Exit 177 off I-5 and head West toward the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry on 104.  Just before you find yourself at the Ferry, take a left on Dayton, and then another left onto Admiral Way.  Follow this road into Marina Beach.

Edmonds Oil Dock

Fun spot for crabbing and having a little change up. There are restrooms and showers in the parking lot. You want to head out on the North West side of pier with the huge wall.  Swim out, Dive then follow the wall out towards the deeper water. You will then see a bunch of tires located in about 25 to 45 feet of water. You can't miss it. Lots of life and low use make it a fun dive. Nice change up.  Vis will range around 15-20 in January and improves quite a bit around 15-20' plus in depth.

You can park right next to the pier.  

Langley Tire Reef

Easy shore dive and great option when cove 2 is super busy. Pro tip: Are you fine with a short walk? Start at Cove 2 and swim south along the shore past the underwater pilings. Keep going underwater all the way to explore cove 1. You essentially will have explored a good portion of TWO different sites. You can walk back on the park trail (depending on which cove you parked at).

Free street parking along park and super easy shore entry

Seacrest Park Cove 1 is also known as Alki Cove 1.

Seacrest Park Cove 1

This is the 2nd most dived site in Washington for good reason. Easy and lots of fish, invertebrates, and giant pacific octopus. Ropes mark popular dive routes. Several sunk boats and other artificial rubble on the mud bottom add additional area for life to grow. Huge sunken pilings to the right of access are covered in massive plumose anemones are an impressive sight and attract a variety of fish. Octos are also a common sight here once you learn where to look.

Free street parking or in ferry/restaurant parking lot. Easy gravel beach for shore access. There are steps on both ends to get to beach. Parking fills up on weekends by non-divers and divers alike (this is the 2nd most used dive site in the state). If you don't want to have to walk go early and get a great spot mere feet from where you splash. 

Seacrest Park Cove 2 is also known as Alki Cove 2.

Seacrest Park Cove 2

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. 

Lake Chelan Car Wreck

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Lake Chelan Car Wreck