Point Whitney

The dive shop Octopuses Garden recommend this site since we were looking for a current independent site. This is a good site for beginners or as a second shallow dive since the bottom slopes very gently. Also, it is very convenient to follow the pipelines and not have to worry too much about navigation. Once we found the pipeline (which is about 100' to the left of the pilings) we followed it slowly down to about 40'. Saw lots of life on and under pipeline including octopus, lemon nudi, decorator crab, rockfish, etc. the highlight for us was being buzzed by a 3-4 foot dogfish who circled us one and then scooted away.

Pt. Whitney, often overlooked and seldom crowded, is a very good site offering sufficient parking, restrooms, convenient shore access, and a healthy biosystem. Visibility is occasionally (very) limited, 8 to 15 ft, but the marine life in the shallower depths (12-32 fsw) is abundant and diverse. Pt. Whitney is a fine place to conduct certification dives or work with less experienced divers because current is not a problem. There is a boat ramp nearby for boaters and fishermen, and divers are well advised to use a safety float and dive flag. To reach Pt. Whitney from Portland or Centralia, take I-5 north to Exit 104 and drive west on Hwy 101 toward Aberdeen and Port Angeles. Remain on 101, following signs through Hoodsport and continue north through Brinnon. Look to the right for an RV park at Bee Mill Road, turn right off Hwy 101, guide right and follow narrow Point Whiney Road past homes and a scout camp to the Point Whitney State Shellfish Laboratory. As you approach the Hood Canal on this road, the laboratory is on your right. A boat ramp is almost directly ahead. Restrooms are to your left, and you will find adequate parking along the unpaved area to your left, beyond the restrooms. You can park about 20 yards from the water! On days when the visibility is good, you can follow the pipeline directly from the shore into >75 fsw. If you follow the pipeline to approx 30-32 ft and turn 90 degrees to your left, you may find what appears to be an attempt or start of an artificial reef of pipes and cinder blocks, which is where I found a small octopus. The shallower water is a wonderful area to explore for tubesnout, painted greenling, blackeye goby, crescent gunnels and lemon nudibranchs hiding among the eel grass. Lodging is conveniently available at the Glen Ayr Canal Resort (360-877-9522), the Sunrise Motel (360-877-5301) or other motels to the south of Pt. Whitney, but you'll have to drive further to find a dive shop. I believe the closest source for air refills and accessories would be Hood Sport n' Dive (Ph: 360-877-6818) or Mike's Diving Center (Ph: 360-877-9568), so go to Pt. Whitney well prepared.