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

King 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



Just South of downtown Seattle, take the West Seattle Bridge to hop over to West Seattle. Just before the bridge ends, make a right onto Harbor Ave SW. Drive Northwest until you round the point and find yourself heading Southwest on Alki Ave SW. The whole stretch is considered Alki Beach Park, but drive to the end of the beach section before parking. Just before the beach residences, there will be a pathway down to the beach.

Seattle

Alki Junkyard (Alki Beach Park)

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. 

Seacrest Park Cove 3

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

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

Lot's of life to see and photograph. There are two wrecks at the site which host a ton of critters. No current to worry about. there is a Honey Bucket at the end of the fishing pier and a small coffee shopat the parking area.

Limited parking along the access area, about 3 or 4 cars max., but there are plenty of places to park off the road which leaves you a very short walk.

Harper's Pier is also known as Harper's Ferry.

Harper's Pier

Historic former Mosquito fleet and 100-ft long ferry dock; this .3-acre park is now an ideal spot for fishing and scuba diving. In 1995, the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners transferred ownership of the Point White Pier to the Bainbridge Island Park & Recreation District.

Point White Pier (Crystal Springs Pier)

Incredible dive site, Great for macro photography and also a great night dive.
need to be respectful of local nieghbors.
Three distinct dive profiles here.
1.)Straight out, down the tire piles.
2.)To the left of the entry is a cabin cruiser   in aprox 60 fsw
3.)to the right, out to the junk yard.
Do this dive with someone who knows the site.
Most of the time there is a slight eddy current going from the north to the soth towards the point.
Current will increase as you get closer to the point.


Limmited parking space.
About 5 car's max Maybe 6.
No utilities/Restrooms or fresh water.

Three Tree N. is also known as TTN.

Three Tree N.

Agate Pass is a 4.666666666666667-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Washington, USA West which is accessible from shore based on 3 ratings.

Agate Pass

Underwater artificial reef for scuba divers. Because this is a marine preserve the number and size of fish are impressive for a shore dive. The underwater rocks and metal poles have grown an excellent amount of life over the years so it is worth the surface swim out. The two white marker buoys mark the first and last of the 3 artificial rock piles.

Saltwater creek is a state park so typical state park restrictions apply: open dawn-dusk and discover pass required for parking. If you get a space up front you will be parked extremely close to the beach.  There is a dive map posted on site which will show the three artificial reef rock piles and the location of the white marker bouys you can use to find them.

Saltwater State Park

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

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

Alki Junkyard (Alki Beach Park)

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Alki Junkyard (Alki Beach Park)