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

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.

Des Moines

Saltwater State Park

Great shore dive! Even better at Night!
Good for training or having a large gathering.
Guide ropes and easy bottom definition for ease of navigation. don't forget to visit the swing and the VW Bug!

Large parking area.
easy walk across street and down stairs, in to water/ beach depending on tide.

Redondo Beach

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.

Popular site for out-of-towners and dive training. Rock piles provide for marine habitat. Great photo ops. Gently sloping area, easy entry.

Beach/boat access. Ample parking, restrooms, consesions, picnic tables and restaurants. Popular training site.

Commencement bay; N Ruston Way.

Les Davis is also known as Les Davis Pier.

Les Davis

This site has it all!  Well, almost-- no wrecks, no Whale Sharks-- but if you are looking for interesting marine life, this is the place.  With a creviced wall at about 30 to 60 feet deep and 100 feet long, you'll spend most of your time exploring the nooks and crannies.   Wolf Eels and Octopus are the highlights.  Bring two tanks, and plan to spend the day in the area-- but not the night, as the gates are locked at dusk.  If you aren't familiar with using the tide tables, don't dive this site-- the current can surprise you!

Found in Gig Harbor, about 6 miles NW of Tacoma.  Take either exit of Highway 16 to get to Gig Harbor, and wind your way around to the North part of the harbor.  

You'll find yourself on Peacock Hill Ave NW. 
Make a right on 96th Street NW, then a left on Crescent Valley Drive.  
In less than a mile, turn right onto Hallstrom Dr. NW and follow the signs down to the park.

Remember the landmarks going down, as you won't find "Gig Harbor: This Way" signs coming back up!

Sunrise Beach Park

A great place for artifact hunting, Titlow Beach offers pilings, walls and crevices to explore. Make sure you see the pillars of white sea anenomes on the posts. Fantastic. Pacific Octopus are known to be around as well!

Set up equipment on picnic tables and walk down a hill to the beach.

Titlow Beach is also known as 6th Avenue Dock.

Titlow is found on the shores of the Tacoma Narrows. Head North on  Highway 16 from I-5 in Tacoma as if you are heading to Gig Harbor.  Just before the ol' Galloping Girdy (The nickname of the previous bridge span-- look it up on the Internet!), exit and take a left on Jackson Ave.  Turn right on 6th Street, and wind your way down to the park.

Titlow Beach

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

A very distinctive wall dive running North and South. This Dive is fore advanced divers. 

Done as a drift dive if by boat.
Able to dive from shore on a minimal tide exchange and slack current. need to make current corrections from Narrows current table.

Day Island Wall is also known as DIW.

Day Island Wall



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.

Alki Junkyard (Alki Beach Park)

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.

Saltwater State Park

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Saltwater State Park