Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Mason County

Like the close-by Sund Rock area, Octopus Hole is very popular with Scuba divers who enjoy diving the wall to view various underwater creatures, including but not limited to Lingcod, North Pacific Giant Octopus, Wolf Eel, and nudibranch. The most popular wall to dive in this area is about 200 yards long and starts at roughly 40 fsw, going down to roughly 50-60' fsw, depending upon the tide. Many divers use a large tree that has partially fallen out towards the water to help find the beginning of this wall. Once they have done the surface swim out to this tree, they can then drop down to the wall. Another, smaller wall is accessible, at roughly 90 fsw. This wall is nearly straight out from where most divers climb down from highway 101. Because Octopus Hole is a conservation area, no hunting or gathering of any kind is permitted. The area also has very limited parking. Essentially, parking areas are nothing more than small turnouts on the highway. There is no formal trail or pathway. Getting gear down and back from the water requires good balance as you walk down on large irregular rocks to the water. Sometimes two trips is better, remove weights or camera gear on one trip. In spite of this, the Octopus Hole is quite popular. Access is always free of charge. This area is not current sensitive. Source: Wikipedia.org Octopus Hole is a designated conservation area on Washington's Hood Canal. It is located right off Highway 101 just over three miles from Hoodsport.

Sund Rock is by mike's dive shop at Hoodsport on 101. There is a 15 dollar fee for this dive but they have showers and bathrooms. From what I have been told you can find a path and dive Sund Rock free. Great dive. Info on site is at "Hood Sport 'N Dive".Wall dive. Aquatic life includes sea anemones, sea cucumbers, crab, shrimp, rockfish, sculpin, lingcod, wolf eels, and spiny dogfish shark. In order to access Sund Rock you must pay entrance fee to "Hood Sport 'N Dive" on 24080 N. Hwy 101 P.O. Box 1445 Hoodsport, WA Once entrance fee is payed a nice open parking lot is avalible to set up gear just 5 feet from the water. Very nice area.

Mike's Beach Resort is right off of Highway 101 about 50 miles north of Olympia. Very easy to find.

Small turnoff on HWY 101; room for three or four cars only. Gear-up in the parking area and walk down a fairly steep hill for shore access to the canal. There's a 250-300' surface swim to the North wall; not sure on the depth but it's no problem to hit 100 FSW and deeper if you so wish. There's also a small rock structure 90 degrees from the entry point. The animal life is abundant, Wolf Eel's, spotted Rat Fish, GPO's, Nudibranch's and much more. This site is only dove by the hearty because of the steepness of the hill. Tide and current are of little concern at this site on Hood Canal.