Northwest Dive Club

When we make it over to the west side for diving we usually bring our "cargo" trailer as it houses all our gear, heater, wash down station, ect.

We dive Redondo and Alki (if we get up early) a lot because there is easy parking. Not that these are bad spots, but we would like to explore some other places.

I am about 55' in overall length (not small), so thinking of places that might have parking for large boat trailers. We dive all year and I know some of the locations are way more popular in the summer then winter.

Keystone would be one

Saltwater St Park might work for ya

We took the motorcycles down to Saltwater last summer to check it out for a dive site. I could not figure out where to dive from. All we could see was a very large stretch of tidal plane that did not appear to ever get deep.

Point Whitney, octopus hole if you are the only one, flagpole up top, Glenn Ayr,

Nwcid wrote:We took the motorcycles down to Saltwater last summer to check it out for a dive site. I could not figure out where to dive from. All we could see was a very large stretch of tidal plane that did not appear to ever get deep.

surface swim to one of the three buoys, there are rock piles below them to explore, and then follow the bottom back to shore.

bradmond wrote:

Nwcid wrote:We took the motorcycles down to Saltwater last summer to check it out for a dive site. I could not figure out where to dive from. All we could see was a very large stretch of tidal plane that did not appear to ever get deep.

surface swim to one of the three buoys, there are rock piles below them to explore, and then follow the bottom back to shore.

So I assume you mean swim once you get past the large flat area? Again the day we were there, from the parking lot it appeared to be pushing 100 yards to the water. Even with the tide up it would appear it is only a couple of feet deep, not enough to swim. Does it get deeper, or is there specific spot to enter?

Thanks for the replies. Some of those spots look very promising.

Nwcid wrote:

bradmond wrote:

Nwcid wrote:We took the motorcycles down to Saltwater last summer to check it out for a dive site. I could not figure out where to dive from. All we could see was a very large stretch of tidal plane that did not appear to ever get deep.

surface swim to one of the three buoys, there are rock piles below them to explore, and then follow the bottom back to shore.

So I assume you mean swim once you get past the large flat area? Again the day we were there, from the parking lot it appeared to be pushing 100 yards to the water. Even with the tide up it would appear it is only a couple of feet deep, not enough to swim. Does it get deeper, or is there specific spot to enter?

wade out until you can surface swim. that might be a ways out there.

Here's a map of Saltwater, drawn up soon after the artificial reef was completed. There is quite a surface swim out to the reef (or hike...or hike plus swim...). I really enjoy diving this site, but it's best to avoid big exchanges. One ill-timed dive at this site was all the incentive I needed to learn how to read a tide chart.

Note that the buoys shown on the map are not accurate to where they are actually located today. One of the current buoys (the closest to shore) is located just north of the south reef, in about 45fsw. I believe there is a second buoy attached to the middle reef. I thought both of these were WSA mooring buoys...but I don't see them mentioned on the WSA site. I think there is a third buoy located north of the north reef, marking the marine preserve boundary.
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There is a long surface swim for sure. But if you watch the currents this dive is well worth the effort.

Salt Creek is trailer friendly, a summer only site though.
Street parking and use a dolly to haul your gear down the sidewalk to Edmonds.

CaptnJack wrote:Salt Creek is trailer friendly, a summer only site though.

Are you basing this on weather/conditions, or access? Camping is summer only, but I'm pretty sure day-use is available year-round.

Sounds like a couple of these sites sounds like I just need to put my ATV in the trailer too and run the gear to the water that way.

mpenders wrote:

CaptnJack wrote:Salt Creek is trailer friendly, a summer only site though.

Are you basing this on weather/conditions, or access? Camping is summer only, but I'm pretty sure day-use is available year-round.

Just seems like a very long way to drive for iffy weather/swell. Also not 24 hrs access and days are short in winter. Shoot I'm in port orchard and won't bother to drive all the way out there in winter. There are more reliable sites for off season access.

Fort Worden has campsites and diving, all in one. Point Hudson diving is down the street but not really trailer friendly.

CaptnJack wrote:

mpenders wrote:

CaptnJack wrote:Salt Creek is trailer friendly, a summer only site though.

Are you basing this on weather/conditions, or access? Camping is summer only, but I'm pretty sure day-use is available year-round.

Just seems like a very long way to drive for iffy weather/swell. Also not 24 hrs access and days are short in winter. Shoot I'm in port orchard and won't bother to drive all the way out there in winter. There are more reliable sites for off season access.

Gotcha. True, the weather can bring challenging conditions at SW. Good thing Plan B (aka: The Dond) is only 5 min away. We've had to make that same call during the summer months when a good wind is bringing the rollers at SW.

Multiple dives including both sites is also do-able, especially during the winter months when a second dive might be near/after dusk. It would meet the criteria the OP is looking for.

Lake Cresent is another 30 mins down the road but parking at Sledgehammer would be ok in the winter. Possible in the summer if you're lucky but annoying.

CaptnJack wrote:Lake Cresent is another 30 mins down the road but parking at Sledgehammer would be ok in the winter. Possible in the summer if you're lucky but annoying.

Bovee's Meadow at Lake Crescent would be another good one with trailer-friendly parking. East Beach has good parking but I wouldn't want to take a long trailer down that road.

Thanks for all the replies so far. Giving us some great ideas.

mpenders wrote:

CaptnJack wrote:

mpenders wrote:

CaptnJack wrote:Salt Creek is trailer friendly, a summer only site though.

Are you basing this on weather/conditions, or access? Camping is summer only, but I'm pretty sure day-use is available year-round.

Just seems like a very long way to drive for iffy weather/swell. Also not 24 hrs access and days are short in winter. Shoot I'm in port orchard and won't bother to drive all the way out there in winter. There are more reliable sites for off season access.

Gotcha. True, the weather can bring challenging conditions at SW. Good thing Plan B (aka: The Dond) is only 5 min away. We've had to make that same call during the summer months when a good wind is bringing the rollers at SW.

Multiple dives including both sites is also do-able, especially during the winter months when a second dive might be near/after dusk. It would meet the criteria the OP is looking for.

Just realized I'm an idiot. Salt Creek, not Saltwater. You're right, heck of a drive in the winter when conditions are are a toss up.

Carry on.