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Dives near Bellingham (Keystone Jetty, Rosario?)

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 10:09 pm
by cephalogoddess
Hey guys,
I live in Bellingham, Washington and want to find some good dives up here. I've mostly been diving around Seattle (favorite place to dive is either Alki or Salt Creek near Port Angeles). I hope to dive this weekend at Keystone Jetty and Rosario. Do you have any tips for those two sites? Or any suggestions for other dives around this area?

Thanks a bunch,
Taryn

Re: Dives near Bellingham (Keystone Jetty, Rosario?)

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:07 am
by 60south
Keystone Jetty has wonderful diving! (Look out for the currents.)

Hm.... I notice that Keystone isn't listed in the Dive Site Listings forum. Yikes! Someone needs to fix that. Jan???

Edit: Just looked at the currents this weekend at: http://tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/45.html
Pretty gnarly. You could do slack around 5:48 this evening, but I'd give it a pass otherwise.
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Re: Dives near Bellingham (Keystone Jetty, Rosario?)

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 2:15 pm
by cephalogoddess
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I didn't see until after we dove keystone. We survived and it was an incredible dive. Actually going to do it again today at 5. Huge lingcod and lots of clown dorids. Even snorkeled for a while at the end when our air was low.

Re: Dives near Bellingham (Keystone Jetty, Rosario?)

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 4:38 pm
by Jan K
What a coincidence. I am glad you had a good dive at Keystone, even if it was not the most favorable tide/ current day for it.
Can you find yourself and your buddy in the picture ? I did get one picture of the cryptic nudibranch, maybe on your next dive, look for the eggs.
The scientific name varies in my books, as does the common name. Quite common these days :)
Image

Re: Dives near Bellingham (Keystone Jetty, Rosario?)

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 7:13 pm
by YellowEye
Taryn,
Keystone's a wonderful spot! The best I can think of for you near your area.

Its best done a best slack before flood into a mild flood (preferably 1.5 knot max flood, or 1.2 knots or less for good bottom time at the end of the jetty, with some experience/skills in the current). Unfortunately, this time of year that mostly happens late at night.

The first half of the year is the best to get a lot of dives in there, wind barring. That being said, there may be a few good days this year.

10/21-23 are likely good afternoon splashes for a milder ride. Be sure you get out of the water before it gets dark. It gets super dark there -- also you'd need a permit for night diving. And definitely check the wind forecast! 8/30 and 8/31 may also be doable -- but those are early weekdays!

Have fun!

Re: Dives near Bellingham (Keystone Jetty, Rosario?)

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 11:17 am
by ohopdiver
Shore: Skyline Wall and Washington Park in Anacortes. If you have a boat Big Cone Is