Long Island Wall

[LCF]

Dive Site Name: Long Island Wall

Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced (current sensitive, sheer wall to beyond rec depths, kelp)

Current Sensitive: yes. Diveable on flood

Location/Address: Southwest corner of Lopez Island

Directions: Boat dive

Nearby Facilities: (bathrooms, food, etc.)

Special Considerations:

Maximum Depth: Wall falls off to well beyond 130 (just beyond where we were, sounder said 170)

Known Hazards: current, kelp, sheer wall with no bottom

Dive Site Description: Stunningly beautiful steep wall. Deeper sections are covered in a variety of sponges, including vase and boot sponges. Middle has metridiums, various rockfish (including tigers), and nudibranchs. Shallow section has kelp, black rockfish and Puget Sound rockfish. The whole wall is covered in life, and the topography is dramatic.

[dsteding]

Location/Address: Southwest corner of Lopez Island

I think Lynne meant that Long Island is off of the southwest side of Lopez--the wall itself is on the western side of Long Island, look for small (~10-20 foot high) cliffs on shore, the wall is along that area.

[coachrenz]

You mean right about here? It's the one with the dot on the flag.

[dsteding]

You mean right about here? It's the one with the dot on the flag.

Nope. West side of the island--the tip furthest west.

[coachrenz]

You mean right about here? It's the one with the dot on the flag.

Nope. West side of the island--the tip furthest west.

Could there possibly be a different wall on Long Island? I have never been on the site, the GPS coordinates came from a different source. I know that the coordinates that were used were called the North Wall.

Based on Lynne's description, it sure sounds like a place I need to get to. Maybe have to run my boat up there and check all these cool San Juan sites out.

[CaptnJack]

North wall is a different, slightly friendlier site hitting ~15fathoms (90ft). The one mentioned here is in a few books. Generally speaking walls aren't IDed by GPS they are described by geographic features - in this case the island, but also Ewing Island Wall or Sares Head, Kellett Bluff, etc. etc. This is one of those sites that can get you into a whole heap of trouble really fast; doing your homework is critical.

[LCF]

Yes, even timing it carefully, we had a part of the dive where the current was absolutely FLYING us along the wall. We weren't worried, because we had tended live boats above us, but without that, I would have been totally freaked. You can't anchor where we were diving, either; it's too deep. And where you have heavy currents along walls, you have the possibility of up and downdrafts, too.

But the wall is stunning, both from topography and from life on it. Absolutely worth diving, with proper planning and backup.