Neah Bay???

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Seaslave
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Neah Bay???

Post by Seaslave »

Me and some buddies are heading out to Neah Bay next Friday for some halibut fishing :supz: and I thought I'd sneek in a dive or two while I'm there. Any one here been diving out that way? I'll have my boat and a trusty driver. Any spots I should check out, any I should avoid. I don't think there's and LDS there, can anyone confirm that. Let me now. Thanks.


Mathue
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Tom Nic
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Re: Neah Bay???

Post by Tom Nic »

Seaslave wrote:Me and some buddies are heading out to Neah Bay next Friday for some halibut fishing :supz: and I thought I'd sneek in a dive or two while I'm there. Any one here been diving out that way? I'll have my boat and a trusty driver. Any spots I should check out, any I should avoid. I don't think there's and LDS there, can anyone confirm that. Let me now. Thanks.


Mathue
Very cool Mathue! Sounds fun!

Never dove there, but the reviews at http://www.seaotter.com/ are very thorough and intriguing! I'm jealous! Check out the website, and go to the dive site section and you'll find some good info on the the straights. It sounds like fabuous diving!

I know there's a dive shop in Port Angeles, and i think there may be one or two further out, but I'm not sure.
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John Rawlings
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Post by John Rawlings »

No dive shop in Neah bay itself, but you can get air fills at the Snow Creek campground/resort. Here's their link:

http://www.snowcreekwa.com/index.html

There is a small dive shop at Curley's Resort in Sekiu. Here's a link:

http://www.curleysresort.com/

The wreck of the Andalusia is near Snow Creek and is a fascinating dive. You can do a series of dives in the immediate vicinity of Waadah Island. Any good fish finder will show you all SORTS of cool bottom structure all around the island. The best spot off Waadah, though, is "the Fingers". There is a bunch of rocky ridges that my best friend and I always called "the Dinosaur Backs" that other folks INSIST on calling the "Fingers".....I ask you, which name is more COOL?!!!! Anyway, they are at the Western end of Waadah island and the diving there is simply stupendous. Here's a good link:

http://www.seaotter.com/marine/html/waadahfingers.html

My absolute favorite dive site out near Neah Bay, bar none, is Duncan Rock. It is a lone rock, (actually the top of a small seamount), out in the Pacific Ocean outside the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It can only be dived on the rare occasions when conditions are good, however, as they can get can get downright MEAN out there, so dive it only when the seas are calm and the weather fair....this is NOT a joke!

There are plenty of great dive sites around Tatoosh Island as well.

Here's a link to a list of some of the dive sites in the area:

http://www.curleysresort.com/Dive_Sites ... can%20Rock

Neah Bay has some of the absolute finest diving in the PNW....it can literally take your breath away! The only reasons it isn't swamped with divers are the general difficulty in getting there, the fact that a boat is required for the vast majority of the dive sites, and the overall lack of facilities.

Have a great time!

- John
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Seaslave
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Post by Seaslave »

Wow, thanks for the tips John and Tom. Looks like I'll be diving solo so I'll probably do someting fairly simple around Wadaah Island. I'll post a report when I return. Thanks.


Mathue
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nwscubamom
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Post by nwscubamom »

Be forewarned - if you have Nitrox cleaned tanks, the airfill stations out at Curleys and Snow Creek might not meet standards. Not positive on that, but if it applies to you, might be worth looking into.

Neah Bay area is sensational. Lots of great diving, BUT, the conditions must be good. And they can be pretty nasty, or turn nasty, quickly.

Here's some pics to tickle your diving fancy!

http://nwgeogirl.smugmug.com/gallery/1792098#89239433

These were from last summer when the REEF AAT surveyed the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Of particular note was the dive we did on the East side of Tatoosh Island - with a BUNCH of Stellar Sea Lions....I don't think I'd recommend that one!!

I'd also think twice about diving solo there, even around Waadah island. Currents can be strong, and boat traffic is bad news. Be very careful and be forewarned, if that's what you decide to do. :pale:

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Post by Grateful Diver »

nwscubamom wrote:I'd also think twice about diving solo there, even around Waadah island. Currents can be strong, and boat traffic is bad news. Be very careful and be forewarned, if that's what you decide to do. :pale:

- Janna :)
Same warning here ... currents, boat traffic and kelp make solo diving in this place something you want to take very seriously. Also keep in mind that tides are very large next week-end. Not trying to be a nanny, but please make sure you consider the risks carefully beforehand ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
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Seaslave
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Post by Seaslave »

Thanks for all the warnings. I did notice the large tides/currents next weekend. It is a fishing trip so thats the main thing. I just thought I'd bring my gear along and if I saw something that looked good, maybe take a stab at it. Thanks for the heads up.


Mathue
Jeff Kruse
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Post by Jeff Kruse »

Or the conditions may be perfect...

http://www.seanet.com/~katrinakruse/Nea ... 202006.htm

Yes that is duncan rock. :supz:
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John Rawlings
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Post by John Rawlings »

Jeff Kruse wrote:Or the conditions may be perfect...

http://www.seanet.com/~katrinakruse/Nea ... 202006.htm

Yes that is duncan rock. :supz:
Wow! I NEVER would have recognized it! =D>
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Sounder
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Post by Sounder »

All the pictures I've seen, and the one time I did see it (on a beautiful clear day) the water is violently boiling and crashing around it. That picture is amazing!
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Post by Rob Holman »

Due to current, swell, rapid changing weather, fog and a multitude of other factors, solo diving at Neah is risky business. There are no novice dives out there.

Probably a top 10 dive site in the world though I would think.

Duncan is nice, but Duntz is unreal...
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Tom Nic
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Post by Tom Nic »

I REALLY want to dive out there.... Maybe this Fall...
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"Anyone who thinks this place is over moderated is bat-crazy anarchist." -Ben, Airsix
"Warning: No dive masters are going to be there, Just a bunch of old fat guys taking pictures of fish." -Bassman
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