Well....let's see....TWO of my favorite dive sites have been negatively impacted and a THIRD is
about to be. I dived at each of them for over 30 years and I miss them greatly.
The McConnell's T-Pier at Mukilteo used to have a bottom that was covered with structure and literally
clouds of life. Then it was decided to "clean it up" to "save the Sound" and now only a barren sandy bottom remains. Besides removing the old pilings and sunken logs, they even sifted out all of the old clam shells that used to cover the bottom like a blanket. The life that wasn't outright killed moved on.
The old Air Force Pier at Mukilteo used to have access for divers, fishermen and beachcombers from the North. Then it was decided that Boeing needed a deep water pier and all access to the North was blocked off permanently to everyone BUT Boeing. Now to get to the best diving parts North of the old pier you need a boat, (or, as I'm sure the scooter-whackos will point out, a scooter). Plans are also afoot to eventually tear out most, if not all, of the old pier.
The Edmonds Oil Pier is about to go the way of the McConnell's Pier. Soon, it will also just be a smooth bottom, (unless we are really, really lucky and the changing currents expose a bunch of rock structure beneath the sand!).
In my opinion, good dive sites in the Sound are not increasing, they are declining.
But, boy....where they USED to be will be sho-nuff sparkly clean! Durn-tootin'!
- John