North America FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ◄ Dendronotid Nudibranch Pacific Northwest ◄ Giant Pacific Octopus Puget Sound • San Juan Islands • Strait of Juan de Fuca • Vancouver Island • Alaska ◄ Swimming Anemone The waters of the northern Pacific coast breath-taking scenery and coastal ◄ Orange Starfish of North America are some of the rich- beauty. It is a region that boasts some of ◄ Lemon Nudibranch of the wildest areas of America as well ◄ Pink Anemone est in the world in terms of marine life ◄ Nudibranch eggs and natural resources due to a continual as several of the most cosmopolitan cit- influx of nutrients brought by currents ies on the continent. While the visibility is that circulate in the region. Divers will more fickle and the water is a bit cooler find both awe-inspiring and challeng- than most tropical divers can appreci- ing experiences to enjoy here. Wildlife ate, those that enjoy a bit of adventure, on the large and small scale is abun- cold water divers and dry suit divers, will dant top side and below the surface. find a wealth of underwater treasures to Great mountains and rivers reach right explore in this region for beginners and down to the ocean, so visitors can enjoy advanced divers alike. Introduction by Gunild Pak Symes Photography by Jack Connick, Jon Gross, and Washington State Tourism Map courtesy of The Living Earth / Earth Imaging ALL PHOTOS THIS PAGE BY JACK CONNICK 17 X-RAY MAG : 4 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Pacific Northwest Picking the right dive site at the right Neighborhood operators, who know Orca whales, close to the cities and southern Alaskan coast. A land of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA time of year and the right time of the region like the back of their out among the gentle islands. dramatic extremes, Alaska provides day with the right dive operator, hands because they dive these We, then, head north to the Strait the visitor with a taste of how the those of us who are avid underwater sights for personal enjoyment weekly, of Juan de Fuca, Neah Bay and planet was in its most pristine state. photographers can capture some are very happy to help newcomers Cape Flattery at the most western There, the midnight sun and the fantastic images on film. The people enjoy the riches of the underwater point of the contiguous United States Northern Lights are a constant back- who live in realm found practically in their back- where the Makah Nation, the Native drop to the wilderness and remote the Pacific yards. American tribe indigenous to the cities that dot the southern coast of VancouverVancouver IslandIsland Northwest The complete scope of diving in region, make their home. Local diver this region, which reaches up into are friendly the Pacific Northwest cannot be and member of Marker Buoy Dive the Arctic circle. and casual, covered in one article alone, howev- Club, the largest dive club in Seattle, helpful folk. er, highlights of both well known dive Jack Connick, gives us a bird’s eye Puget Sound sites and lesser known sites can be view of the lesser known dive spots in For folks in Seattle and Tacoma, North provided here for curious dive travel- the area. the Puget Sound is a neighborhood Puget Strait of Juan de Fuca lers who are yearning to explore the Continuing northwords, our cor- playground for divers, snorklers, hik- Strait of Juan de Fuca Sound Wild West. respondent, Jon Collins, explores ers, whale watchers, anglers, kayak- We start in the Puget Sound, the the amazing diving in and around ers and other outdoor enthusiasts. sea of emerald islands located in Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Because of the nutrient rich currents, the northwest corner of the state Canada, a fascinating place with the sound is abundant with sea of Washington, where the cities of a complex history that blends life. Residents in the cities regularly Central Seattle and Tacoma border the European, American and native cul- spend time during the work week Central lower and upper sound. Getting the tures, nestled in a magestic natural and weekends enjoying this beauti- PugetPuget Sound inside scoop from local dive charter setting. ful area. What follows are a few high Sound operator, Mike Ferguson of Porthole Finally, we head up to Alaska, points regarding the incredible diving Olympic Peninsula Dive Charters, readers will learn where correspondent, Barb Roy, to be found so close to an urban about the numerous places to dive shares her dive adventure in Prince area. HoodHood and observe marine life, such as William Sound and points along the CanalCanal SouthSouth PugetPuget ◄ FAR LEFT: Blood Starfish SoundSound ◄ CENTER: Alabaster Nudi- branch and Shrimp ▼ BELOW: Rockfish and soft coral ALL PHOTOS THIS PAGE BY JACK CONNICK Two great PNW dive resources include these guides by writ- ers who know the area very well: The Pacific Northwest by Edward Weber and Northwest Boat Dives by Dave Bliss. See www.amazon.com 18 X-RAY MAG : 4 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED 1. South Pacific Northwest 2. mended approach is to artificial reef developed in dive the West Wall on the harbor of Edmonds by a Vashon the flooding tide and few heroic members of the Puget Island 3. then the North Wall in the community who took interest 4. ebbing tide. The terrain in marine conservation and of this site is uneven and diversity. Edmonds is a quaint 7. full of life. Giant Pacific little northwestern town of Sound Octopus, Mosshead small cafés and boutiques on 6. 5. Wabonnets and Grunt a gentle slope leaning down Sculpins can be found to the coast a few miles 8. here. Divers can also north of Seattle. It is probably 9. find Wolf-eel, Striped the best-known dive location 10. Sea Perch, Red Irish in the state. 11. Lords, Buffalo Sculpins, The dive park is located 12. Brown Rockfish, Ratfish just north of the ferry landing 14. and Painted Greenlings. at Edmonds. It offers terrific 13. Tacoma Orange Sunflower Stars diving for several reasons. At add brilliant color to the this site, the depths are shal- PHOTO BY JACK CONNICK seascape. Point Defiance low and there is an absense Rockfish, Plumose Anemones, Pile is located in the Port Orchard area, is a popular fishing spot, of strong currents, the beaches are Perch, Striped Sea Perch, Shiner just south of Bainbridge Island. so divers should be care- well kept and scenic, the facilities Perch, gunnels, Sailfin Sculpines, The terrain consists of shear faced ful of old fishing sinkers, are very good and include show- Rock Soles, some Red Irish Lords, walls, long ledges, rock piles and lures and line lying on the ers, there is easy parking, lots of Ratfish, lots of seafloor as well as the different places to grab a bite shrimp, crabs boat traffic. to eat between dives, a well- and massive 7. Olympia equipped dive shop nearby called Sunflower Stars. Shore Dives Underwater Sports, and close prox- Central There are popular shore imity to Seattle. The marine life here Waterman’s SOUTH PUGET SOUND: Although the northern end dives in the southern and central is in unique condition and serves as Wall 1. Alki Reef of the Puget Sound is known sections of the Puget Sound includ- a testament to how it can bounce Considered Puget 2. Seahurst Park ing Three Tree Point, which holds back if people give it a chance. one of the 3. Three Tree Point for several outstanding diverse marine life in a “junk yard” The dive park is a favorite for begin- best wall dives 4. KVI Tower dive sites, south and cen- reef and eel grass beds—on rare ning divers as it has a whole lot in the state, 5. Maury Island Barges Sound tral Puget Sound also has a occasions there may be a six gill to see in easy dives. The reef is Waterman’s wall 8. 6. Dalco Wall shark looming here; Titlow Beach, an extensive organ- 9. 7. Sunrise Beach good number of interesting a good place to check out sea ized hodge-podge of 8. Point Defiance sites with diverse and abun- 9. Point Defiance, West Wall life among pilings; Deadman attractions marked CENTRAL PUGET SOUND 10.Deadman Wall dant sea life. Wall where you may have a rare by buoys including an 1. Waterman’s Wall 11.Les Davis Reef encounter with eel-like creatures old dry dock, wooden 2. Orchard Rocks Bainbridge 12.Titlow Beach Local divers including Jon Gross called Red Brotulas; Seahurst Park, boats including a tug- 3. Blakely Harbor Island 10. 13.Day Island Wall and Keith Clements, authors of a a subtle site that is noted for being boat “The Triumph”, 4. The Boss 14.Z’s Reef comprehensive online guide to a fine place to find various large tire collections, con- 5. China Wall 3. 6. over 45 sites in the Puget Sound, nudibranchs and sea pens; Les crete blocks, rock piles, 6. Shangri-la 4. ► TOP RIGHT: Crimson Anem- The Marine Life Index at seaotter. Davis Reef where you can find wire hoops and other 7. Edmonds Underwater Park Seattle one 2. 5. com, dive these areas regularly. huge schools of perch; and Sunrise materials. It is also a site 8. Golden Gardens 1. 11. They point to Point Defiance as Beach, known for friendly Wolf- with a large number of 9. Shilshole Breakwater 12. one of the favorites. There is a eels and large-sized Giant Pacific enormous Lingcod that 10.Virginia Mason Hospital massive shear wall at this site to Octopus.