Diving the Pacific Northwest
When it comes to diversity in diving you won't find a more fascinating destination than North America's Pacific Northwest. From the 4 engine US Navy Bomber in the murky depths of Lake Washington, to the Giant Pacific Octopus that reside throughout Puget Sound to the 1927 Chevrolet in the crystal clear waters of Lake Crescent on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, there is truly something here for every diver!!!
The Puget Sound is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. Jacques Cousteau has said it was his second favorite place to dive in the world, second only to the Red Sea. We have the largest octopus species in the world, the Giant Pacific Octopus! There is nothing quite like looking into a crevice only to see an octopus almost as big as you are staring right back. We have orcas, seals, sea lions and many other marine mammals. If you can't find an underwater creature in Puget Sound that fascinates you...you just aren't looking in the right place. Just a few miles inland from Puget Sound is Seattle's Lake Washington. While the marine life here is limited, the bottom of Lake Washington is littered with the wrecks of countless ships and 7 airplanes. There are even a chain of 18 wooden coal cars that fell off a barge in a squall in 1875. For those brave enough to challenge the frigid bottom temperatures, and sometimes marginal visibility, there awaits a virtual snapshot of Seattle's maritime history. Further to the west, nestled in the Olympic Mountains on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, you will find Lake Crescent, a glacier fed lake with visibility rivaling the best tropical dive sites in the world. While most of the lake bottom is somewhat barren there are two cars, a 1927 Chevrolet and a 1950 Dodge Sedan. For those intrepid technical divers adventurous enough to go look for them, they are quite interesting! The lake also offers great camping and hiking and an opportunity for any diver to get a taste of great visibility just a few hours drive from Seattle. I've spent the last 15 years exploring dive sites around the Pacific Northwest and I'm happy to share what I've learned. If you are looking for a new site to dive or just have a question about diving in the Pacific Northwest please feel free to drop me a line at [email protected] |