Sekiu & Neah Bay

Wayne_Sargent · Feb 28, 2004

We'd like to take a week soon to explore Neah Bay and Sekiu diving... lots of current and kelp we hear, but also great dives.. prefer shore dives, but may hire a local to follow us on a few drifts if we can find a knowledgeable operator. So if anyone can offer advice or trip reports, we'd be grateful.
Wayne & Kate

JoeH · Feb 29, 2004

Wayne_Sargent:
We'd like to take a week soon to explore Neah Bay and Sekiu diving... lots of current and kelp we hear, but also great dives.. prefer shore dives, but may hire a local to follow us on a few drifts if we can find a knowledgeable operator. So if anyone can offer advice or trip reports, we'd be grateful.
Wayne & Kate

I have dove a few places along the road up through there. The vis was great and the life was cool. In places the Black rockfish were thick. The kelp was a new experiance at the time too, I loved the added feature. The current can be a bummer cause most places could only be dove at slack. My favorite dive was the Sekiu Jetty at night. Curly's Resort had air fills in Sekiu also.

jumbo · Mar 1, 2004

WAYNE-
your in for a treat, that area is really amazing and no shortage of cool stuff, i would recommend going to curlys resort in sekiu, he has s map of 6-7 dives right off the highway and you can get your air there. but make sure you dive the jetty near the marina on the ocean side, any ware in the huge kelp forrest, and if you want some mussles go to pillars heading back east in sekiu- have fun and watch for major current and waves,

jumbo · Mar 1, 2004

also-the dive shop i work for is planning on heading out to neah 4 or 5 times this summer, if your interested send me a email

Kayla · Mar 2, 2004

have been up to Neah Bay a couple of times, and the diving was amazing! I think that you will really enjoy it! We didn't stay at Curly's Resort, but stopped in there for reference on future trips, and everyone was really nice.... were planning on using them sometime this summer!

Kayla

Seriously Deadly · Sep 18, 2004

post pics!!! i love neah bay , but im not a diver , i just go fishing every year a few times , i would like to see pics of sea bass and halibut and lingcod and all the cool fish in underwater pics

Rick Inman · Sep 18, 2004

Also, don't miss Salt Creek on the way. Easy, shallow dives (sometimes tricky entry) with great colors!

Here are 2 reviews:

Salt Creek State Park (Tongue Point)
Northwest Diver.com Dive Site Review
By Keith Clements
Associate Editor, Northwest Diver.com

Date Reviewed: May 2001
Location: Strait of Juan de Fuca
GPS Coordinates: Coming Soon
Access: shore
Site Description: Rugged rocky bottom
Main Attraction: Thick kelp beds, incredible anemones
Review Posted: January 2003

This is truly a cool dive site (although not as cool as Sekui or Neah Bay)! It is located on the Washington peninsula on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, about half way to Neah Bay. The dive site is actually part of a Washington State Park, which offers picnic areas, fresh water, and restroom facilities. The drawback is that if all of the camp grounds near the access points are occupied, you may be in for a bit of a walk.

Like most other Strait dives, Salt Creek is nothing like your standard Puget Sound dives. The coast here is extremely rocky and rugged, and surge is often present, which can make beach entries and exits kind of tricky. These rocks can be very slippery when wet too, so be very careful when getting in and out of the water. Also make certain to pick your exit point before getting in. It is hard to select a good exit point when you are only a head sticking of the water. Fortunately, Tongue Point has a bit of an east and west side to it, so one side usually offers a bit more shelter from the surge than the other side.

The dives I have done here are very shallow - no deeper than 35 fsw, but as this is a high current area, visibility tends to be good. The main attraction here are the massive kelp forests that thrive in the sunshine in summer and fall. The bottom drops off outside of the kelp forest, but depending on how thick the kelp is, it can be a real chore to make it to the outskirts of the kelp forest. Also keep in mind that the current can really pick up outside the shelter of the kelp.

At times, swimming through the kelp is like swimming through a jungle. If you have never swam through thick kelp before, it can be somewhat intimidating. But after you get used to it, it is a blast! The topography here is also very cool. As on land, it is very rugged underwater and offers huge rocks, ledges, and underwater "channels" to explore. If you have good vis and the sun is out, this is a hard dive to beat. Make certain to bring a dive knife in case you get caught up in the kelp. One thing to note - if you do get tangled in the kelp, air hoses and Bull Kelp can look about the same underwater. Be careful before you cut anything!

The marine life here is also very different. Fish are not as prominent as in other parts of Puget Sound, although there are some Kelp Greenlings, Painted Greenlings, Lingcod, perch, sculpins, and rockfish in the area. Occasional large schools of bait-fish also frequent the kelp beds. What sets this straight apart is the massive number of Green, Red, and Purple Sea Urchins and large, brightly colored anemones that own this site. The explosion of color here is truly incredible, and well worth the drive!

With its stunning views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Victoria, British Columbia, Salt Creek Recreation Area is the perfect setting for exploration and discovery. Salt Creek is home to some of the most exceptional tide pools in the Northwest. Come during low tide, and you'll see starfish, sea cucumbers, crabs, sea anemones, and urchins among the plentiful sea life on display. Many of these tide pools are located at the Tongue Point Marine Life Sanctuary, which is under water at high tide.

Outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and interests can enjoy the camping, hiking, beachcombing, diving, and many other recreational activities offered at the Salt Creek park. Birdwatchers can spot rhinoceros auklets or black oystercatchers, and bald eagles can be found year round.

History buffs can explore the remains of Fort Hayden, which was once used as a World War II military base.
Directions: www.tourism.wa.gov/redir.aspx?url=http://www.northwestsecretplaces.com/saltcreek.html

Scubasonic · Sep 23, 2004

When we dove there the visability was so good that I felt that I was diving in the tropics but in cold water it is an amazing place to dive.

-SS

diverDano · Nov 5, 2004

.hey guys, i live out here, and yes...wow...the diving is way cool. I have contacts , so, if you need a boat, or a guide...lemme know.

Rick Inman · Nov 6, 2004

Welcome to the board!
Port Angeles is a beautiful place.
Have you dived the Diamond Knot?

Sekiu & Neah Bay

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