Overview

From wrecks to tire reefs to rock jetties, this often overlooked area can be a divers dream! I have had dives here with visibility exceeding 40 feet and once at Point Hudson we found six octopus on one dive! The diving is great and there is plenty to do for non divers in this historic seaside community so bring the family and make a weekend of it.

Getting There

From the Hood Canal Bridge, Follow the signs to Port Townsend.

Port Townsend dives

The Ranger

The Ranger is a large wooden boat that sank here some time ago but is still quite intact. The wheelhouse is missing but the decks and sides are still fairly solid. Prop and rudder are still there as well. To get to the ranger, turn right at the light just past safeway(if you go left, you will be in the safeway parking lot), drive to the shipyard and look for the tami lift. To the right of the tami lift is a split rail fence. Park here. Looking out at the water, you will see an old dock with a solid row of pilings. You must swim out to this dock and under it. just the other side in about 30 fsw lies the ranger. Line up with the end of the rock jetty and turn 180 degrees and you cant miss it. The long surface swim and the fact that this is a real wreck (as opposed to a reefed ship where obstacles have been removed and the wreck has been made as safe as possible) make this an advanced dive. Be careful of cables and sharp objects both in and around the wreck and don't attempt penetration unless properly trained and certified!

Point Hudson

Point Hudson is located at the end of the main street through Port Townsend. You will come to a sort of a tee in the road with a parking lot on the left and a marina straight in front of you. Park to the left and suit up. Once geared up, there are two options for this dive, the jetty or the dolphin. First, the jetty. This is a great dive. Expect to see vast quantities of marine life and if you check the rocks you are likely to be rewarded with an octopus sighting! At the end of the jetty is an old sunken barge the has decayed to steel ribs. These ribs are covered with plumose anemones. Max depth is around 50 fsw on the jetty dive. Watch for current here as it tends to get strong and dive at slack. The jetty also makes a great night dive. The Dolphin is also a good dive but is a little deeper.

Tire Reef

The Fort Warden Tire Reef is located off the beach at Fort Worden. Follow the signs through Port Townsend to Fort Worden. Once there, follow the signs for the beach. The far side of the Marine life Center is where you want to enter and swim towards the bouys. Expect to the the usual suspects for a sandy habitat as well as the occasional octopus hiding among the debris.

Bottle Hunt

Port townsend is an old seaport with bustling shipping traffic around the turn of the century, and this was a popular site to anchor during those days. Sometimes if you are lucky, you can find some cool old bottles around here. Just past the Keystone ferry in Port Townsend is a row of buildings on the water including Swains general store. PLark on the far side near the water, suit up and begin hunting! Be extermely cautious of vessel traffic around this area.