Whidbey and Camano Islands: Puget Sound's Scuba Paradise

Seeing a Giant Pacific Octopus is the highlight of any dive in Puget Sound, whether they're a beginner or experienced diver. © Jan Kocian

Just ask the divers who continually vote northern Puget Sound waters the best in the nation why they dive here and they may answer: nutrient rich waters that feed abundant sea life, amazing interactions with wildlife or adrenaline pumping drift dives.

Diving Whidbey and Camano islands is undoubtedly cold water diving, and the colder the water gets in Island County, the clearer the water becomes. In fall and winter, when the algae is dormant, divers easily find kelp beds, cabezon, greenling, rockfish, sea stars, anemones, rockfish, sculpin and lingcod when the clarity is at its best. Giant hugs from giant octopus, two tire reefs and a wreck off Possession Point on Whidbey's southern most end provide endless diving adventures in Island County.

In addition, unlike diving from the mainland, Whidbey and Camano islands are rural, without the increased boat traffic divers encounter elsewhere in the Seattle area.

Pat Beach, owner of Whidbey Island Dive Center in Oak Harbor, said diving here is unlike diving anywhere else.

Pat Beach, owner of Whidbey Island Dive Center, enters the water in Langley Marina to start an open water check out dive for students. © Jan Kocian

Whidbey Island Dive Center
Website
1020 NE 7th Ave Ste 1
Oak Harbor WA 98277
(360) 675-1112

"There is so much for divers to see," the veteran diver said. "Our kelp beds are rich with life, our waters are clearer than most and there is a great diversity of dive sites." Beach has been diving in Island County for almost 30 years, and has had the opportunity to dive with seals, sea lions and octopus. He's drifted through Deception Pass and has taught many a class at our protected sites like Langley's tire reef.

"People come from all over the state to dive here, and for good reason," he said. "Within one weekend you can dive so many different sites. Walls, wrecks, tire reefs, Deception Pass; there's no shortage of adventures."

Diving in the islands is a year around activity, with the best visibility coming during the fall, winter and spring months. © 2008 Russell Sparkman

Divers can take their pick of boat, kayak or shore dives, always remembering that there are inherent risks with strong currents, ferry traffic and fishing lines. There are plenty of beginner dive spots, as well as challenging spots like the famous Deception Pass and Keystone Underwater Park.

Click here for an online downloadable map of boat launches and marinas:

Island County Boat Launches & Marinas - 7.1MB Large map of Whidbey & Camano Islands boat launches, marinas & trails.

News: Be sure to stop at the Port of South Whidbey - Langley Marina. On New Years Day 2009, The Port of South Whidbey has taken over the marina located in the City of Langley on South Whidbey Island. The Saratoga Passage location make a great stop for boats seeking protected passage between Central and South Puget Sound and North Puget Sound (Oak Harbor, La Conner, Anacortes, Bellingham and the San Juan Islands). The City of Langley offers galleries, antiques, boutiques, restraints, gourmet chocolate and a specialty florist shop. During the evening the local movie house offers current movies at only $6 for Adults!

The 34 slip marina will be getting a facelift this year as the port district goes through the process of permits, planning and funding a future expansion of the marina. For moorage information contact the Harbormaster (VHF 66A) Office contact Tel: (360) 221-1120 or email: Harbormaster - Marina offers transient moorage, electric, water, showers, lauch ramp and pump out.

Seeking tidal charts? Simply select a location listed under Possession Sound. Saratoga Strait, or Rosario Strait and the month you are interested in visiting. Learn more.

• Langley's municipal marina Boaters! Book your mooring reservation NOW for the Island County Fair – August 13-16th. Join us for the 85th Island County Fair! Just a short walk from the marina, Fun for the whole family
  Come enjoy the community celebration of Whidbey Island's rich arts heritage. The picturesque streets of downtown Langley are lined with artists. The air is filled with the sounds from four separate stages, each with its own flavor.
  
• To make reservations for the Langley Marina:
  1. email: Harbormaster@portofsouthwhidbey.com with date of arrival, length of stay, Boat name, LOA, Beam and Draft. Include contact your information. or
  2. Contact the Harbormaster at 360 221-1120 always has plenty of moorage for visitors. Contact the Harbormaster (360) 221-2611 or (360) 929-6751 or email him at harbor@langleywa.org for information
• In Coupeville, you can access the town from the dock all day, and anchoring in Penn Cove overnight will offer a truly serene sleep. For more information regarding moorage at Coupeville wharf call (360) 678-5020.
• Oak Harbor's marina has visitor moorage, gas and charters. At Cornet Bay, located on the north end of Whidbey Island, you'll enjoy breathtaking views and gas and goods are available. http://www.whidbey.com/ohmarina/ or call (360) 679-BOAT or (360) 679-2628.
• Camano Island State Park has a floating dock for landing.Camano Island State Park
  2269 S. Lowell Point Rd.
  Camano Island, WA 98282 - (360) 387-3031
  Latitude 48D 7' 39.37" N (48.1276)
  Longitude 122D 29' 57.12" W (-122.4992)
  Body of Water Puget Sound
  Hours Summer: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  Winter: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  The park is open year-round for camping and day-use.
  
• Camano Island Yacht Club
  Clubhouse Telephone: (360) 387-3737
  Email: camanoislandyachtclub.com
  Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1041, Stanwood, WA 98282
  Club Location: 129 North Sunset Drive, Camano Island, WA 98282

• Adventures in Boating Washington: This handbook is published by Boat Ed, the provider of Washington's boating safety course. Although this handbook is a convenient reference tool, students wanting to receive official Washington boating safety certification would benefit from studying Boat Ed's comprehensive boat safety course. All boating safety course material has been developed in conjunction with Washington Parks & Recreation, and is the same material used in their classroom courses. Take the Washington boating safety course.

________________________________________

Whidbey and Camano Islands are only 25 miles north of Seattle, and 2 hours south of Vancouver. See Directions and Maps to learn more about how to get here.