Tag: Current

Categories
Central Cascades

Big Pool Swimming Hole on Fall Creek

Big Pool on Fall Creek outside Eugene, Oregon is a fun dive site perfect for a lazy summer or early fall afternoon SCUBA session.  We have heard this site also called Ye Olde Rope Swing Hole although that name seems to have fallen out of favor in the last few years.  Many divers in Oregon would never think to go dive a swimming hole on a creek in the Central Cascades.  We have done it and we can say it’s pretty fun.

fall creek
Fall Creek from the Unity Covered Bridge a ways below Big Pool Swimming Hole.

 

Site Highlights

This site is fun to dive.  There isn’t any big highlight other than it’s just plain fun to scramble down the bank and go diving somewhere people usually swim.  We have found glass pipes, a variety of beverage containers, and sunglasses in the bottom of Big Pool.  This is also a good place to go after crayfish.  We caught a pile here once with nothing more than our mesh bag (we have a mesh bag we highly recommend our Gear We Use page) and our hands.

With being so shallow, you can spend a long time diving this site.  Going slow along the bottom looking for things lost by swimmers can be a lot of fun.

Nearest Town:

The little town of Lowell, Oregon is just down the road.  Eugene and Springfield are a little further away and much larger.

GPS Coordinates:

43.966372, -122.600530

Special Directions to Site:

Head up the Willamette Highway and then follow signs for Lowell.  Take Moss Street north out of Lowell (it becomes Jasper-Lowell Road) and then turn right onto Big Fall Creek Road.  Go through the little community of Unity and head upstream above the dam and Fall Creek Lake.  Look for signs for Big Pool Campground.

Parking:

Usually you can squeeze into the Big Pool Campground parking area or nearby by pulling off the forest road.  Don’t block other people in.

big pool
Imagery ©2017 Google, Map data ©2017 Google. Big Pool is a fun place to do a dive not far from Eugene.

Site Orientation:

You might encounter a bit of current depending on the time of year and how much water is flowing down the creek.  Upriver is against the current and downriver is with the current.  The site isn’t very large so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.

Entrances and Exits:

You have to walk down a bit of a scramble of a bank from the campground area to get to Big Pool.  We had to walk through someone’s campsite the last time we were here.  the Forest Service may have improved the campground since last we went diving at Big Pool.

Salt/Fresh:

This is a fresh water dive.

Shore/Boat:

This is a shore dive.

Normal Conditions:

Usually there is a tiny bit of current but nothing bad.  Conditions here are benign unless you’re diving during the big spring snow melt.  When the thaw is on and the creek is raging, Big Pool might be a bit too much for most people to dive.

People like swimming in Big Pool.  Be mindful of other users of the SCUBA dive site.  People also like to jump into the water from a few different overhanging areas.  It might not be a bad idea to have a friend stay on the surface to keep people from jumping on top of your bubbles while you are trying to surface.

Normal Visibility:

As long as you stay off the bottom, you can get 15 feet of visibility here.  If you stir up the silt on the bottom, it’s easy to go down to 3 feet of viz.

Normal Temperature:

At the end of summer, water temperatures can be up around 65F.  During the spring snow melt, it can be around 34F.

Best Time of Year:

The summer and fall are the best times to dive this site but it can be accessed most of the year as long as the road is open and not covered in snow.

Max Depth:

We found 25 feet here once but most of the site is shallower than that.

Suggested Special Training:

Open water divers can dive this site without too much problem.  This site is just below 1000 feet so by the training standards we are familiar with, this does not count as an altitude dive.  If you go further up Fall Creek, you will get into altitude diver territory.

Difficulty of Dive:

This is an easy dive.  The hardest part is the scramble down and up the bank.

Distance of Walk to Entrance:

About 100 feet unless you get really unlucky with parking.

Surface Swim Length:

No surface swim at Big Pool!

Special Site Notes:

Please be considerate of other users of this site.  People come here to relax, swim, chill out, and have a good time.  Talking with other site users before you go diving can go a long way to improving relations between SCUBA divers and the public.

[Underwater Map of Dive Site Coming Soon!]

Closest Local Dive Shops to Get Air Fills and SCUBA Gear:

There is a local dive shop in Eugene with full service gear repair, sales, and air fills.

Nearby Restaurants We Like:

We haven’t tried any of the restaurants in this area so please let us know if there is one we should check out!

Nearby Places to Camp and Diver-Friendly Hotels:

There are many campgrounds in this area including right at the dive site.  There are also primitive camping opportunities.  We haven’t tried any of the area hotels so please let us know if you find a hotel that is SCUBA diver friendly.

What Other People Have to Say About This Site:

Please write in the comments below your experiences with this dive site!

Categories
Northern Oregon Coast

Crab Rocks / The Three Graces

The Three Graces, otherwise known as Crab Rocks, is a beautiful dive site right off US101 just west of Garibaldi, Oregon.  We love coming here to dive for the scenery above and below water.  The complex and ever changing currents make this a fun and challenging site to navigate.  We have had great luck spearfishing and crabbing here in the past.

Site Highlights

This is one of the easiest sites to access in Tillamook Bay.  The entrance and exit are easy and straight forward compared to the jetty dive sites.  The scenery is breathtaking.  The crabbing and spearfishing are pretty good.  And the tricky currents that are constantly changing make this a fun navigation puzzle.

Nearest Town:

Garibaldi, Oregon.

GPS Coordinates:

45.564029, -123.936416

Special Directions to Site:

Look for the parking on the west side of US101 just north of the Three Graces.

Parking:

Parking is free and plentiful.  We have heard from some of our SCUBA friends that sometimes people’s cars get broken into here if a bunch of expensive looking equipment is left visible inside.  When we go diving here, we usually take some friends along who aren’t divers so that they can make sure our stuff is safe while they enjoy the scenery.

three graces
Imagery ©2017 Google, Map data ©2017 Google. The Three Graces or Crab Rocks dive site is a fun navigation puzzle with good spearfishing and crabbing.

Site Orientation:

The main site is around the Three Graces.  Stick close to the rocks and remember than heading east gets you to land.  Good navigation skills are a big help here especially when the current starts playing tricks on you.

The rock further north (called Painted Rock on NOAA navigational charts) can also be dived although a longer surface swim is necessary to reach it.  There are a few smaller rocks in between that might be worth checking out if you feel like navigating to them.

Entrances and Exits:

The entrance and exit is along the railroad tracks.  Follow the path that crosses the railroad tracks and pick your favorite spot to climb over the low jetty to get to the water.  One spot is much easier than the others.  Scout ahead before you jump in.

Salt/Fresh:

This is a salt water dive.

Shore/Boat:

This is a shore dive.

Normal Conditions:

This is so far in the Tillamook Bay that you won’t have any surf or surge.  You will have current though.  The current swirls around the Three Graces in unusual and somewhat unpredictable patterns.  It makes this a great navigation puzzle site.

Normal Visibility:

We have seen anywhere from 10 to 25 feet of visibility depending on time of year and upstream river conditions.

Normal Temperature:

This site can be as cold as 38F and as warm as 57F depending on what is happening upriver in the Coast Range.  Cold winter rains can really chill the water here while hot summer days can make the water pretty warm.

Best Time of Year:

We like diving here in the spring and fall the best although the site is diveable year round.

Max Depth:

We once logged 51 feet here in some potholes by the base of the three graces before but most of this site is pretty shallow.

Suggested Special Training:

This site is accessible to anyone with open water SCUBA certification although you will want to have sharp navigation skills because of the complex nature of this dive site.

Difficulty of Dive:

We rate this as an easy beginner dive because there isn’t much that can go seriously wrong at this site.  You would have to really work at it to get sucked out to sea from here.  There is boat traffic in the shipping channel but sticking close to the rocks you won’t have any troubles with that.

The entrance does require a small jetty scramble but it’s nowhere near as intense as many of the other jetties along the Oregon coast.

Distance of Walk to Entrance:

It’s about a 200-300 feet walk to the best area to enter.

Surface Swim Length:

You will want to surface swim maybe 100 feet out to get to deeper water before you descend.

Special Site Notes:

At low tide, this site is really not diveable.  This is much more enjoyable at high tide.

Taking gear to spearfish or crab can be a fun way to spice this site up if you have gone diving here before.  We have a list of gear that we use when we go spearfishing and crabbing over at our Gear We Use page.

[Underwater Map of Dive Site Coming Soon!]

Closest Local Dive Shops to Get Air Fills and SCUBA Gear:

There used to be a dive shop in Tillamook although we haven’t been able to confirm in a few years if it is still open or not.

Nearby Restaurants We Like:

Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach both have good restaurants.

Nearby Places to Camp and Diver-Friendly Hotels:

Tillamook County Parks operates several campgrounds in the area.  We haven’t tried any of the local hotels so please let us know if you know of a good hotel that is SCUBA diver friendly!

What Other People Have to Say About This Site:

Please write in the comments below your experiences with this dive site!

Categories
Central Oregon Coast

Florence – North Jetty SCUBA Park and Crab Hole

Crab Hole at the Florence north jetty SCUBA park is one of those dives that just about every SCUBA diver in Oregon has done at least once.  Many people do their last one or two open water certification dives at the SCUBA park.  Lots of people come over for an afternoon of diving from Eugene or a weekend of fun in Florence from Portland.  The very easy diver-friendly entrance, the relatively protected inner area of the dive site, and the plentiful crabs out in Crab Hole make it an excellent place to have some fun.  Even when the parking lot is full of divers, the site is big enough to accommodate everyone.

florence entrance
The entrance at the Florence Dive Park and Crab Hole is custom-made for SCUBA divers. Sometimes a little debris gets washed up into the top of the old fish ladder but it usually isn’t too bad.

Site Highlights:

This site has something for everyone.  Most people will first mention Crab Hole, a feature of the jetty construction where there is a small semi-circular hole in the bottom that crabs congregate in by the mesh bag full.  Many people will mention how easy the entrance and exit is.  An old fish ladder was installed at the site specifically to make it easier for SCUBA divers to get into and out of the water.  There isn’t an easier place to reach the water on any of the jetties in Oregon that we know of.  We also love looking at all of the micro marine life at this site.  There are a few protected spots that you can mostly get out of the current to go slow and check out nudibranchs, hermit crabs, barnacles, and other tiny things.

Nearest Town:

Florence, Oregon

GPS Coordinates:

44.016220, -124.131106

Special Directions to Site:

It’s a little tricky finding this site without a GPS or navigation map on your phone.  If you plug in the GPS coordinates listed above, your smart device will take you right to the site.

Otherwise, take 35th Street west from US101 in Florence.  Turn right onto Rhododendron Drive.  Turn left onto North Jetty Road.

Take the first left off of North Jetty Road into the large parking area.

Parking:

Parking has always been free and plentiful here.  It is not uncommon to see several of the dive shops from the Willamette Valley have their trailers parked here while they run classes at the dive site.

Imagery ©2017 Google, Map data ©2017 Google. An easy entrance, a bounty of crabs, and lots of parking — this dive site has it all! Crab Hole and the Florence SCUBA Park is a great place to go diving and get experience on the jetties of Oregon.

 

Site Orientation:

The site runs from southeast to northwest.  The entrance is roughly in the middle of the dive site.  There is a big old pipe underwater that is a good marker for knowing where to surface to take your exit.  Crab hole is roughly south from the entrance.

If you get too far out into the shipping channel not only will you find nothing but sand but you will also potentially find strong current and shipping traffic.

Entrances and Exits:

This is one of the easiest entrance/exit setups on the whole Oregon Coast.  No other jetty has it this easy.  You walk down some stairs into the old fish ladder where there are some benches you can sit on while you do final gear checks.  Then step out of the end of the old fish ladder into the water, put your fins and mask on, and away you go!  Just about anyone can do this dive site.

Salt/Fresh:

This is a salt water dive.

Shore/Boat:

This is a shore dive.

Normal Conditions:

Conditions here are usually good.  Occasionally there is some surge but it is rare.  Very occasionally a big storm can push wood and other debris up into the entrance area.  We once did not dive here because some big logs were rolling around right where we wanted to dive.

Nine times out of ten, this site is just fine to go diving.

logs in the water
In really bad storms, logs and other debris can find their way into the entrance area at the Florence SCUBA Park and Crab Hole. On days like these, we usually go to a different site in Florence rather than deal with the hassle of logs.

There is some current that you need to deal with especially on the western side of this dive site.  This is a good place to practice dealing with current on a jetty.

In crab hole itself, the current can swirl around in an unexpected way that can be disorienting to some people.  Be sure to watch your compass so that you can stay oriented with the jetty.

Normal Visibility:

Usually we get about 15 feet of visibility when we go diving here.  The bottom is sandy and can’t really be stirred up.  On a rare day with a very big high tide, you might push 20 feet of visibility.

Normal Temperature:

It’s usually between 45 and 55F here.

Best Time of Year:

This site can be dived all year long.  Crab Hole always has crab in it but check local crabbing regulations and make sure you have your permits in order.

Max Depth:

We have hit 55 feet in Crab Hole before.  Most of the site is around 40 feet though.

Suggested Special Training:

We have watched many open water divers finish their training dives here.  This site is accessible to anyone who is certified to go SCUBA diving in open water.

Difficulty of Dive:

This is an easy dive suitable for beginners who are freshly certified and for people who don’t like the physically demanding entries at other jetties on the Oregon Coast.  The only difficult part is the current can kick up and make your dive a little more strenuous.

Distance of Walk to Entrance:

20 feet if you get the best parking spot.

Surface Swim Length:

None unless you want to for some reason.

Special Site Notes:

It’s a good idea to fly a dive flag here to let boaters in the area know that you’re underwater.  A flashlight is a good idea when you’re in Crab Hole hunting for crabs and to peer in between the jetty boulders.  A good mesh bag is what you need to put crabs in.  We have our favorites for all of these gear items listed on our Gear We Use page.

The site can get very busy with divers.  Be sure you know what your buddy looks like underwater and stick close together.  We have seen it happen more than once where a buddy pair will surface with different buddies than when they started the dive!

[Underwater Map of Dive Site Coming Soon!]

Closest Local Dive Shops to Get Air Fills and SCUBA Gear:

There used to be a local dive shop in Florence although we haven’t been by in a couple years to confirm if it is still in operation.  The last time we were in, you could get air fills and very limited SCUBA gear.

Nearby Restaurants We Like:

The old waterfront in Florence has some great seafood restaurants that we like.

Nearby Places to Camp and Diver-Friendly Hotels:

There are several camping areas around Florence that the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Bureau runs.

We haven’t tried any of the local hotels yet.  Please let us know if there is a good hotel in town that is SCUBA friendly that you have tried!

What Other People Have to Say About This Site:

Please write in the comments below your experiences with this dive site!

Categories
Northern Oregon Coast

South Jetty on Tillamook Bay

The south jetty of Tillamook Bay does not see very many SCUBA divers because of the difficulty of access.  The road out to the jetty is almost always gated and locked.  With a boat launched from one of the marinas in Tillamook Bay, you can easily reach the site.  We have heard of a few people surface swimming from the north shore at the Inner North Jetty dive site but that is an epic surface swim where you have to fight the current and dodge boat traffic.  With a hand cart and patience, you can lug all of your dive gear from the parking area along the gravel road to the jetty a few miles away.

The main reason people go dive the south jetty is to spearfish.  Because so few people dive along the jetty, the fish tend to be bigger and more plentiful than on the north jetty (at least in our experience).  You also get to put the feather in your SCUBA cap of diving a site that not many people ever get to dive.

USACE Tillamook Bay Oregon
By Bill Johnson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. The south jetty (on the right) doesn’t get many SCUBA visitors but it is worth the difficulty of accessing the dive site if you want do some good spearfishing.
The old abandoned town of Bayocean is what drove the construction of the jetties on the mouth of Tillamook Bay.  Depending on what path or road you take through the Tillamook County Bayocean Peninsula Park, you might catch a glimpse of a few foundations and the memorial sign at the old town square.  Most of the town fell into the ocean due to coastal erosion.

Bayodancenata
See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. The old natatorium and dance hall at Bayocean before they fell into the sea.

Site Highlights:

The reason anyone dives here is for the spearfishing.  Otherwise this is a pretty typical Oregon jetty dive that has really difficult access.

Nearest Town:

The little unincorporated town of Barview is across the channel.  The town of Garibaldi is just up the bay and on the other side.  Tillamook is further south.

GPS Coordinates:

45.565360, -123.948930

Special Directions to Site:

If you’re going to access this site via boat, go to Garibaldi and put your boat in at the marina there.

If you’re going to do the long hike to the dive site, in Tillamook take the Netarts Highway to the west from downtown and then turn onto Bayocean Road just after you cross over the bridge.  Follow Bayocean Road all the way to the parking area at the Tillamook County Bayocean Peninsula Park.

If you’re going to do the surface swim because you’re practicing for an Iron Man or because you like punishing yourself, the parking area for the Inner North Jetty dive site is the best place to park.

Parking:

In Garibaldi at the boat launch, there is plenty of parking.  At the Bayocean Peninsula Park parking lot, there usually is plenty of parking.

Imagery ©2017 Google, Map data ©2017 Google.
It is a challenge to get to the south jetty on the Tillamook Bay but the spear fishing is good.

Site Orientation:

The site hugs the jetty wall from southeast to northwest on the inner part and then after a bend in the jetty, from east to west.  The western area is deeper than the eastern area.  You could theoretically dive the jetty tip if you wanted but the conditions out there are almost always very rough and not something that would be all that fun to do.

close up of barview jetty south site
Imagery ©2017 Google, Map data ©2017 Google.
The south jetty on the Tillamook Bay is a good place to spearfish. There is one area on the jetty wall that is easier to climb over than others but most of the jetty is pretty accessible.

Entrances and Exits:

There is one area on the jetty wall near where the jetty hooks to the west that is a little lower and easier to scramble over.  However, you can enter or exit just about anywhere along the wall.

Salt/Fresh:

This is a salt water dive.

Shore/Boat:

The south jetty can be done either as a shore dive or a boat dive.  A boat dive is significantly less physically demanding although a competent captain is needed to navigate dropping off SCUBA divers along the jetty wall.

If you do this as a shore dive, prepare for a several mile long hike towing a cart with all of your gear in it.

Normal Conditions:

This site almost always has a wicked ripping current along the south jetty.  The tidal exchange into and out of Tillamook Bay is pretty huge and there is very little slack tide.  Stay close to the jetty rocks and plan your dive to stay safe.  You don’t want to get sucked out to sea or pushed way up into the bay.

There can be surf and surge, especially the farther out you go on the jetty toward the ocean.  We strongly suggest you assess the conditions and only dive where you feel comfortable diving.

Normal Visibility:

Viz here is usually around 15 feet although it can be better in fair weather.  The bottom is mostly sand so you don’t need to worry too much about stirring up mud.

Normal Temperature:

Water temperature usually is around 42-55F.

Best Time of Year:

The best time of the year to dive here depends on if you are doing the long walk from the parking area or if you are taking a boat.  If you’re taking a boat, just about any time is decent to dive here as long as conditions aren’t too rough.  If you’re hiking, we suggest doing it in the fall or spring when it isn’t too sunny or warm so that you don’t roast on the long slog to the dive site.

Max Depth:

On the westerly part of the jetty, you can find 40 feet sometimes.  On the inside eastern part of the south jetty, the depth is more like 15-20 feet.

Suggested Special Training:

We suggest having advanced open water training and experience diving other jetties in Oregon, such as the Florence north jetty SCUBA park and “crab hole” where there is an easy entrance and exit and more forgiving conditions.

If you are doing this as a boat dive, you need experience on how to safely enter and exit a boat.

If you’re planning to go more toward the jetty tip, rescue diver training, drift diver training, and a lot of experience in very rough conditions is necessary.

Difficulty of Dive:

The dive itself is an intermediate difficulty site because of the jetty entrance and exit, and the current.  However, the huge hike from the parking area makes this a shore dive for only the most fit of people.  If you’re doing this from a boat, weekend warriors shouldn’t have much issue.

Distance of Walk to Entrance:

If you do the long walk from the parking area, you have several miles to lug all your gear.  A wheeled cart will make your life much easier.

Surface Swim Length:

There isn’t any need to surface swim unless you are accessing this site from the inner north jetty dive site.  If that’s the case, then you are looking at a 1000 foot surface swim with current and shipping traffic to dodge.

Special Site Notes:

We suggest you contact the Tillamook County Parks Department to see if you can arrange to have the gate opened to drive out to the jetty rather than having to walk.  We have not been successful with this approach yet but if enough people start asking, perhaps the parks department will start opening up the gate more often for SCUBA divers.

[Underwater Map of Dive Site Coming Soon!]

Closest Local Dive Shops to Get Air Fills and SCUBA Gear:

There used to be a shop in Tillamook that did air fills although we can’t confirm if it is still open.  Please let us know if you know of a local shop!

Nearby Restaurants We Like:

Tillamook has a lot of good food.  Oceanside and Netarts just down the road have good food as well.  If you’re coming in from Garibaldi on a boat, there are also some restaurants there.

Nearby Places to Camp and Diver-Friendly Hotels:

There aren’t any close campgrounds although Tillamook County Parks operate several in the area as does Oregon State Parks.

We have not tried any of the local hotels.  Please let us know if you have tried one and found it to be diver friendly!

What Other People Have to Say About This Site:

Please write in the comments below your experiences with this dive site!

Categories
Northern Oregon Coast

Outer North Jetty at Barview Jetty County Park

The outer north jetty at the Tillamook County Barview Jetty Park is a good SCUBA site to visit if you want to go crabbing or spearfishing.  Big lingcod lurk on the outer reaches of the jetty where the saltwater of the Pacific Ocean mixes with the freshwater from Tillamook Bay.

USACE Tillamook Bay Oregon
By Bill Johnson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. The north Barview jetty is a great place to dive if you want to go spearfishing or crabbing. The middle north jetty dive site has a shorter walk than the inner north jetty dive site but is a little more exposed to ocean conditions.

Site Highlights

The reason we dive this site and put up with the strong current and difficult entrance is to go hunting.  Spearfishing for monster lingcod, rockfish, and other fish is really fun on the outer north jetty.  Aside from a few minutes of slack tide, the current is always roaring here and will easily suck you out to see if you aren’t careful.  It is still a fun site to dive in spite of the current for the thrill of finding those big fish that everyone desires.

Nearest Town:

The little unincorporated community of Barview, Oregon further inland along the jetty.  The towns of Garibaldi and Tillamook are a bit further south.

GPS Coordinates:

45.569981, -123.957693

Special Directions to Site:

Follow signs for the Tillamook  County Barview Jetty Campground and keep going along Jetty Road until you come to the parking lot at the beach.  Park over toward the jetty to minimize your surface walk.

Parking:

There is usually plenty of parking here.  The last time we went to this site, parking was free but this could change.

barview outer north jetty site plan
Imagery ©2017 Google, Map data ©2017 Google.
The outer north jetty at Barview is a great place to go spearfishing but the current can be wicked.

Site Orientation:

The dive site runs roughly east-west along the north jetty for Tillamook Bay.  The farther out you get on the jetty, the rougher the conditions will get.  We don’t recommend going all that far out toward the jetty tip because there are almost always big waves, surf, and surge on the jetty tip.  The current can also easily pull you out to sea which would be no fun.

Entrances and Exits:

Right by the parking area there are a few places that are more easy to scramble over the jetty rocks.  If you get in a pinch, you can climb up on the jetty further out toward the ocean or treat this as a drift dive and exit either at the middle or inner dive sites on the north jetty.

Salt/Fresh:

This is a salt water dive.

Shore/Boat:

This is a shore dive.

Normal Conditions:

This site almost always has a wicked current that will try to suck you out to see or in toward Tillamook.  When the waves are lined up just right, big breakers can wash over the jetty and the surge can be huge.  The further west on the jetty you go, the more the conditions deteriorate.

Normal Visibility:

You usually have 10-15 feet of visibility at the outer north jetty dive site.

Normal Temperature:

Water temperature usually runs between 48 and 57F at this site.

Best Time of Year:

The only time you want to go diving here is when the ocean is relatively calm.  With the wild Pacific Ocean just a few hundred feet away, you need to watch the surf, marine, and weather forecasts.  Luckily there are plenty of other dive sites around Tillamook Bay for you to check out if this site is no good to dive.

Max Depth:

Out toward the tip of the jetty you will see a depth of around 45 feet.  further east, you will see more like 35 feet of water.

Suggested Special Training:

Advanced open water training is a good idea here.  Rescue diver training is also a good idea.  You need to have a safety sausage (we have one we highly recommend on our Gear We Use page) in case you get into trouble and get sucked out to sea.  Remember don’t try to fight the current if you get sucked out.  Go parallel to shore and look for somewhere that the current is carrying you back toward land to make your exit.

If you do have to do a beach exit after getting sucked out to sea, don’t forget your training.  Getting through breakers can be very challenging for even the most experienced divers.

Difficulty of Dive:

We rate this as an intermediate dive as long as you dive this site in good conditions and are mindful of how far out along the jetty you go.  If you decide to head for the tip, this becomes an advanced dive.

Distance of Walk to Entrance:

If the parking close to the jetty is full, then you might have to walk a hundred feet or so.  Usually you can park right next to the jetty, scramble over the rocks, and you’re in the water.

Surface Swim Length:

There is no surface swim here unless you for some reason want a surface swim.

Special Site Notes:

There is boat traffic that comes in and out of the Tillamook Bay.  Don’t stray into the channel.  As we’ve said elsewhere on this page, be very mindful of the current and don’t go too far out on the jetty unless you really know what you’re doing.  While this is the outer north jetty dive site, we specifically don’t include the tip of the jetty in this site because of the difficulty of that area.

[Underwater Map of Dive Site Coming Soon!]

Closest Local Dive Shops to Get Air Fills and SCUBA Gear:

There used to be a local dive shop in Tillamook.  We aren’t sure if it is still there or not.  If you know of a nearby SCUBA shop, please let us know!

Nearby Restaurants We Like:

There are quite a few restaurants up and down US101.  If you have a favorite, please drop us a line and we’ll add it here.

Nearby Places to Camp and Diver-Friendly Hotels:

The Tillamook County Barview Jetty Campground is a good place to camp.  They have RV sites, tent sites, and cabins for rent.

We haven’t tried any of the nearby hotels.  If you know of a good one that is SCUBA friendly, let us know!

What Other People Have to Say About This Site:

Please write in the comments below your experiences with this dive site!

Categories
Northern Oregon Coast

Middle North Jetty at Barview Jetty County Park

While the parking can be tight, the middle north jetty dive site on the Barview north jetty is a good place to go diving if you want to spearfish or go crabbing.  The current is usually too strong to stop and look around for very long but the hunting is good.  The Tillamook County Barview Jetty Park and Campground is very close and could serve as a nice home base for a few days of diving around Tillamook Bay.

USACE Tillamook Bay Oregon
By Bill Johnson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. The north Barview jetty is a great place to dive if you want to go spearfishing or crabbing. The middle north jetty dive site has a shorter walk than the inner north jetty dive site but is a little more exposed to ocean conditions.

Site Highlights

The main highlight at this site is spearfishing and crabbing.  The tidal exchange produces too much current here to go slow and look at all of the micro marine life.

Nearest Town:

Barview, Oregon is the closest unincorporated town.  Garibaldi is the closest larger town and Tillamook is a bit further south.

GPS Coordinates:

45.569570, -123.953319

Special Directions to Site:

Follow signs from US101 for the Tillamook County Barview Jetty Park.  Follow Jetty Road west and look for the left-hand (southerly) turn.  If you go too far, you’ll end up at the end of the road and the outer north jetty dive site.

Parking:

There is limited parking at this dive site.  We have seen this site’s parking full on busy weekends.  The last time we went here, we did not pay to park although that may change.

barview middle north jetty
Imagery ©2017 Google, Map data ©2017 Google.
The middle north jetty dive site at Barview is a good place to go spearfishing and crabbing.

Site Orientation:

The site runs generally east-west along the north jetty.  Keep close to the jetty and don’t stray into the shipping channel.

Entrances and Exits:

This is a difficult jetty entrance.  We highly recommend that you walk the entrance before you don your SCUBA gear to make sure you have a solid plan for where you want to crawl over the jetty.  It’s a good idea to take something to mark your exit point so that you can find it easily when you surface.  A dive flag, like the one we recommend on our Gear We Use page, works as a good marker and lets nearby boats know that you’re along the jetty.

Salt/Fresh:

This is a salt water dive.

Shore/Boat:

This is a shore dive.

Normal Conditions:

You WILL find current at this site.  Depending on how the waves are coming into the coast, you may encounter surge and surf as well although it is rare to get much surge here and rarer to have surf.

Normal Visibility:

Visibility is normally 15 feet on a good day.  The best visibility is at high tide.  If a big storm has been dumping rain above Tillamook Bay, visibility will be reduced.

Normal Temperature:

We have seen water temperatures here between 48 and 57F depending on the time of year.

Best Time of Year:

The middle north jetty dive site can be dived at any time throughout the year.  We usually like going here during crabbing season though.

Max Depth:

At high tide, you can find 40 feet of water along the middle north jetty.

Suggested Special Training:

We suggest having advanced open water training and be comfortable with climbing over jetties.  This site always has a good current so be prepared to dive in strong current.  Some people will do this as a drift dive and come out either at the inner north jetty dive site or the outer north jetty dive site.

Difficulty of Dive:

We think this is an intermediate dive due to the current and the jetty entrance.

Distance of Walk to Entrance:

It’s about 75 feet from the parking lot to the jetty.

Surface Swim Length:

No surface swim is needed as long as you’re decent with navigation.

Special Site Notes:

The current here can really rip.  We usually prefer to dive this site when the tide is still coming in and exit just after slack tide.

[Underwater Map of Dive Site Coming Soon!]

Closest Local Dive Shops to Get Air Fills and SCUBA Gear:

There used to be a local dive shop in Tillamook although we aren’t sure if it is still in business.  Please let us know if you have up to date information!

Nearby Restaurants We Like:

There are restaurants up and down US101 near this dive site.  If you have any favorites, please let us know!

Nearby Places to Camp and Diver-Friendly Hotels:

The Tillamook County Barview Jetty Park has a good campground with RV sites, tent sites, and cabins for rent.

We haven’t tried any of the hotels in the area so please let us know if you know of one that is SCUBA diver friendly!

What Other People Have to Say About This Site:

Please write in the comments below your experiences with this dive site!

Categories
Northern Oregon Coast

Inner North Jetty at Barview Jetty County Park

The inner north jetty at Barview Jetty County Park is a great place to go spear fishing and crabbing.  We have caught many lingcod and dungeness crabs here.  The current along the inner north jetty can be a little tricky and the entrance and exit is grueling at high tide but the hunting here is good.  Be sure to have your fishing license in order and be extra sure that you are only catching things that are legal to catch and the correct size.  We have had the state police called on us more than once by angry fishermen who didn’t want us spearfishing in their favorite fishing spot.  Each time though, we were in the clear and the fishermen ended up getting tickets for not having their fishing licenses!

Site Highlights

The main highlight of the Barview County Park dive site is spearfishing and crabbing.  The current usually moves along here too fast to go slow and check out the micro marine life.  There are other sites in Tillamook Bay such as The Three Graces (also known as Crab Rocks) and the Lumber Dock that are better for checking out tiny sea creatures and going slow.

Nearest Town:

Barview, Oregon (the zip code is 97136.  Don’t accidentally go to the Barview on the Central/Southern Oregon coast.  Sometimes Google Maps will try to navigate you to the wrong Barview!) is the closest small town.  Garibaldi is just down the road a mile or two and has more services.  Tillamook is the closest large town.

GPS Coordinates:

45.568501, -123.945484

Special Directions to Site:

Look for Barview Jetty County Park signs along US101.  Cedar Street takes you right down to the parking area.  The Barview Jetty Store and Deli (it was called this the last time we were here but the name could change) is at the southwest corner of the intersection that you take to get onto Cedar Street.

Parking:

At the end of Cedar Street there is a large gravel parking lot that overlooks a tidal area full of rocks.  Beyond the tidal area is the inner north jetty.  This is just outside of the pay station for the campground and the rest of the park.  There are two other dive sites further west along the jetty that you have to pass through the pay station to reach.  This dive site doesn’t require you to pay as of the last time that we visited.

barview jetty site plan
Imagery ©2017 Google, Map data ©2017 Google.
The Barview inner north jetty dive site is a great place to spearfish and go crabbing.

Site Orientation:

The site runs roughly east-west along the jetty.  Keep the jetty to your north and don’t let yourself get sucked into or out of Tillamook Bay by the current.  Depending on what side of high tide you dive this site on, the current will try its hardest to pull you away from where you want to be.  If you find yourself heading west, you could exit at the middle north jetty dive site or the outer north jetty dive site and have a long walk back to your car.

Entrances and Exits:

There are two entrances/exits that we have used near the parking area.  These are low spots in the jetty.  Getting to the entrances is difficult at high tide because the tidal flats between the parking area and the dive site are full of rocks and knee-to-waist-deep water.  You can’t swim in this water so you have to slog through it.  Wading through water wearing 100 lbs of SCUBA gear and trying to avoid tripping on unseen rocks really saps your energy.

At the jetty, you have to do the typical Oregon jetty scramble to get to the inner north jetty dive site.

Jetty and Tillamook Bay - Barview, Tillamook County, Oregon
The Barview inner north jetty with the tide mostly out. The entrance is a long slog from the parking area through knee-to-waist deep water and with a bunch of rocks to trip over. By M.O. Stevens (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Salt/Fresh:

This is a salt water dive.

Shore/Boat:

This is a shore dive.

Normal Conditions:

There is always current here.  Slack tide lasts only a few minutes.  The rest of the time, you’ll be getting pushed or pulled by the current.  Sometimes the wave sets coming in from the ocean line up just right to put some waves on the inner north jetty but usually you only are dealing with current here.

This is a favorite spot for fishermen.  Be mindful of fishing lines and bring a safety shears in case you get tangled in line.  We have a safety shears we highly recommend on our Gear We Use page.

Normal Visibility:

Usually visibility is around 10-15 feet here although the rivers coming into Tillamook Bay can produce a lot of sediment after a big winter storm that can significantly reduce visibility.

Normal Temperature:

Usually we have seen between 48 and 55F at this dive site although if there has been a lot of cold rain upstream of Tillamook Bay, it can be colder.

Best Time of Year:

This site can be SCUBA dived any time during the year.

Max Depth:

Max depth at the inner north jetty is around 40 feet.

Suggested Special Training:

We suggest having advanced open water training for this site.  This is a typical Oregon jetty entrance with an extra long slog through annoyingly placed rocks and knee-to-waist deep water.  This would not be a good place to have your first jetty entrance experience.  The inner fingers at Newport (first or second) would be a better place to try jetty entrances for the first time.

Difficulty of Dive:

We rate this as an intermediate dive because of the annoying entrance and the climb over the jetty rocks.  The current also factors into our consideration here.

Distance of Walk to Entrance:

Depending on which entrance you use, you’re looking at a 150-300 foot walk through water and rocks before you get to the jetty.

Surface Swim Length:

No surface swim needed here.

Special Site Notes:

Be mindful of sport fishermen and hobby crabbers.  We must share our spaces to continue being invited back as SCUBA divers.

Watch the current.  We suggest going against the current at the start of your dive if you have already passed slack tide.  If you are straddling over either side of high tide, then you can drift in with the current and back out after the tidal exchange has switched.

[Underwater Map of Dive Site Coming Soon!]

Closest Local Dive Shops to Get Air Fills and SCUBA Gear:

There may still be a local dive shop in Tillamook but we haven’t checked in with this shop in a while.  If you know of any shops in the Tillamook Bay area, please let us know!

Nearby Restaurants We Like:

We haven’t tried out any of the restaurants around the inner north jetty but in Tillamook there are several decent places.  Let us know if you have a favorite place to eat here!

Nearby Places to Camp and Diver-Friendly Hotels:

The Tillamook County Barview Jetty Park has a campground with a bunch of spaces for RVs, tents, and anything in between.  They also have some cabins for rent.

We haven’t tried any of the hotels in the area yet.  If you know of a good hotel that is SCUBA diver friendly, please let us know!

What Other People Have to Say About This Site:

Please write in the comments below your experiences with this dive site!

Categories
Central Oregon Coast

Newport – OSU Research Pyramids

The OSU Research Pyramids are a series of six underwater cinder block structures at three different sites in Yaquina Bay.  While you could technically dive these from shore, the surface swim would be very long and annoying.  This is a great boat dive in the bay.  The pyramids were once used for juvenile rockfish studies around 2008-2010.  We don’t know if they are still being used  for research but the buoys still appear to be maintained.  Not many people dive these structures aside from research scientists attached to Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center.  There isn’t any good spearfishing or crabbing on the pyramids but the pyramids are covered in tiny marine life which makes them an interesting dive for people who like looking at tiny creatures underwater.

Photo from the second finger on the south newport jetty
The first and second pyramids are between the first finger and second finger of the south jetty in Newport.  Look for the orange marker buoys.

Site Highlights:

We love going to dive the OSU Research Pyramids sites to look for juvenile rockfish like the OSU researchers used to do.  Back when the pyramids were actively being used for research, buddy pairs of divers would visit the pyramids regularly to do juvenile rockfish counts.  They would use toilet bowl cleaners or dryer vent cleaners on long wooden poles to push juvenile rockfish out of the cinder blocks and into a big net.  Then they would count how many rockfish and other species they captured.  Genetic samples would be taken from some of the fish and some fish had a small snip taken out of one of their fins so that they could be identified in the future.

Another highlight is the mystery surrounding Pyramid 5.  One day when the OSU research SCUBA divers went out to do their rockfish study, Pyramid 5 had disappeared!  Over the next several months, they searched the entire area in a grid pattern, with ropes, and using several other search techniques but they never could find it.  Even using the GPS coordinates that they had recorded for the pyramid’s location turned up nothing.  You might think that this wouldn’t be that big of a deal.  After all, these aren’t that big of structures, right?  Wrong!  These pyramids are about the size of a love seat and are held to the bottom with about 10,000lbs of lead weights!

The prevailing theories over the disappearance of the fifth OSU Research Pyramid are 1) it sunk into the mud suddenly, 2) someone managed to steal the pyramid which would require a massive crane to get it to break free of the bottom, 3) aliens.  Pyramid 5’s disappearance is still talked about to this day among our group of SCUBA friends who went diving on it before the disappearance.  Maybe you will be the person to find the missing Pyramid 5!

Nearest Town:

Newport, Oregon.

GPS Coordinates:

44.622885, -124.049954

Special Directions to Site:

Take the aquarium exit from US101 and then follow signs to the marina and boat ramp.

Parking:

There is plenty of trailer parking by the boat ramp for your truck and trailer after you’ve put your boat in the water.

OSU research pyramid site plan
Imagery ©2017 Google, Map data ©2017 Google.
The three sets of OSU Research Pyramids are interesting dives if you can find them.

Site Orientation:

This site is spread across three different areas all accessible by boat.  All of the pyramids (except for that tricky Pyramid 5!) are supposed to be marked with orange buoys that at very high tides will be 1-2 feet below water.  The buoy markers are supposed to be maintained forever until the research pyramids are removed from the bottom.  Based on how hard it will be to ever get those pyramids up off the bottom, we expect the buoys will remain for many years to come.

Each research pyramid is around the size of a love seat.  There are several rows of cinder blocks that form a sort of pyramid and are held together with metal plates.  The last time we went diving on the pyramids, the lowest set of cinder blocks was already underneath the sand and mud.  By now, the next row up has probably submerged beneath the muck.

Each grouping of research pyramids has the pyramids generally within 100 feet of one another.  We tried navigating between the pyramids a few times but it is difficult hit one pyramid underwater when starting at the other.  We suggest you surface and move with your boat over to the other pyramid rather than try to find it underwater.

Entrances and Exits:

While you could do some epic surface swims to the different OSU Research Pyramid sites, we suggest that you use a boat.  The marina on the south side of the Yaquina Bay Bridge is the best place to put your boat in the water.

Salt/Fresh:

This is a salt water dive.

Shore/Boat:

This is a boat dive unless you love swimming very long distances in SCUBA gear.

Normal Conditions:

Usually the conditions are pretty decent.  The pyramid sites are all outside of the shipping channels but you may still get some wake occasionally from passing boats.  The pyramids do get some current from the Yaquina River although they are far enough outside of the channel that it isn’t as bad as what you experience out on the third finger on the south jetty.

Normal Visibility:

The first and second pyramids usually have 10-15 feet of visibility.  The bottom here is mostly sand.

The third and fourth pyramids usually have about 10 feet of visibility.  The bottom is mixed sand and mud and can be stirred up.

The fifth and sixth pyramids are in the 5-10 foot range of visibility.  The bottom is mud and will get stirred up easily.

Normal Temperature:

Temperature varies based on where you are in the Yaquina Bay and river conditions.  We have seen 42-55F depending on the time of year.

Best Time of Year:

Summer is a good time to dive these sites.  The water is a little warmer and it’s fun cruising around on a boat in Yaquina Bay when the sun is out.

Max Depth:

At an extremely high tide, you might get 25 feet at the first and second pyramids.  Normally you’ll be between 15 and 20 feet though.

Suggested Special Training:

You will want to know how to dive from the type of boat you are using.  Open water divers can do these dives but we still rate this on the low end of an intermediate dive because of the potential for having zero visibility if the bottom is stirred up and for the current that can sometimes impact these sites.

Difficulty of Dive:

This is an intermediate dive although open water divers can do these dives if they have experience diving from a boat.

Distance of Walk to Entrance:

If you are smart with prepping your gear and loading it onto your boat before you go out into the water, you won’t have to walk anywhere.  Motoring along with your boat can take 20-30 minutes to reach the 5th and 6th research pyramids though.

Surface Swim Length:

No surface swim unless you really want to do this as a shore dive.

Special Site Notes:

We suggest you ask for permission from the Heppell Lab at Oregon State University before you dive the OSU Research Pyramids.  The lab owns the pyramids and they may not want divers playing around on their research experiments.

Looking inside of the cinder blocks is fun.  We suggest taking a dive light along to check out what’s inside.  We have the dive lights we use every time we got SCUBA diving in Oregon listed on our Gear We Use page.

[Underwater Map of Dive Site Coming Soon!]

Closest Local Dive Shops to Get Air Fills and SCUBA Gear:

There is a local dive shop in the South Beach area of Newport.  They have gear rental, gear repair, air fills, and some gear for sale.

Nearby Restaurants We Like:

There are a lot of good restaurants on both sides of the Yaquina Bay.

Nearby Places to Camp and Diver-Friendly Hotels:

South Beach State Park is a good place to go camp or rent a yurt at when you’re diving in Newport.  We have stayed here many times and enjoy the campground and the easy access to the beach.  We have not tried out any of the hotels in town.  Please let us know if you have found a SCUBA diver friendly hotel in Newport!

South Beach State Park has great yurts that SCUBA divers can rent. The heaters in the yurts really are nice after a long day of diving around Newport.

What Other People Have to Say About This Site:

Please write in the comments below your experiences with this dive site!

Categories
Central Oregon Coast

Newport – OSU Research Dock

The OSU Research Dock is a fun place to dive if you like looking at the bottoms of ships or if you want to check out some of the marine life on the piers.  You absolutely MUST have permission from the correct authorities (we highly recommend having it in writing and carrying it with you) before you dive.  Due to the recent relocation of the NOAA fleet, the police are very sensitive to people diving here without permission.  Underwater you will find some interesting anemones, sometimes some lost research hardware, and we once found some bones we thought might have been human in closer to shore.

The R/V Oceanus
The R/V Oceanus at dock at night. Only people with special permission can dive on this site. The OSU Research Dock is a fun dive though so if it interests you, you might as well ask for permission.

Site Highlights:

The big highlight for us at the OSU Research Dock is diving underneath the R/V Oceanus, the R/V Elakha, and the R/V Pacific Storm when they are in port.  We have spent time looking over the boat hulls, inspecting the zincs, and seeing what interesting marine life grows on these ocean-going research labs.

There is also quite a bit of life that lives on the piers that hold up the dock.  We have seen quite a few anemones on the pilings.  If you head toward shore, things get shallow fast.  We found some bones out there once that kind of looked human but probably were from a deer.

Any Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) fans or students will want to dive this site to have bragging rights with their friends.  There aren’t that many universities with their own research dock!

Nearest Town:

Newport, Oregon.

GPS Coordinates:

44.624454, -124.045659

Special Directions to Site:

Take the aquarium exit from US101 and then follow the signs to the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center.  When you get permission from the Center, they will tell you where you can park.

Parking:

There is parking along the shore where you most likely will get permission to park your car and assemble your gear.  If you know the right people, you might be able to park in the maintenance yard at the edge of the pier.  If you’re really lucky, you might get to park out on the dock itself although don’t count on that!

Imagery ©2017 Google, Map data ©2017 Google. The OSU Research Dock is a fun site to dive but you absolutely MUST ASK AND RECEIVE PERMISSION from the correct authorities. We strongly recommend you have it in writing and carry it with you. You don’t want to surface to a state cop waiting for you!

 

Site Orientation:

The dock runs roughly east-west.  To the south of the dock, there are some mud flats and the water intake structure for the Hatfield Marine Science Center’s many salt water tanks.  You’ll want to stick around the dock.

Entrances and Exits:

You probably will be entering and exiting along the south shore and then swimming out until the water is deep enough to start diving.  If you’re lucky and have permission, you might get to dive from the dock itself but don’t count on this.

Salt/Fresh:

This is a salt water dive.

Shore/Boat:

This is a shore dive although if you are attached to the Hatfield Marine Science Center, you might get to dive this from one of the research ships.

Normal Conditions:

Usually this site is pretty calm although as you head north from the dock, the current through the Yaquina River can really rip.

Normal Visibility:

At high tide, expect to have 10-15 feet of visibility.

Normal Temperature:

Depending on what the river is doing, you will see 45-55F in the water at the OSU Research Dock.

Best Time of Year:

Any time of year this dive site can be fun.

Max Depth:

If you go out into the channel to the north, you can sometimes find 30 feet although normally you’ll be around 20 feet near the docks.

Suggested Special Training:

Open water divers can successfully dive this site although you need to watch above you for the hulls of ships.  You don’t want to smack your head into one!

Difficulty of Dive:

This is a pretty easy and straightforward dive.  The hard part is getting permission to dive this site.

Distance of Walk to Entrance:

Depending on where you are allowed to park, you may have to walk over 1000 feet to get to an entrance.

Surface Swim Length:

Depending on where you’re allowed to enter, you may have to do a surface swim of over 1000 feet.

Special Site Notes:

You absolutely MUST 100% have written permission to dive this site!  If you don’t you may find yourself being questioned by state police when you surface.  It’s not a bad idea to fly a dive flag here to make sure anyone working on the research vessels at the OSU Research Dock are aware of your presence.  We have our tried and true dive flag listed on our Gear We Use page.

We suggest you try getting in touch with some of the ship operations people to see if you can get permission to dive this site.  If you’re a current or former Beaver, you have a better chance than if you’re a Duck.

[Underwater Map of Dive Site Coming Soon!]

Closest Local Dive Shops to Get Air Fills and SCUBA Gear:

In the South Beach area of Newport there is a good local dive shop that offers air fills, can repair gear, has gear for sale, and rents gear.

Nearby Restaurants We Like:

On both sides of the bay there are good restaurants and brewpubs.

Nearby Places to Camp and Diver-Friendly Hotels:

We recommend South Beach State Park’s campground.  We particularly like the yurts on cold winter days.  If you know of a good SCUBA diver friendly hotel in Newport, please let us know!

South Beach State Park has great yurts that SCUBA divers can rent. The heaters in the yurts really are nice after a long day of diving around Newport.

What Other People Have to Say About This Site:

Please write in the comments below your experiences with this dive site!

Categories
Central Oregon Coast

Newport – Public Crab Dock

The public crab dock on the south side of the bay in Newport, Oregon can be a fun, shallow dive at high tide.  We have found sunglasses, lost crab pots, beer bottles, golf balls, wallets, keys, and the occasional fishing pole in the water under and around the crab dock.  It is a good idea to have a friend stay on the surface and stand near your bubbles to help calm the nerves of any recreational crabbers who might think that you’re trying to steal their crabs.  It should also be pretty clear that it is a Bad Idea to steal crabs out of someone’s crab pot or for that matter to even try crabbing here while on SCUBA.

A photo of the crab dock in Newport
The public crab dock on the south bayfront in Newport, Oregon is a fun place to dive although you need to watch out for people throwing stuff on you if they suspect you’re stealing their crabs!

Site Highlights

The main highlight of this dive site is exploring under and around the dock for lost sunglasses, hats, wallets, keys, crab pots, fishing poles, and whatever else people have lost over the side.  Visibility is always low and sometimes you can’t see anything at all.  It is a shallow dive meaning that you can stay underwater poking around for a very long time if you want to.  For people who want a little navigational challenge, you can head out to the Yaquina Bay Bridge footings to see what there is to see.  However, we can’t advise you do this because we are pretty sure that somehow you could be charged with terrorism for getting too close to the bridge without permission!

Nearest Town:

Newport, Oregon.

GPS Coordinates:

44.620918, -124.053921

Special Directions to Site:

Take the aquarium exit from US101 and follow the signs to Rogue Brewing and Brewers on the Bay.

Parking:

There is a big public parking lot right by the crab dock.  There are bathrooms and there is a fish cleaning station at the west end of the parking lot.

Newport crab dock site plan.
Imagery ©2017 Google, Map data ©2017 Google.
The Newport crab dock is a fun little dive but be mindful of people above and watch out for fishing line.

Site Orientation:

The crab dock runs roughly north-south.  Stick close to the piers and you can’t lose your way too badly.  If you want to venture out to the Yaquina Bay Bridge footings, it can be a fun navigation challenge.  However, we recommend against it because you could be charged with a terrorism-related crime!

Entrances and Exits:

The entrance and exit is right by the car park.  You will have to climb over some jetty rocks but there is almost never any surf or surge here.  Wakes from passing boats can make it a little challenging but otherwise this is a much better entrance than what you usually find at places like the fifth finger on the South Jetty.

Salt/Fresh:

This is a salt water dive.

Shore/Boat:

This is a shore dive.

Normal Conditions:

Usually the water is fairly calm here.  Wakes from passing ships can stir things up.  Note that you can really only dive this site at high tide.  Otherwise you’ll be walking around on mud flats rather than diving.

Normal Visibility:

Visibility is usually poor with a good day giving you 10 feet and a bad day giving you 0 feet.  The bottom can be stirred up and cause a black-out situation.  In that case, it’s probably best to surface, swim a ways, and then descend again.  Excellent neutral buoyancy skills are a must here.

Normal Temperature:

Water temperature varies by the season and by how much water is coming out of the Yaquina River and by the crab dock.  We usually see between 45 and 55F at this site.

Best Time of Year:

There isn’t really a best time of year here.  Instead, there are better high tides than others.  Find a high tide that is very high so that you have some more water to dive in.

Max Depth:

At the very end of the crab dock on a very high tide, you can hit 25 feet.  Most of the dive site is more in the 10-15 foot range.  Most dive computers won’t even start logging a dive at that depth!

Suggested Special Training:

Open water divers can dive this site if you are okay with the entrance and you know what to do if you get tangled in fishing line.  We strongly recommend carrying a dive knife and a safety shearer.  We have our favorites that we carry on every dive over on our Gear We Use page.

Difficulty of Dive:

The dive itself is pretty easy.  The entrance is a little tricky with having to climb over some jetty rocks and the risk of entanglement in fishing line is big enough that we rate this as an intermediate dive.

Distance of Walk to Entrance:

About a 100 foot walk is needed to get to the entrance.

Surface Swim Length:

Technically you can start diving right away but we recommend surface swimming at least to the start of the crab dock before you descent.  Figure on a 250 foot surface swim at a minimum.

Special Site Notes:

If you dive this site at anything other than a high tide, you will be swimming in mud flats rather than actually diving.

We highly recommend having a friend stay on the surface and monitor your progress from the crab dock.  Recreational crabbers and fishermen may have a few nasty things to say and a few objects to throw at your bubbles.  It’s a good idea to have a friend along to smooth over any frayed nerves and reassure them that you aren’t stealing their crabs!  Also you might make a friend if someone has lost something over the railing and you can find and retrieve it.

We highly recommend taking along a mono-filament (fishing line) cutter.  You are almost guaranteed to run into some underwater.  We have our favorite knives and safety shearers over on our Gear We Use page.

[Underwater Map of Dive Site Coming Soon!]

Closest Local Dive Shops to Get Air Fills and SCUBA Gear:

In the South Beach area of Newport there is a local dive shop that does air fills, repairs gear, rents and sells gear, and can give additional info on local dive sites.

Nearby Restaurants We Like:

Right next to this dive site there is a great brewery and restaurant.  Otherwise on the other side of the bay there is a whole street of good food.

Nearby Places to Camp and Diver-Friendly Hotels:

South Beach State Park has good camping and some great yurts for rent.  We stay here frequently when we visit Newport.  We haven’t stayed in any hotels in Newport yet but if you know of a good one that is SCUBA diver friendly, let us know!

South Beach State Park has great yurts that SCUBA divers can rent. The heaters in the yurts really are nice after a long day of diving around Newport.

What Other People Have to Say About This Site:

Please write in the comments below your experiences with this dive site!