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Salt Creek County Park, Strait of Juan de
Fuca, WA
I love
this beautiful dive site!! In my opinion, this is better diving than most of the sound.
Read the reviews below and you’ll see what I mean. Come join us any day for some
great ocean diving!
It IS a
LONG drive, about 7 hours, including the ferry ride. We’re going over for Memorial
Day weekend, leaving on Wednesday AM the 27th and returning on the 2nd.
We’ll be camping right at the dive site, Salt Creek Park, which is said to be full by
Wednesday night. There are other private came grounds nearby, plus hotels, etc. For
lodging info, see: http://www.tourism.wa.gov/redir.aspx?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.northwestsecretplaces.com%2fsaltcreek.html
Here's some pics from this year's dive!
  
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Salt Creek
State Park (Tongue Point)
Northwest Diver.com Dive Site Review
 By Keith Clements
 Associate Editor, Northwest Diver.com |
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Date Reviewed: |
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May 2001 |
Location: |
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Strait of Juan de Fuca |
GPS Coordinates: |
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Coming Soon |
Access: |
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shore |
Site Description: |
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Rugged rocky bottom |
Main Attraction: |
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Thick kelp beds,
incredible anemones |
Review Posted: |
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January 2003 |
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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! |
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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.
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