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Alki Cove 2 - Seattle WA


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Alki Cove 2 is a shore accessible salt water dive site, located in Seattle, WA. This dive site has an average rating of 3.55 out of 5 from 11 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 61-70ft/19-21m. The average visibility is 31-35ft/9-11m.

This is the most popular of the Alki dive sites and an all–around great dive park. It is protected from major current and has lots of life in shallow water. If you are on the beach looking out there is a boat just inside the marker line at about 45ft. To the right you can find a decent sized boat called the Honey Bear in about 35 ft, near the base of a bunch of pilings that are angled out of the bottom. Several other piles of boulders and Pilings are scattered around this site.

More experienced divers can venture to deeper depths to see the I-beams. Follow the rope under the buoy line to about 85 ft where it starts to turn North (to the left). Turn Right and hold that depth and you’ll come across them quickly. There are a couple other small sunken boats and piles of rocks that are interesting to see on the way.

Special Restrictions:

You MUST stay outside of the buoy line. This is an active ferry/water taxi dock. There is a rope on the bottom with some bottles floating on it that marks the buoy line so that you can avoid crossing it.

Though you could probably bring a boat here, it is not recommended. You could easily run over a diver or get in the way of the water taxi.

How to get there:

From Seattle, take the west Seattle bridge to the Harbor Ave SW Exit and take a right on Harbor Ave SW. Follow it 1.3 miles along the water until you come to the fish-n-chips restaurant and the water taxi parking lot. You can either park in the lot or on the street. The South Side of the restaurant is Cove 2. Cove 1 is to the North side of the restaurant. Gear up and walk down to the water.

This park is an ok dive in the day, but the night dive here is spectacular. There are harbor seals that will dive with you. A sunken ship (small tiny wreck) where they say the biggest octopus in Puget Sound lives. I haven’t personally seen him but seen many of her offspring. Like I said though the night dive is the best so many colors and life to see.

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Comments

zman202 - 6/30/2013 9:13 PM
I went scuba diving here on 5/15/2011. Average viz: 11-15ft/3-5m. Water temp: 56-60°F/13-16°C.
scubashoppe - 3/25/2013 10:09 AM
Rating Added: 3
Great spot to go see the Giant Pacific Octopus on eggs. Parking is tough on the weekends as many classes are taught here. The bathrooms and the showers are a big plus!
Ahti - 1/13/2013 4:42 PM
Rating Added: 1
This site is awful. A total dump. Im disgusted that this site got in the "top 10" Washington dive sites for 2012. Dive sites should be rated based on their quality, not their convenience. This is one of the worst (if not the absolute worst) site I have ever dove. I dive it most weeks for practice, but again, thats a convenience thing. That doesnt make it a good site!! How can people say this is good when there are dives like Deception Pass out there? My guess is that most of the people who rated this 5 have never dove much else, and therefore do not know what they are missing. My advice would be to go here whenever you just want to get wet (assuming this is a nearby site to you), but when you want to actually DIVE, go somewhere else. You will only be doing yourself a favor.
HalcyionDiver26 - 4/10/2011 1:19 AM
Site has a public bathroom you can use. Mind you there isn’t a door on the stall in the Men’s bathroom and they have a working outside shower as well now.
ascubadiver - 12/28/2009 9:35 PM
Not so hot. I don’t believe I have ever seen a seal dive with people there. What is there is 200 yrs. of Seattle’s industrial waste. Last time I was there was to remove garbage. I found an 18’ metal ladder gleaming away. It was new on account it was still white. I know there is an Octopus down there, however its a fish tale if one believes that one to be the biggest in the sound.


Both Alkidive spots neeeeeeds help. Its just rot. A major clean up is necessary!!!