Hood Canal is a long fjord-like arm of Puget Sound, offering shore diving across seven sites ranging from shallow artificial reefs to a wall that descends well beyond recreational limits. The water is cold throughout the year and currents can be significant at some sites, though much of the area suits beginner and intermediate divers when conditions are read carefully. Resident species include giant Pacific octopuses, wolf eels, king crabs, grunt sculpins, and bluntnose sixgill sharks. Certain areas of the canal are designated marine preserves where harvesting is prohibited, and five operators serve the region from Shelton.
Monthly water temperature across Hood Canal's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water in Hood Canal is cold year-round, and a drysuit or thick wetsuit is strongly advisable at all times. Visibility is variable by site and improves for many divers in the calmer conditions of autumn and winter. Current timing matters at exposed sites, and checking local tables before entry is standard practice here.
Water temperature around Hood Canal ranges from about 8°C in January to 11°C in July, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
With water around 8–11°C, a drysuit works in Hood Canal year-round.
Fin maps 7 sites in Hood Canal (7 scuba diving sites).
2 more sites to explore
