| Site Info | |
|---|---|
| Type | {{{type}}} |
| Coordinates | "N122°22'47.8"W 47°35'19.3"N 122°22'47.8"W |
| Region | Pacific Northwest |
| Access via | Shore |
| Depth range | 5-115m |
[[Category:{{{type}}}]]
Cove 2 is a shoreline site located in Elliott Bay off Alki Beach in West Seattle. It is part of the Alki Beach Seacrest Coves public park.[1] It is considered to be an excellent beginner site.[2]
This is the most popular dive site in Seattle and many open water courses are taught here, especially on weekends.[3]
Details
Location
There is a Hawaiian fast casual restaurant called "Marination ma kai" immediately adjacent to the dive site, which serves as a perfect navigation landmark. The address is 1660 Harbor Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126. This is also the site of the West Seattle - Seattle water taxi dock.[4]
Depth
0-115m
Topography
Cove 2's entry is a pebble beach that turns into gently sloping sandy bottom. The bottom is covered by various marine plants down to around ~40-60ft, after which it is a silt bottom.
Conditions
Cove 2 is connected to the Pacific Ocean and tidally influenced, so depth varies by up to 15ft depending on when it is dived. Currents are minimal.
Temperatures range between 40-60f, colder in the winter and with depth. A drysuit is strongly recommended, although some divers use a 7mm wetsuit.
Weather is frequently rainy - it's Seattle.
Visibility tends to be better in the winter, up to 60ft. In the late spring and summer algal blooms can drop visibility to around 5-10ft.
Facilities
- There are freshwater showers for rinsing self and gear as well as public restrooms available. These are attached to the same building as Marination.
- An AED is located within Marination, courtesy of GUE Seattle. It is on the left wall near the restroom.
- Marination offers food and a bar with beer and beach drinks.
Access
Parking
Marination and Cove 2 share a parking lot, which can make parking hit or miss. On weekday evenings there's usually one or two spots available. During business hours on weekends, parking is scarce. There is abundant street parking nearby, although depending on where you park the walk to the water can be extended.
Entry
From the parking lot there are concrete steps that provide access to the beach.
Do
It is best to dive this site with a local at first.
There are signs requesting that divers use a dive flag, but no one does this in practice.
There are buoys marking an underwater exclusion zone that divers must not enter. There is a water taxi that provides transit to downtown Seattle from Alki Beach. For safety, there is an underwater perimeter surrounding the pier offering taxi access. Following this perimeter down the slope of the shoreline is a useful navigational landmark.
See
- There is a wreck called the Honey Bear at about 30ft towards the south of the cove that is home to a variety of marine life
- When the weather permits, the view of the city before and after the dive is very beautiful, especially if you surface during golden hour
Life
- Nudibranchs
- Rockfish
- Spotted ratfish
- Plumose anemone
- Dungeness crabs
- Other kinds of crabs
Safety
Hazards
- Boat traffic, including shipping vessels and the Seattle water taxi, runs over this site
- Fishing line, sharp metal and other debris can be present
- Visibility can be low, especially in the spring and summer due to algal blooms
Equipment
- SMB strongly recommended
Nearby
References