Whytecliff Park

Level: beginner to advanced

How to get there: Follow Hwy 99 north. Take the Horseshoe Bay exit and follow the bendy road around. Watch for the park signs.

Facilities: Payphone at top of paved pathway to the water. Concession stand. Washrooms both in the parking lot and down by the water. Tap and hose by concession stand.

Hazards: Depth, fishing line, old cables, ferry wake, current, slippery entry, and the climb down

How to dive this site: Couple of different dives here - you may want to decide and park accordingly to minimize your walk. To do the Cut, park at the north end of the parking lot (by the washrooms) and gear up. Walk across the grass to the stairs - there's a sign at the top advising divers of some *rules*. Follow the path down to the *cut* between the two rock walls - enter and swim out slightly. Drop down and follow the wall along to the right, or swim out along the reef to the green & white Daymarker. To dive the bay or the islet, park at the south end (by the concession stand). Gear up at your car and walk down the paved path just behind the concession stand to the water. There's a sign just before the rocks describing some of the local marine life. Enter the water and swim either left of right, depending on where you want to go - the islet is to the left, the Daymarker to the right. Or you can just explore the bay - there are old tires and such from when there was a marina here.

What to see: Usually a seal or two to harrass you, especially at night. I have had very good luck with seals here - they love to chase the fish in your light. The bay is a little barren due to the number of certification classes they hold here, but there's life on the walls. Fields of white plumose anemones, nudibranchs, rockfish, sea cucumbers, seastars, sea squirts, massive lingcod, octopus, Puget Sound King crabs (not to mention MANY other crabs), urchins, tube worms, seapens, shrimp, prawns - all kinds of life. But the seals are my favorites!

My tally: 28 dives

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