Blake Island Reef - Pacific Northwest

Blake Island Reef delivers a dive that’s classic Puget Sound. We love the drift here, it’s often a gentle ride, letting you really soak in the details. You’ll weave through fields of plumose anemones, their white tentacles swaying like miniature feather dusters, contrasting sharply with the olive greens and rusts of the rock walls. Keep your eyes peeled for the sunflower stars, massive and often on the move, and we almost always spot some colourful nudibranchs hunkering down. It’s a site that rewards a slow pace and a keen eye. We’d suggest diving this one on a calm day, an hour or so after slack high tide for the best drift. It’s ideal for photographers or divers who appreciate the subtler beauty of temperate waters over tropical flash. You get a real sense of the Pacific Northwest underwater ecosystem, from the sculpins tucked into crevices to the occasional glimpse of a slender crab scuttling across the substrate.

Location
Pacific Northwest, United States, North America
Coordinates
47.529575, -122.494580
Type
reef

Marine Protected Area: Blake Island Underwater Park

Best Time to Dive in Pacific Northwest

The warmest water temperatures in Pacific Northwest occur in August, averaging 16.5°C (up to 15.6°C). The coolest conditions are in February at 6.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 7.1°C (air: 6.3°C)
  • February: 6.9°C (air: 4.5°C)
  • March: 7.7°C (air: 6.6°C)
  • April: 9.5°C (air: 8.7°C)
  • May: 12.0°C (air: 11.7°C)
  • June: 14.0°C (air: 13.7°C)
  • July: 15.7°C (air: 14.9°C)
  • August: 16.5°C (air: 15.7°C)
  • September: 14.3°C (air: 14.0°C)
  • October: 11.4°C (air: 10.5°C)
  • November: 8.8°C (air: 7.4°C)
  • December: 7.7°C (air: 5.5°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Pacific Northwest

Nearest Dive Centres to Blake Island Reef

Marine Life in Pacific Northwest

Home to 38 recorded species including 18 reef fish, 7 crabs & lobsters, 3 whales & dolphins, 2 sharks & rays, 2 clams & mussels, 2 sea urchins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Blake Island Reef

Based on average water temperature of 11.0°C, currents 7 cm/s.

  • Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 11°C water
  • Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories