reef

Log This Dive

Marina Reef

Marina Reef, up in the Pacific Northwest, is a site we’ve always had a soft spot for. Forget the tropical blues; this is a place that celebrates the moody, green-tinged beauty of cold-water diving. The reef here isn't coral, of course, but a rugged, rocky landscape adorned with anemones and the occasional patch of eelgrass. It’s an easy dive, often shallow enough that you can spend a good hour exploring without pushing limits, making it perfect for a relaxed afternoon. What makes Marina Reef special, for us, are those oddball creatures you just don't see elsewhere. We love spotting the Snake Prickleback, a slender fish that weaves through the rocks, or the genuinely bizarre Spotted Ratfish, with its whip-like tail and peculiar snout. Keep an eye out for Pacific Glass Shrimp, almost invisible against the rock, and the Plainfin Midshipman, often tucked into crevices, glowing faintly. If you hit it at the right time of year, we’ve seen young Chinook and Coho salmon darting through the shallows. Our favourite is the massive Sunflower star, a multi-armed giant slowly cruising the seafloor. It’s a site for the patient observer, for divers who appreciate the subtle drama of a temperate reef.