Sundown Diving - Pacific Northwest

Sundown Diving, for us, is one of those sites that just feels… different. Maybe it’s the light. Even on a grey day, there’s a softness to the water here, a kind of filtered glow that makes the often-overlooked details pop. We love the way the light catches the whiskers of a Roughpatch Shrimp as it scuttles across the seabed, or illuminates the subtle iridescence on a Northern Smoothtongue. This isn’t a place for big pelagics, though we have seen orcas pass through on occasion, a truly humbling experience. Instead, it’s about slowing down. It’s for the diver who delights in finding a perfectly camouflaged Slender Sole, or examining the intricate spirals of a Bryozoan colony. You’ll often spot Big Skates gliding along the bottom, and the Dungeness and Red Rock Crabs are everywhere, always busy. Keep an eye out for the delicate Four-Spined Squat Lobsters tucked into crevices. The coho and calico salmon runs bring an incredible energy to the site seasonally, a silver flash against the moody greens and blues. Sundown Diving excels for macro enthusiasts and patient observers. It’s a photographer’s dream when the conditions are calm, offering endless opportunities for intimate portraits of the smaller, often overlooked inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest. We’d suggest going in the late afternoon; that “sundown” light really does make all the difference.

Location
Pacific Northwest, United States, North America
Coordinates
49.163002, -123.932950
Type
shore
Maximum Depth
5-20m

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 Sundown Diving

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 Sundown Diving

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