Keystone Park

Keystone Underwater Park is one of the most popular shore dives in the area. Due to the current that sweeps the end of the jetty, the sea life here is abundant. On one section there is a cascading wall of white plumose anemones that makes a diver feel like they are floating in the clouds. The jetty is a pyramid of boulders that give the animals here a great place to hide. It is filled with Lingcod, Greenlings, Rockfish, Giant Pacific Octopus and schooling Surf Perch and Tube Snouts. Go slow, as there are many macro critters to find like the Grunt Sculpin, Umbrella Crab, Decorator Warbonnetts, Gunnels and most recently the tiniest Puget Sound King Crab. In the summer time there is a huge Bull Kelp bed next to the jetty, which also attracts larger schools of fish. An alternative dive to the jetty is the old wharf pilings located down the beach. Once you are in and around the pilings this helps protect you from the current. Each piling itself is covered with life and look down into the cutoff pilings as we occasionally find a Wolfeel or Octopus hiding in them. This dive site is a Marine Preserve and no game collecting is allowed.

 

Photographers: This is a great place for either Wide Angle or Macro.

Current: The biggest concern you have diving this site is the current, which happens to be unpredictable. Check the days current guide for the approximate time for slack and then arrive early and watch what the water is doing.

Ferry Traffic: This site is located next to the Keystone Port Townsend Ferry terminal, and a small boat launch. It is important that you do not dive the ferry entrance side of the jetty. If you do get swept away in the current and surface as a ferry is coming in, you must remain on the surface so the Ferry Captain knows where you are. If you descend back underwater the ferry cannot come to the dock until you are located. This is not a good situation for either diver or Ferry Captain so please be careful and watch the currents.

Facilities: There are restrooms with hot showers, so bring quarters. There is an outside cold shower to rinse equipment and sand off your feet. Please try and keep the sand out of the restrooms and showers as best as possible. There are picnic tables and fire pits on the beach.

Night Dives: Night diving is allowed but you need to pre-arrange with a park ranger and there is a $25 fee. This fee pays to have the restrooms open as the ranger has to come by later and close up the park.