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Tacoma Narrows
 Tacoma/Gig Harbor, WA
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Max Depth: Over 150ft/46m
Average Viz: 5-10ft/2-3m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Plenty To See
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Rating: 3.44 by 9 divers
Spring: Under 50°F/10°C
Summer: Under 50°F/10°C
Fall: Under 50°F/10°C
Winter: Under 50°F/10°C
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Tacoma Narrows is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in Tacoma/Gig Harbor, WA. This dive site has an average rating of 3.44 out of 5 from 9 scuba divers. The maximum depth is over 150ft/46m. The average visibility is 5-10ft/2-3m.
The Tacoma Narrows is located right next to the water treatment plant, just below the War Memorial Park at the base of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. This is considered a technical dive, and should be planned with an experienced guide or a local dive shop. The rewards of your effort, however, include seeing the remains of the collapse of the original bridge from half a century ago.
Directions: This dive site is found under the bridge of the Tacoma Narrows. Head North on Highway 16 from I-5 in Tacoma as if you are heading to Gig Harbor. On the last exit before hitting the bridge, take Jackson Ave exit. Do not turn on Jackson, but head straight across and down the hill into War Memorial Park.
A great dive during slack tide. Current becomes difficult above 2 kts, although it makes for great drifting. Lot’s of ling cod, small kelp environment, abundance of reef life in wreckage of old bridge directly under new.
This is a killer drift dive, but I highly suggest doing this as a boat dive, especially if you are not from the area. The current rips through here and you could end up miles from where you started, but it is so fun to dive.
The Narrows is a great dive for advanced divers, and requires a live boat. Strong currents are a constant hazard. The combination of currents, depth, and poor visibility has killed divers here, but care and preparation can reward you with a great dive lots of wolf eels and octopus in the rocky habitat along the shore, and often dog shark sightings around the bridge supports. Several dive charter operations in the area regularly visit the Narrows.
This was a good boat-drift dive. We saw a cute octopus just sitting on top of the rocks, a grunt sculpin, and lots of red irish lords. Our dive buddies saw wolf eals. We also found tons of human-made stuff that had been ’lost overboard’ while constructing the bridge.
http://www.shorediving.com/Earth/USA_West/Washington/Tacoma_Narrows/index.htm
http://www.boydski.com/diving/pugetsound.htm
http://www.scoobydivers.com/ScoobyDivers.com/Dive_Albums/Pages/Tacoma_Narrows_Drift_Dive.html
http://www.theperfectdive.com/DEF-Site.asp?sID=209