Alki Boat Launch Park
Description
The most important thing to keep
in mind regarding this dive is the title: "Alki BOAT Launch
Park." Yep, where BOATS enter/exit the water. Remember
at every given moment, private BOATS and yahts that could
be piloted by inexperienced, unaware or even inebriated
revelers could pass by overhead or through you if you're
not careful. BOATS have props on them that can make a
mess of your prized drysuit, and even more of your head.
About all the defense you have is a heavy metal tank full
of pressurized gasses (not terribly comforting, is it?)
or your wits. Please, PLEASE use the latter! BOATS! Additionally,
by Seattle Harbor Code, it is illegal to dive anywhere
within 300 feet of a launch. Keep this in mind as well!
That said, this can still be
a great dive. Look for turbidity channels North of the
boat launch that go as deep as 150 feet or more. As they
deepen, you can find relatively untouched life, with octopus
sightings being relatively common. Rumors of manmade artifacts/salvage
circulate regarding this dive, but please keep your treasurehunting
to means that are safe for the environment. As a general
rule of thumb, if anything from a plant or a barnacle
is living on it, the animals nearby have more of a use
for it than you do!
Location
Just north of Seacrest on Harbor
Ave in West Seattle. It's formal name is the Don Armeni
Boat Launch.
Take the West Seattle Freeway
exit from I-5. Take the Harbor Avenue exit after crossing
the high-rise bridge on the West Seattle Freeway. The
boat launch is right before Harbor Avenue turns the corner
and becomes Alki Avenue.
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