Scuba Dive Point Defiance Park - North Wall

May 24, 2011. Author: Drew Collins

Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Washington is a very large and beautiful park; actually it's one of the largest urban parks in the United States. At 702-acres, the park includes Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the Rose Garden, Rhododendron Garden, Camp 6 Logging Museum, trails, long stretches of beach, a boardwalk, a boathouse, Fort Nisqually, an off-leash dog park, the ferry dock and terminal to Vashon Island, and most notably a stand of old-growth forest. More than two million people visit it each year. The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is one of the finest in the entire northwest. The zoo was founded in 1905; the aquarium was founded in 1935, and then was relocated to the zoo in 1963.

One of the primary attractions from the cliffs above the park overlooking the sound, just south of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge are Eagles, Heron, Whales, Dolphin, Sea Lions, and many other fascinating and wonderful creatures, and that is outside the zoo and aquarium. Scuba divers find this to be an amazing location to drop in just below the surface and bear witness to much more of natures wonders.

On a recent trip to the south sound, a group of us decided to dive the North Wall. The weather was good for spring in the Northwest, cool air but calm winds, making for calm seas. Upon entry at our dive site, with very little current, less than 1/4 knot, we were greeted by a very curious Sea Lion. Although he did not make himself visible underwater, we knew he was there.

Typically in May and June when the water temperature increases to an average of 46 degrees, the algae begin to bloom. This year the bloom is exceptionally heavy. The emerald green waters of Puget Sound become cloudy with the bloom, resulting in very poor visibility on almost all dives through July and perhaps August. My buddy and I descended to around seventy five feet and found the visibility was much better at that depth. Although the visibility was better, the light was diminished making it much darker than usual. The algae above was blocking out most of the light. With my Canon T2i and Aquatica Housing, and our flashlights we began our dive.

The first creature we encountered was a very large Grunt Sculpin.  These are very curious little critters that are shy and a little clumsy. They don't swim like a typical vertebrate, instead they hop along the bottom or on a rocky ledge as this one was doing. When startled, they dart away very, very quickly. Grunt Sculpins have a long snout in front, almost pig like, and on the sides their pectoral fins are not webbed like a typical fin. These fins are ribbed, allowing them to act more like feet. If a diver stays calm and listens closely, they can hear this small fish producing quiet vibrations, hence the name Grunt. Typically they have a beautiful alabaster white, and brown speckled coloring. At the North Wall, Albino Grunt's have also been spotted. We came across an Albino Grunt Sculpin on this dive. We also witnessed a few other species of Sculpins on this dive; Long Fin Sculpin, Fringed Sculpin and Scalyhead Sculpin.

The North Wall is also home to a large number of Hermit Crabs. We must have seen hundreds in the 57 minutes we were submerged. Anemone's, Nudibranch's, Giant Barnacles, many species of Rockfish, and Kelp are also in abundance at this spot. The rock formations and structures are interesting.  The very soft rock wall is home to Clams that like to burrow into the rock and build there homes.  The wholes provide plenty of shelter for other small life such as Crab and Sculpins.  This was only my second dive at this particular location. I plan to return a few times this summer and will bring my camera each time. Diving the North Wall at Point Defiance Park is similar to diving at Deception Pass where the Puget Sound meets the Strait of Juan de Fuca. You can read my article about my recent dive at http://photographyunderwater.net/deception-pass-–-current-intensive-diving-beyond-belief/" target="_blank">Deception Pass by clicking on this link.