KEYSTONE JETTY -
WHIDBEY ISLAND

When planning a day of diving at Keystone Jetty, always include backup plans for a day at the beach because you can never tell if the conditions will be good enough to dive when you get there. It can be a beautiful, calm day in Everett and a very windy day on the island.

Plan your dives here for slack tides. It is possible to dive in a flood, but be careful not to go beyond the jetty. Also, don't be surprised to find a current pushing you to the beach as you begin your dive only to have it turn around and push you towards deep water at about 30 feet or so. Always be aware of the changing conditions at this site.

This dive site is popular on weekends only so if you ever have the opportunity to dive here on a week day you, and your buddy may get the place to yourselves!

Hazards here include strong currents, floating logs, big bull kelp at entry point, and beach erosion that makes for a big step into the water.

For your first dive, follow the jetty and look under the rocks. At this site I have seen a huge Lingcod that was easily 5 feet long. Depending upon the tides, you may reach 50-60 feet and find that it starts to get shallower. Don't go to the end of the jetty as this is where the strongest of the current will be. Always keep a visual on the jetty.

On your second dive, be sure to check out the pilings left from an old dock. The maximum depth here is 20 feet so you can take your time checking out all of the pilings. It's likely you will see some crabs, anemones, and starfish hanging around. This site is a photographer's paradise with so many different species represented in a very small area.

This is a really good site because it has easy access parking and the public facilities are very close. There is enough to see to make a few trips here, but I recommend this site for advanced divers with experience in Northwest diving because of the currents. Make sure you bring food and all of your dive gear with you since the closest dive shop is miles from the site.

Directions from I-5 North::

  • Take EXIT 230 toward WA-20/BURLINGTON/ANACORTES
  • Turn RIGHT onto GOLDENROD RD
  • Turn LEFT onto WA-20/AVON CUTOFF - continue to follow WA-20 W
  • Turn LEFT onto WA-20
  • Turn RIGHT To stay on WA-20
  • Turn RIGHT onto S MAIN ST
  • S MAIN ST becomes ENGLE RD
  • Arrive at KEYSTONE JETTY and parking lot (left side - just prior to Port Townsend/Keystone Ferry)

Directions from I-5 South:

  • Merge onto WA-526 via EXIT 189 toward MUKILTEO/WHIDBEY ISLAND FERRY
  • Turn RIGHT onto 84th ST/WA-526
  • Turn RIGHT onto MUKILTEO SPEEDWAY/WA-525
  • MUKILTEO SPEEDWAY/WA-525 becomes MUKILTEO-CLINTON FERRY (check ferry schedule/fares)
  • MUKILTEO-CLINTON FERRY becomes WA-525 (stay on WA-525 for 26 miles, following signs for Port Townsend/Keystone Ferry)
  • Turn LEFT onto WA-20/W WANAMAKER RD - continue to follow WA-20
  • Turn RIGHT to stay on WA-20
  • WA-20 becomes ENGLE RD
  • Arrive at KEYSTONE JETTY and parking lot (left side - just prior to Port Townsend/Keystone Ferry)