Candice Landau
Last Updated on April 19, 2024 by Candice Landau
Type of dive: Saltwater; shore dive
Diving level: All
Current: Dive any time. Even though the exchange in the Hood Canal is large, this site sees little current.
Average depth: 15 – 100+ feet (steady slope)
Water temperature: Ranges from 45°F in winter to 55°F in summer (7°C to 13°C)
Location: Hood Canal (2 miles north of Hoodsport), Washington State, USA
GPS coordinates: 47.4345° N, 123.1204° W
Nearby beer: Potlatch Brewing Company
Reserve your dive spot: Sund Rock Marine Preserve
Dive site overview
Nestled in the serene waters of Hood Canal, Sund Rock is an exceptional marine protected area that offers a breathtaking escape into the Pacific Northwest’s underwater world. Renowned for its vibrant marine life and dramatic wall dives, Sund Rock provides an unparalleled diving experience that caters to everyone from beginner diver to technical diver.
Would I dive Sund Rock again?
It’s one of my favorite dive sites in the Pacific Northwest. Not overrated by any means.
In fact, before his website was shut down due to his passing, Scott Boyd wrote of Sund Rock, “Looking at my log book, one would get the impression that this is my favorite dive site, and that would be true. I never get tired of diving this site, even over and over again for multiple days on a long weekend.”
Well said, Scott. What I personally love about Sund Rock Marine Preserve is the diversity of both the scenery and the life you can find here. Plus, it’s got great amenities for divers, including a bench you can use for kitting up, portable toilets, two access entry points (great if someone is teaching a class here) and much more.
The only downside is needing to book a reservation and pay for access to the site, though honestly, this also means it’s kept under control and usually not overcrowded either.
What you can see at Sund Rock Marine Preserve
Well, firstly, there’s no surface swim anywhere at this site—just walk into the water and you’re in. To the north of the site is an area known locally as “the fish bowl”. As you head down the slope from here into deeper water you hit a lovely wall. Here you can often find nudibranchs, sponges, wolf eels, octopus and well, everything in between. This “north wall” can also be accessed by heading out straight from the main shore entry site by the bench.
To the south lies another wonderful wall dive. You can swim to it from the main entry point (it will take a while) or access it almost immediately from the south entry point (down a small footpath to an almost hidden beach). I love to get in right here and drop to the top of the wall at about 30 feet. From here I usually swim south for a half hour (that’s how long it takes to swim at a nice, slow pace) and poke into all the nooks and crevices. The wall drops to about 60 feet and then it starts getting a little sandy. You’re very likely to find a ton of wolf eels, including mated pairs on this site—I know I always do.
There are deeper walls at this site and you can ask the owner for the locations. We’re talking about walls in the order of 160+ feet though.
Conservation and regulations
One of the reasons this site is so loved is that it’s marine sanctuary. No fishing or harvesting of any type is allowed here which means that life has found a way! This is not true of many sites in the Hood Canal and you can absolutely tell. If you’re a photographer or videographer, this is a great site to practice at. You’ll find both macro and wide opportunities. Be careful of your buoyancy and finning and don’t touch marine life.
How to dive Sund Rock
Firstly, you’ll need to make a reservation in order to dive this site. Fortunately, that’s easy to do online. You can find the pricing list here and the reservations portal here.
When you arrive at the site, you’ll have to check in before they open the gate to let you down the access road. It’s a pretty straightforward process and there’s usually someone available here as they’re aware in advance of the time you’ll be arriving.
Once you’re through the gate, drive slowly down the access road.
The parking at this site is limited (though right up to the water so access is awesome) so consider carpooling. If there are too many cars at the site, you’ll have to park in their overflow area (right before the gate) which will mean a bit of a hike down to the entry point. The family that owns the access here does close their property at 5pm so be sure to plan accordingly!
What’s nearby?
If you need tank fills or gear rental, YSS Dive is your dive shop of choice, just 2 miles down the road in downtown Hoodsport. If you’re looking for a place to stay try Sunrise Motel and Diving Resort, also in Hoodsport, though you can find vacation rentals too (that’s usually my preference). You’ll also be able to find a place to eat, get gas, or shop in Hoodsport. Honestly, make a weekend of it. You won’t regret it! You could even head north to dive the Comet, a fun wreck dive in shallow water.
