San Juan Islands · United States · Wall · Kelp forest
Lime Kiln Point
Bull kelp over a cliff that rolls down to nearly 37 m (120 ft)
A southwest-facing shore dive below the Lime Kiln Point lighthouse, where bull kelp at 8–11 m (25–35 ft) tops a rocky cliff that rolls steeply down to nearly 37 m (120 ft). The site is very current-laden and is planned for slack on low exchanges. It is a marine preserve, closed to fishing, crabbing and collecting.
Where it is and how deep
48.5157° N, 123.1529° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Divers enter the water near the viewing platform or the crevice to the south of the lighthouse, timing the dive for slack on a low exchange. The bull kelp starts at 8–11 m (25–35 ft), and below it the rocky cliff under the lighthouse keeps rolling steeply downward to nearly 37 m (120 ft), so divers choose their depth on the way down.
Wolf eels, anemones, rockfish, shrimp and giant Pacific octopuses are commonly seen on the cliff, and divers have also reported sea lions, harbor seals and orcas. The point is a marine preserve, so there is no fishing, crabbing or collecting. The dive heads back to the exit before slack ends, because the site is very current-laden.
Marine life and season
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Seals & sea lions
- Orcas
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows San Juan Islands: Dived year-round; current-sensitive sites are timed to slack water on the tide table.
Know before you go
- The point is very current-laden; plan the dive for slack on a low exchange and be back at the exit before it ends.
Photos from Lime Kiln Point
photo by Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dive videos
360 Underwater tour at Lime Kiln State Park (4K) · Matthieu Haentjens on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is Lime Kiln Point a shore dive?+
Yes. Divers enter near the viewing platform or the crevice to the south of the lighthouse, and plan the dive for slack on a low exchange because the site is very current-laden.
Sources
- Lime Kiln Point dive site — PNW Diving
Photo credits
- White lighthouse with a red roof on a dark rock ledge above the water, with kelp at the shoreline by Draugen at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Dark rocky shore and calm blue water of a bay backed by a forested headland under clear sky by photo by Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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