đźš©Construction Notice – update đźš©
Pan’s observation as of 2025 Dec 27
Based on the preivous construction notice, we planned to dive Redondo on Dec 27.
However, a HUGE crane still sat right beside the known staircase entry. Part of the parking lot and the restroom are closed until end of March.
I personally do not feel safe to dive there although we saw divers going in as we drove by.
Construction Notie from City of Des Moines as of 2025 Nov 11
🚧 Construction Safety Alert – Redondo Fishing Pier 🚧
Pile driving for the new Redondo Pier runs Nov 11 – Dec 20, 2025.
For everyone’s safety, no diving or entering the water near the pier during this time.
⚠️ Pile driving creates dangerous underwater conditions — falling debris and strong waves can harm divers.
Let’s keep our community safe while we build something amazing!
Redondo is one of the most popular and easily accessible sites for Pacific Northwest Divers! I am sure every diver around Puget Sound area has been to Redondo numerous times. This is the capital of six gill sharks in the world!
In any given weekend (espeically in summer), you will find divers there!
The parking lot is recently (2025 summer) renovated, while the new fishing pier is currently under construction. The underwater phase of the construction must be completed by mid-February 2026, and then above feature work will start.1
Construction is likely to begin in late September or early October, 2025. The fish window for marine construction opens on Aug. 1 and closes on Feb. 15. This means the underwater phase of the construction must be completed by mid-February 2026. After that time, they will still be putting the finishing touches on the planking and other above-water features of the pier.
Address / Google Map
Address paid parking lot: 28225 Redondo Beach Dr S, Des Moines, WA 98198
There are also limited free street parking spots right outside of the paid parking lots. It is a popular place for non-divers as well so the free spots do fill quickly. However, the paid lot is quite big and I never had issues finding a spot. Sometimes it is just quite a walk to the entries.
Entry
If the videos from Instagram didn’t work, head to youtube https://youtube.com/shorts/U9kSzHOYOuc?feature=share
This site has two lines: deep and shallow lines. I always use the stairs to the immediate South of MaST, but some people exploring the shallow line might choose to enter from the beach to the North of MaST to get a headstart. I always get lost that way though.
From the parking lots, walk across the street to the stairs, walk or surface swim to the end of the MaST, where you will find buoys with lines. Follow the two thick, woven steel (?) ropes down to the anchors, taking care not to entangle yourself. If you are facing out the ocean/deeper end, the deep line should start at another anchor to your right-hand side.
Dive Site Information
Dive Profile: Two large ropes have been laid to aid in navigation.
Shallow Line: from a small boat just north of Salty’s to the VW bug at around 15m/50ft.
Deep Line: runs from the pier (the entry above) to the carousel boat and bottle field with the max depth around 30m/100ft. The deep line also have an ‘elbow’ at around 6m/20ft, which is perfect for safe stop.
Current: Everyone says generally not sensitive to current, but at high exchange days, I have experienced noticeable currents at the deep line (maybe I am more sensitive)
Bottom composition: Small stones and some slits
Things to see: Other divers lol (this is a popular training sites). August nights for six gill sharks at the deep line carousel boat or bottle fields. Greenlings, scuplins, rockfish, perch, stubby squid (and their eggs), and several resident giant pacific octopus (though small ones living in the bottle).
Check Tide Charts – Plan a safe, comfortable dive at PNWDiving.com or planyourdive.com
Dive Site Map from Seattle Dive Tours2
Food for thought for planning
Levels: Any. Beginners can enjoy the shallow line. AOW and above can explore both shallow and deep lines. A training ground and favorite gear-testing place for local divers.
Facilities: Bathrooms and outdoor showers.
Fees: Free for entry. Parking lot cost: $2.5 first 2 hours, $1.5/hour after 2 hours, $10 6+ hours
Parking: Limited street parking spots. Plenty in the paid lot.
Hours: Any time when street parking. ​Lot Hours: 5:00am to 10:00pm
Other Activities: The MaST Center Aquarium only opens Sat 10 am to 2 pm, so crowds are at their peak at that time. Lots of people walk their dogs or enjoy the waterfront.
Bluntnose Sixgill Shark: Sixgill sharks are frequently seen here during summer nights. Remember to report your sightings on https://www.sixgillsharks.org/sighting-data. July 6 is the National Sixgill Shark Day, hosted by city of Des Moines.
Reference Materials
Visibility report: https://pnwdiving.com/redondo/visibility
Tide & current: https://www.planyourdive.com/sites/redondo
Dive site info: Washington Scuba Alliance, Jade Scuba Adventures, Seattle Dive Tours
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- Construction Info regarding fishing pier is based on “Tree canopy, Redondo Pier, and cruising ban top Des Moines July 10 City Council meeting” on The Waterland Blog by Mellow DeTray ↩︎
- The dive site map is from https://seattledivetours.com/redondo-beach. Some info on the page is also summarized from there. ↩︎
Editorial disclaimer
Please be aware that scuba diving is an inherently risky activity, even with certification and experience. The content on this blog reflects my personal opinions and experiences and should not be considered instructional. Always prioritize safety, seek guidance and certification from qualified diving professionals, and carefully consider the risks involved in any dives.
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