PNW Dive Report: Saltwater Therapy with YSS and “Miss Gig”

Visual: The Vessel

The Reality of PNW Boat Diving

My very first PNW boat dive was actually during my drysuit certification. To be honest, I was so overwhelmed and new that I barely remember it. Back then, I made the classic mistake of thinking cold-water boat diving would be like the tropics: easier than shore diving.

I was wrong. 

Boat diving in the PNW requires a different kind of self-reliance. My “real” introduction to this world was with YSS this past May. Open charter spaces are hard to come by, and since we live three hours south, it took some serious planning to make it happen.

>> Read more: about how I was wrong in the blog post “Boat Diving 101: Is It Really Better Than Shore Diving?“

>> Read more: YSS dive and their charter info on https://yssdive.com/

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The Morning Logistics

We stayed in Olympia the night before to ensure we met the 9:00 AM departure. In the boat world, “9:00 AM” means the boat is leaving the dock, so you need to arrive 30–60 minutes early to set up gear and suit up.

At the time, they were located next to Hoodsport Marina. We parked at the shop, they helped us load our assembled rigs onto a trolley, and we walked to the boat in full gear. Now that they’ve moved to Shelton/Potlatch, I’m curious to see how the new “trolley-to-dock” flow works!

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On Board the Miss Gig

While the vessel can technically hold more, YSS limits the capacity to six divers for comfort. This is a huge win—remember, your “personal volume” doubles once you’re in a drysuit with thick undergarments! With five divers on our trip, it felt very “cozy” rather than cramped.

The Safety Briefing

Captain John started with a thorough safety briefing: emergency oxygen, exits, and procedures. As a diver who likes to feel grounded, this was a great start. He then consulted with us on site selection. Since we were “PNW boat newbies,” the regulars suggested heading north. After checking the weather, Captain John gave the green light for a smooth 1.5-hour ride.

Amenities

• The “Head”: There is a small marine toilet. It’s tight in a drysuit, but it works!
• Galley: They serve plenty of snacks and fruits and have coffee/hot water machines for tea/hot chocolate/oat meals.
• The Highlight: Hot noodle soup served after the second dive. It feels so nice to”warm-up” with delicious substances after the cold-water dives.

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The Dives: Pinnacle & The Ravine

Captain John provided a verbal briefing at each site, explaining how the boat was moored relative to the topography. (As someone who struggles to visualize directions, I’d love a white-board drawing, but there are great dive site books on board to consult!)

Entry

The entry is Giant stride. Once you are in the water, they use a stick to tow you to the front to hold on to the mooring line to wait for your buddy to descend together. It is so nice to conserve energy this way. I am sure Captain John gets enough workout for his day though.

Dive 1: The Pinnacle

The Miss Gig moored right at the top of a seamount (about 20–30 feet deep). We descended to 24 meters and spiraled our way back up the rock face.

• Sightings: Massive Lingcod and plenty of nudibranchs.
• Conditions: Typical spring “pea soup” at the surface, but it opened up to about 15 feet of visibility once we passed the plankton bloom.

Dive 2: Rosie’s Ravine & Goby Garden

This was a “two-for-one” site. Rosie’s Ravine is a deep wall (top starts at 25m) featuring cascading bedrock and deep crevices.

• Sightings: Two Wolf Eels tucked into the wall! Very quickly current brought us to Goby Garden.
• The Garden: We transitioned into “Goby Garden,” a sandy area with more gobies than I have ever seen in a single dive.

The Current Challenge

Getting back to the boat was a bit tough. During the second dive, we ascended a short distance from the boat but found ourselves against a stiff current. While my buddy, K, could swim through it, I was getting nowhere and slowly swept away. John signaled for me to stay put, maneuvered the boat closer, and tossed me a float to tow me back in. Miss GIG has controls at the front and the BACK of the boat so Captain John can maneuver her while staying in visual contact with me.

[Graphic Suggestion: Depth Profile] Since you mentioned struggling with visualizing directions, add a simple hand-drawn or digital “cross-section” of a Pinnacle vs. a Wall. It adds a personal “Two Ocean Notes” touch.

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Final Thoughts

As I mentioned in my Boat Diving 101 post, PNW charters are typically “self-guided.” You need to be comfortable with a briefing and a buddy-led dive, or hire a separate guide.

However, using a boat as your “access point” eliminates the back-breaking gear hauls of shore diving and opens up stunning topography you just can’t reach from the beach.

My 2026 Resolution: More boat dives! I’m looking forward to reporting back on how the new YSS location runs things and exploring even more of the Salish Sea from the deck of a boat. And hopefully hop on a few other PNW charters to let you know my experiences.

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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.