PNW Scuba Dive Site Logistics: Sunrise Beach Park in Gig Harbor, WA

Sunrise Beach Park is an hidden gem in Gig Harbor, WA, but calls for fortitude and forethought due to long walk to entry and current sensitiviy. But the underwater lives are BEAMING and worth even just one dive! It is rumored to be ‘BEST’ dive site in South Puget Sound!

Note: not to be confused with Sunrise Motel in Hoodsports, OR. The one in Hoodsport is not current sensitive. Obviously WA folks love sunrise 🌅

Address / Google Map

Address: 10015 Sunrise Beach Dr NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332 (Search “Sunrise Beach Park” on Google Maps).

Entry

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Dive Site Information

Access: both shore and boat diving.

Dive Profile: From Public Beach Access, swim/walk South. On the surface, the reef should be around the two lone pilings along the shore just past three houses south of the park. If the buoys are still there, the closer one is anchored on the start of the wall and the second one is in the middle of the wall.

The wall starts around 25-30 ft (7-10 meters) deep and about 70 meters long (probably 5-10 min swim if not spending time/ North-South parallel to shore) and the depth extend rop to 60 ft (20 meters). Lots of boulders and rock formation all the way down to 100ft (33meter). Peek into the cracks and crevices to find your gem!

The sandy slope is gentle and one can swim underwater to get back to public beach access.

Current: Highly current sensitive. I follow Keith on Emerald Diving‘s instructions to calculate optimum time to hit the water and it worked great.

I summarize his suggestions below:

• Current Station: Tacoma Narrows, north end
  • Slack Before Flood Correction: Double slack, -90 minutes (current changes from north to south) and at predicted slack (current changes from south to north).
  • Slack Before Ebb Correction: -90 minutes (current slows downs and may stop, but flows north on both the flood and ebb).
    • Preferred: more predictable and consistent. Aim to be in the water two hours before predicted slack at the Tacoma Narrows
  • Current flow to north means carry one back from the dive site to the entry point.
• Suggest only to dive when maximum current at the Tacoma Narrow is 2.2 knots or less on both sides of the exchange

I bring a muck stick and be sure to use stronger gloves with my dry gloves so I can hold on to the rocks/sands if needed. Definitely appreciate have these tools available! This was the most current I have ever expereinced here in the PNW, even at slack.

Bottom composition: Sands & small gravel.

Things to see: we saw lots and lots of green sea urchin and leather stars, couple big lingcods and red Irish lords, single female wolf eel, diamond back nudi, yellow droids, Nanaimo nudi, squid and lingcod eggs, usual rockfish and perch, big black eyed hermit crabs, and a very shy baby octo. GPO and wolf eels are also constant presence.

Check Tide Charts (HIGHLY SENSITIVE CURRENT SITES!) – Plan a safe, comfortable dive at PNWDiving.com or planyourdive.com

Dive Site Map

I couldn’t find a good dive site map, so here is my first attempt! Let me know if you have a good one!

Food for thought for planning

Levels: At least intermediate due to current and long walk to the entry

Facilities: Porta-potty and picnic tables

Fees: Free

Parking: Free

Hours: Dawn to Dusk

Other Activities:  also a popular boat dive sites so look out for boats

Reference Materials

Visibility report: https://pnwdiving.com/sunrise-beach

Tide & current: https://www.planyourdive.com/sites/sunrise-beach

Dive site info: Emerald Diving, Discussion on NW dive club

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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.