Netarts Bay is our closest dive site when we don’t want to drive 3 hours to Puget Sound area. Timing matters here — it’s current-sensitive and shares the ramp with boaters, crabbers, and fishermen.
Address / Google Map
Address: 2065 Netarts Basin Boat Rd, Tillamook, OR 97141 (Search “Netarts Bay Boat Ramp” on Google Maps).
Entry
If the videos from Instagram didn’t work, head to youtube https://youtube.com/shorts/nWiCxIeRwq4
Dive Site Information
Access: Walk down the boat ramp.
Dive Profile: From the boat ramp, surface swim to the restroom and descend. Keep relatively in the center of the channel due to rocks beneath. Keep wall to the left shoulder when swimming out along the shore.
I bring a muck stick and use heavier dry gloves so I can brace against rocks and sand if needed. Useful tools to have. Worth noting: the most current I’ve experienced in PNW diving was here — even at slack.
Bottom Composition: Sands
Hazards: This is very popular and active boat ramp for crabbing. In any days with good weather, you will see many boats/kayaks/people crabbing/fishing from shore here. The good news: peak crabbing time doesn’t typically coincide with ideal dive windows — but it still takes planning.
Current: This is a current sensitive site, so we dive high slack (but toward the end of the slack). The current typically bring you back to the boat ramp/bay if you descend down around the restroom.
MUST: tow a dive flag and be careful that it might get tangled with fishing lines — your SMB or flag line can snag.
Things to see: Being Netarts, there are lots of CRABS 🦀 as Netarts is one of the most popular place to crabbing in Oregon. Also spotted: gobies, lemon nudibranchs, clown nudibranchs, and leopard dorid nudibranchs.
Check Tide Charts (HIGHLY SENSITIVE CURRENT SITES!) – Plan a safe, comfortable dive with planyourdive.com
Dive Site Map
No dedicated dive site map available — here’s a simple diagram showing entry and the wall route. Have a better one? Send it my way.
Food for thought for planning
Levels: At least intermediate due to current and lots of active boats.
Facilities: Restrooms, picnic tables. The Schooner Restaurant & Lounge is on-site.
Fees: Tillamook County Day Use Access Parking Pass. $10 for the day; $55 for annual pass.
Parking: Plenty. Park beside the boat ramp for easiest access.
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Other Activities: popular boating/crabbing/fishing sites so look out for hazard.
Reference Materials
Visibility report (site added by us): https://pnwdiving.com/netarts-bay
Tide & current: https://www.planyourdive.com/sites/netarts-bay
Dive site info: Discussion on NW dive club
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I scuba dive near Portland, Oregon?
Netarts Bay in Netarts, OR is the closest saltwater dive site to Portland — about 90 minutes from PDX. It’s current-sensitive, so timing around slack tide is essential. For calmer, current-free diving, some divers make the ~3-hour drive to Hood Canal sites like Sund Rock in Hoodsport, WA.
Is Netarts Bay good for beginner divers?
No — intermediate level minimum. The current can be still significant even at slack tide, and the active boat ramp means traffic and fishing line awareness is required underwater. It’s not a training site.
When is the best time to dive Netarts Bay?
Dive minimum exchange dat at high slack tide, toward the end of the slack window. Check planyourdive.com/sites/netarts-bay before every trip — this site is current-sensitive enough that guessing is not a good strategy.
About Pan — Full Cave and Advanced Recreational Trimix diver based in the Pacific Northwest. I started diving without knowing how to swim; now I drive three hours each way to dive in Puget Sound/Hood Canal. Two Ocean Notes documents the technical progression, gear decisions, and travel planning behind this dive life — from a petite engineer’s perspective, without the fluff. → Read my full story
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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.
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