Titlow Beach with Jeremy Brown 10:00 AM

Hello Divers!

Join me as I lead a dive to one of our premier Tacoma-area DEP dive sites, Titlow Beach. Titlow is current-sensitive, so we’ll need to time it well. Be prepared to get in the water on-time. Accordingly, be prepared for one of the great sites around the Puget Sound.

This weekend, slack is at 11:29 AM and we’ve got a pretty big swing (just look at/click on at the tide chart below). That’s 13 feet of water moving over about 8 hours. There will be current, but we’ll try to time it such that we have a little one way, then nothing, then a little the other way.

This will be a one-tank dive. Also, I’ve updated the meet time to allow for us to better target actual slack. We’ll meet at 10:00 AM.

· Meet: 10:00 AM

· Splash: 11:00 AM

http://www.giantstridephotography.com/Scuba-Diving/Dive-Site-Maps/TitlowOverhead/829714004_ueH2a-M.jpg (http://www.giantstridephotography.com/Scuba-Diving/Dive-Site-Maps/TitlowOverhead/829714004_ueH2a-L.jpg)

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Preliminary Dive Plan

The plan for Titlow will likely is to swim yourself out through the loosely-distributed pilings until you get close to the large grouping of pilings – the dolphins. Submerge as you approach the dolphins and enjoy the very large expanse of wildlife as you explore around and between the dolphin groupings – the Cathedral.

http://www.planyourdive.com/Tides/Graph.ashx?View=Day&Tides=Tacoma%20Narrows%20Bridge,%20Puget%20Sound,%20Washington&Currents=South%20end%20(midstream),%20The%20Narrows,%20Washington%20Current&SlackEbb=-16&SlackFlood=-5&MaxEbb=-5&MaxFlood=4&SpeedEbb=1.1&SpeedFlood=1.2&Start=2011-3-27&End=2011-3-27&Width=770&Height=325&Format=Full

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Titlow Description

The main diving attraction at Titlow is the spectacular piling breakwater that has been over grown by plumose anemones and a host of other sea life. This breakwater has been nicknamed the Cathedral by divers in the area. Though shallow (30-40ft), the view is beautiful and there is a large variety of fish and invertebrates at this site.

There are also some short 1-4ft high shelves scattered in 35-45ftsw a couple hundred yards to the south of the cathedral that frequently house wolf eels and giant octopus. The shelves are quite long and interesting to explore once you are finished with the cathedral.

From the parking area, walk towards the water and cross the railroad tracks. Immediately on the other side, turn right and follow the path to the stairs leading to the beach.

A good way to dive this site is to start by surface swimming to the two lone pilings out in front of Steamer's, south of the entry point. Descend there in about 15 fsw and take a 240° heading until you find the ledges in about 35 fsw. The ledges are only a few feet high and easy to miss, but if the bottom turns to sand or you're deeper than 40 fsw, you've missed them.

Once you find the ledges, swim in a northerly direction (with the ledges on your right) and check out all the nooks and crannies looking for octos and wolf-eels. At the end of the ledges, ascend along the bottom until you're at 25 fsw, then swim north at that depth until you run into the pilings.

The pilings area is called the "cathedral" because it's loaded with plumose anemones, and on a good vis day it's really quite amazing. Another name for this area could be "Buffalo Kingdom" because Buffalo Sculpin are everywhere!

The pilings are in shallow water, so you'll have lots of time to swim around and through the pilings, looking for sculpin, greenlings, large barnacles, and lumpsuckers.

When you're ready to end your dive, take a 90° heading back to the beach and rinse off at the showers if they're turned on.

Hazards

· Current

Attractions

Small ledges that are home to octos and wolf-eels, piling area is covered in plumose anemones, and there's a bottle field in deeper water.

Amenities

There's a restroom in the park, but it's usually closed in the winter. Showers are available near the entry point, but they're usually turned off in the winter, too.

Directions

· From I-405, go south until you intersect with I-5, take I-5 south toward Portland

· Take exit 132 to merge onto WA-16 W toward Bremerton (go 4.6 mi)

· Take exit 4 for Jackson Ave toward University Pl (go 0.3 mi)

· Turn left at N Jackson Ave (go 0.3 mi)

· Turn right at 6th Ave (go 1.6 mi)

· When you reach the train tracks, you’re at the site. Find street parking nearby

Parking

Lots of free parking on the street. Park in the Steamer's parking lot at your own risk.

http://www.giantstridephotography.com/Scuba-Diving/Dive-Site-Maps/TitlowMap/829714010_EwgfH-M.jpg (http://www.giantstridephotography.com/Scuba-Diving/Dive-Site-Maps/TitlowMap/829714010_EwgfH-L.jpg)

(click for full image)

I hope to see you there!

Dive on!

Jeremy