Metridium

Metridium dive site, Bainbridge Island, WA, US
Photo: JUSTIN WOLF

Metridium is a shore dive in Bainbridge Island, WA, US, from 5–31 m (16–102 ft). Metridium, a large rock reef running east to west, offers an expansive dive with abundant white-plumed anemones, but requires a significant swim south from the Rockaway beach entry. Divers can either surface swim or descend to 30 feet from Rockaway and follow the Metridium reef to about 100 feet deep, being mindful of air consumption for the return swim while completing a safety stop.

Site details

Entry
Beach/Shore
Depth
5–31 m (16–102 ft)
Environment
Ocean/Sea
Entry effort
Moderate (4 of 5)
Surface swim
246 m (807 ft)
Coordinates
47.59762, -122.49498

Site briefing

A significant but worthwhile swim south from the rockaway reef leads you to Metridium, a large rock reef that runs east to west. Not often visited by shore divers due to the distance from the Rockaway entry, Metridium offers a larger reef with more examples of Metridium farcimen (white plumed anemone;) hence the name.

Entry and route

Enter at the Rockaway beach and swim south until you reach the obvious point that would lead you into Blakely Harbor. Do not go past this. Common practice is to start the dive as you would Rockaway, descend to 30ft and swim south until you hit the obvious rock reef of Metridium. Whether you do surface swim or swim at depth, be aware of your surroundings and distance, as you will feel that you should be there, but are not there yet (I have often surfaced and asked where am I, thus I now only visit this with a surface swim.) Once at the reef, follow it to about 100ft deep, watching your air so you can do the swim back underwater while doing your safety stop.

Tides and currents

  • Nearest NOAA tide station: Port Blakely (9445913)
  • Nearest NOAA current station: Entrance to Eagle Harbor (PUG1505)

MyDivingSites forecasts tide, current, swell, and weather for Metridium hour by hour.

Nearby dive sites

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