Rockaway

Red Rock Crab and Blood Star — Photo: Bruce Kerwin

Rockaway is a local favorite, boasting easy entry and multiple reef options brimming with diverse marine life like nudibranchs, wolf eels, and potentially octopus or lingcod guarding their eggs. The optimal dive involves swimming to the buoy, descending to the block, following the line to the main reef, and then continuing to a second line that leads to the deep reef, which can reach depths over 100 feet.

Site details

Entry: Beach/Shore
Depth: 5–33 m (16–108 ft)
Environment: Ocean/Sea
Entry effort: Hard (2 of 5)
Coordinates: 47.59940, -122.49615

Site briefing

A favorite for locals, Rockaway offers easy entry and several reef options where you can find multiple species of Nudibranch, Wolf Eels, and perhaps an elusive Octopus or Lingcod hovering over their eggs. Best visited on a slack during high tide so as to minimize the walking.

Entry and route

Enter the water and swim out to the obvious buoy. Descend to the block and follow the line to the main reef. Follow the reef to an obvious large crack between rocks and continue descending until you come to a second line. This line will take you to the “deep reef” which, during some high tides can be 100+ feet deep. Be on the lookout for sea life, and try not to stir up the sediment, as that can make it interesting very fast if you lose your orientation.

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 Rockaway hour by hour.

Dive reports from Rockaway

14 logged dives, average rating 3.8 out of 5, average visibility 2.7 m (9 ft).

Jun 11, 2026 · Johnnie · visibility 2 m (7 ft) — Another fun after work dive. Went down to the 3rd structure and back. One tank dive. Had a great time. Rockaway is always fun.
May 18, 2026 · JUSTIN · visibility 4 m (13 ft) — Awesome dive on big exchange of incoming tide. An injured Lingcod on the line hanging out in the greenery about 3/4 of the way there. A new baby wolf eel on S side in the rocks. Lots of nudis out. Overall great dive. Seen: Dungeness Crab, Nudibranch, Wolf Eel, Rock Crab.
Apr 20, 2026 · Joe · visibility 1 m (3 ft) — Junky, snot water thoroughout the whole water column - suface to 53'. At least I could see my computer :) Seen: Kelp Greenling, Red Rock Crab, Nudibranch, Plumose Anemone (White Variety), Plumose Anemone (Orange Variety), Brown Rockfish, Ochre Sea Star, Orange Burrowing Sea Cucumber, Five-ribbed Kelp.
Apr 19, 2026 · Justin · visibility 1 m (3 ft) — A soupy maybe if you squint 3 feet viz. Had a hard time finding line, and seeing anything of interest on rocks. But was good to be in the water.
Mar 7, 2026 · JUSTIN · visibility 5 m (16 ft) — Great dive. Not a lot to see but had fun taking photos of some small critters

Marine life seen here

Nudibranch (Various Species) — seen on 5 dives
Ochre Sea Star (Pisaster ochraceus) — seen on 2 dives
Acid Weed (Desmarestia ligulata) — seen on 1 dive
Bat Star (Patiria miniata) — seen on 1 dive
Brown Rockfish (Sebastes auriculatus) — seen on 1 dive
Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) — seen on 1 dive
Five-ribbed Kelp (Costaria costata (likely - can have variations)) — seen on 1 dive
Kelp Crab (Pugettia producta) — seen on 1 dive
Kelp Greenling (Hexagrammos decagrammus) — seen on 1 dive
Orange Burrowing Sea Cucumber (Molpadia arenicola) — seen on 1 dive
Plumose Anemone (Orange Variety) (Metridium dianthus) — seen on 1 dive
Plumose Anemone (White Variety) (Metridium dianthus) — seen on 1 dive
Quillback Rockfish (Sebastes maliger) — seen on 1 dive
Red Rock Crab (Cancer productus) — seen on 1 dive
Rock Crab (Cancer productus) — seen on 1 dive

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