Day Island Wall is one of the best wall dives in Puget Sound . The site is home to a large population of wolf eels and giant Pacific octopuses that are comfortable around divers and frequently come out of their dens. I have seen up to 14 wolf eels and 12 octopuses on one dive here! They are mostly concentrated along the top of the wall on the south side, though you can find them scattered all around the site.

Because this site sits directly in a high-current zone, careful planning is mandatory. Diving here during a large tidal exchange is a guaranteed one-way ticket down the Tacoma Narrows. Many divers utilize a live boat here, which makes timing the currents less critical, but it remains a highly rewarding shore dive when planned correctly. Start on one of the mildest tidal days until you know the site.

Logistics & Access:

• Location & Entry: Located just south of Titlow Beach in Tacoma, shore entry is via a small public access beach.
• Parking Courtesy: Street parking is strictly limited. Local residents are sensitive to heavy diver traffic, so please be exceptionally considerate, keep noise down, and do not block driveways. Scout the parking area with our 360° Street View before you head over.
• Finding the Wall: Swim straight out from the shore entry; you will strike the top of the wall in about 45 feet of water. Review the depth charts to map out the structure before you descend. The wall runs parallel to the shoreline.

Safety:

• This can be a deep dive, with currents and a long travel distance. Be sure to reserve air for the return swim!

Tidal Strategy & Navigation:

• General Rule: Only dive this site during low tidal exchanges and strictly at slack water. Always consult current charts carefully, and apply corrections based on feedback from others using the same planning stations before splashing. Some divers bring a small garden shovel to help hold their position over the sandy bottom should the need arise.
• High Tide (Slack Before Ebb): Target the deeper southern portion of the wall (50 to 100 feet). If timed right, the current should gently carry you south, stall at slack, and reverse to carry you back north to the exit.
• Low Tide (Slack Before Flood): Target the shallower northern portion of the wall (25 to 50 feet) to drift north, stall, and ride the reverse current back. Explore the nice boulder field just past the base of the wall for small macro critters.
• North Boundary Warning: If exploring the north wall on a long dive, be aware that as the wall fades out, you approach a high-traffic bay home to two active marinas. Bring an SMB just in case you are swept near this area, and be careful not to let the current carry you around the corner toward Titlow where surfacing in heavy boat traffic is highly dangerous.

Marine Life:

• Structure Residents: The countless nooks, crannies, and deep fissures along the wall serve as active dens for numerous wolf eels and octopuses.
• Regularly Seen: heart crabs, pink mouth hydroids, hedgehog hydroids, gunnels, three-lined nudibranchs.