Site Resources & Tools
Dive planning for James Island (East Side)
Site Briefing
James Island (East Side) is a dive site in the San Juan Islands . James Island Marine State Park is a 113-acre boat-access-only park in Rosario Strait near Decatur Island in the San Juans.
The east side offers a small cove between the twin sand beaches on the narrow isthmus -- typical anchoring spot for divers. Rocky walls along the east side; depths drop off into Rosario Strait's channel.
Access: Boat access only -- launch from Anacortes (~8 nautical miles), private boat or human-powered watercraft.
Conditions: Rosario Strait current is significant -- time to slack, especially near the point tips. Weather exposure -- Rosario is a big-water channel; watch wind and swell.
⚠️ Safety & accuracy
Before diving at James Island (East Side), always check the site-specific wind/wave forecast, tide/currents, and recent reports ! Reminder: Winds (even offshore winds) can impact slack time.
Briefings may be out of date or have inaccuracies. Dive within your training and experience. The first time diving a site, join someone familiar with the site and/or start on a mild day.
See our currents, tides, wind, and waves guide for help reading charts and planning current-sensitive dives.
The nearest NOAA or XTide current and tide stations within 25 miles are selected by default when available. NOAA stations show charts here; XTide stations link to Dairiki. Click a pin on the map below to choose another station for current, tide, camera, or buoy data (you may need to zoom in or out).
See an issue? Would you suggest a different default station or depth? Suggest briefing updates.
Nearby Stations
Fauntleroy Point Light, east of (21 ft) -- 1 mile away
Armitage Island, Thatcher Pass -- 2 miles away
Nearest Featured Dive Sites
- Strawberry Island West Side (~4 miles)
- Skyline (~4 miles)
Nearby Dive Sites
- James Island (North Side) (~1 miles)
- Reef Point (~3 miles)
- Strawberry Island East Side (~4 miles)