Site Resources & Tools
Dive planning for Point Doughty
Site Briefing
Point Doughty is a dive site in the San Juan Islands . A long spur on the northwest side of Orcas Island, with steep north-facing rock, lone boulders, and small walls from 60 to 80 ft.
A good off-slack macro site when a minor flood pushes gently toward the point. Broadleaf kelp fills the shallows, and vertical bluffs make shore exit impractical.
Access: Boat from Washington Park in Anacortes, about 22 miles; a live boat is preferred.
Marine life: Decorator crabs, cushion stars, and hairy sea squirts are common. Large dogfish occasionally buzz divers.
Conditions: Heavy current builds beyond the end of the point on ebb or major exchanges. The site is exposed to north and east wind.
⚠️ Safety & accuracy
Before diving at Point Doughty, 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Briefings may be out of date or have inaccuracies.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
Parker Reef Light, north of (31 ft) -- 3 miles away
WALDRON ISLAND, PUGET SOUND -- 4 miles away
Nearest Featured Dive Sites
- Lawson Bluff (~4 miles)
- Broken Point (~8 miles)
Nearby Dive Sites
- Ewing Island Fish Haven (~5 miles)
- Raccoon Point (~6 miles)
- Bell Island (~8 miles)