Jacques Cousteau called this archipelago among the best temperate diving destinations.
Kelp, candystripe shrimp, sea cucumbers, strawberry anemones, Puget Sound king crab, scallops, rockfish, purple urchin, and nudibranchs thrive here; best diving is on the south or west side and is tide- and weather-dependent. The San Juan Islands are a prime boat-diving destination with sites like Long Island West Wall; private boat or rare charters are the main access. Skyline is the a shore dive near the Islands with similar marine life without the hassle of getting out there.