Sund Rock is one of the best shore dives on Hood Canal -- it is a private marine preserve just north of Hoodsport where wolf eels, giant Pacific octopus, squat lobsters, and calm conditions have made the site a destination for divers across the Pacific Northwest. For many Oregon divers it is the closest weekend trip into Washington where the conditions are often better. For Seattle and Tacoma divers it serves as a base more protected than the conditions of Puget Sound . Sund Rock is also a reliable fallback location when wind or tide conditions rule out other Washington dive sites.

At a glance:

• Type: Shore dive — private marine preserve (no take)
• Access: Gated entry; reservation required (book online)
• Entries: North Wall (ramp on the north side of the parking lot) · South Wall (trail from the south side of the parking lot)
• Typical profiles: North Wall ~50 ft · South Wall ~60 ft along the wall · sea-whip garden ~75 ft · Central Wall ~80–90 ft (advanced)
• Currents: Generally low — one of Hood Canal's more sheltered coves
• Viz: Often murky shallow; sometimes clearer below 40–50 ft
• Highlights: Wolf eels, giant Pacific octopus, squat lobsters, rockfish
• Before you go: Always check the latest visibility reports, wind forecasts, and tide levels on pnwdiving.com's Sund Rock page before you head out
• Property closes: 5 PM — plan your last dive accordingly

Access: Sund Rock is a privately managed marine preserve with a gated shore entry. Day-use access requires a paid permit with a reservation -- book a couple days ahead, earlier if possible. From the parking area it is a short walk to one of two entries. An easy ramp to the North Wall to the left, and a small trail access off to the right for heading to the South Wall.

Site layout:

The South Wall begins off the rock point at the south end of the cove -- drop down at the corner and follow the base of the wall to roughly 60 ft, checking boulder piles and burrows for octopus and wolf eels. From there you can stay at that depth or a little shallower to find various landmarks against the south wall. Several hundred yards towards the end of the south wall the bottom gradually deepens into a rock shelf with boulders and wolf eel dens up to 75 ft deep or so. Out on the silty slope below the south wall you can find a cloud sponge in the ~90 ft range.

To dive the North Wall you can descend at the buoy to the left of the parking area. Follow that down to about 50 ft, take a left and you should run into the wolf eels that hang out at the bottom of the north wall, where schooling rockfish are also typically found. The best part of the north wall is typically along its bottom, though it's fun to explore all the way up and around it. I've seen juvenile yelloweye rockfish in the cracks in the wall at about 30 feet deep, as well as yellow boring sponges.

North of the wall area you can find a silty slope with squat lobsters and tube-dwelling anemones. Swim far enough to the north at about 45 ft and you can reach Sund Rock Wreck (an orange buoy north of the lot also marks the bow -- many divers surface-swim there and descend).

The sea-whip garden starts at about 75 ft, north of where the North Wall ends. South of the sea-whip garden (or on a descent straight out from the parking area), you can find a deeper Central Wall at around 80-90 ft. I've seen decorated warbonnets and stubby squid eggs out there. Be careful -- that can be a deep dive.

Conditions: Sund Rock is generally well sheltered from strong currents and tends to see less wind exposure than many Puget Sound sites -- which is why divers reach for it year-round when forecasts or tidal exchanges look unfavorable elsewhere. Very large tidal exchanges can still stir the cove and reduce surface visibility. Upper water can be murkier after plankton blooms or on large tidal exchanges, with clearer water sometimes below 40-50 ft. Shallow waters can get extremely cold here in the winter or spring due to snow melt. Always check the latest visibility reports, wind forecasts, and tide levels on pnwdiving.com's Sund Rock page before you head out.

Regulations: Marine preserve -- no fishing, crabbing, or collecting. Respect permit rules and private property boundaries.

Planning a weekend: Given the entry fee, most visitors dive Sund Rock repeatedly in a day or two rather than hopping between sites. If permits are sold out or you want a change of pace on a second day of the trip, Octopus Hole is a short drive north on Highway 101. A Hood Canal charter can also make for a fun day which can lead to diving possibilities at some of the best sites in the Hood Canal. Check out our list of Hood Canal Dive sites .

Check out our list of diver-recommended eateries near Sund Rock . Various lodging options are also available -- Sunrise Motel, the Yellow House, and Mike's Beach Resort offer diver-friendly accommodations, often with groups.

Enjoy a Sund Rock weekend? Consider a Keystone Jetty weekend too.