Permanent Mooring Buoys
Dive Type: Boat dive
Project Type: Habitat Protection & Dive Safety
Description:
Several dive charter operators, mostly in central and south Puget Sound, have indicated a need for permanent mooring buoys on dive sites they visit regularly.
The objectives of permanent mooring buoys are:
- Elimination of damage associated with anchoring on dive sites.
- Safe and accurate placement of divers onto the sites.
South Sound Sites:
- Sunrise. 2 buoys. One of the top 2 dive sites in south Puget Sound. Renowned for octopus.
- Z's Reef. 1 buoy.
- KVI Towers. 1 buoy.
- Dalco Wall. 2 buoys. 120 foot vertical wall.
Hood Canal Sites:
- Pulali East Wall.1 buoys.
- Pulali South Wall. 1 buoys.
- Pulali West Wall. 1 buoys.
- The Pinnacle (aka Seamount). 2 buoys. This is the most popular dive site in central Hood Canal.
- Black Point. 1 buoy.
- Arrowhead (aka Wolf Eel Wall). 1 buoy.
- Flagpole. (aka The Knuckle). 2 buoy. This is in a marine protected area and special because of the cloud sponges found here.
- Elephant Wall. 1 buoy. This site is in a marine protected area.
- Rosie's Ravine. 1 buoy.
North Sound Site:
- Possession Point Ferry. 2 buoys. Wooden Ferry sunk intentionally.
Status: Permits complete. Contractor hired and ready to move forward. Some money acquired and will begin soon.
Contact: Jim Trask. (206-498-5256) jetrask69@hotmail.com
Rick Meyers. (253) 973-0370. banditocharters@yahoo.com
Don Coleman. (206) 714-1482. info@pacadventure.com
Budget: $3,200.00 per buoy. Estimate 21 buoys for a total of $85,000.00. This includes cost of maintenance (required per funding sources).
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Titlow Beach
Dive Type: Shore Dive
Project Type: Habitat Mitigation & Marine Education
Description:
This is the second most popular shore dive in Tacoma. An old ferry dock and natural reef wall are great features accessible from the recently improved shore dive entry. While the creosote pilings associated with the ferry dock are slated for removal, there is abundant marine life on them. Using reef balls, we would like to replace the structure lost by removal of the pilings. We hope to transfer some of the sea life from the pilings to the reef balls. We will be working closely with Bellarmine Preparatory School. Their Marine Science class is heading up this endeavor.
Marine Education: Utilize the presence of divers and dive activity at the water's edge to capture the attention of passing citizens. Add interpretive signage at this popular park that explains the Tacoma Narrows: its marine life, the habitat, uses of the resource, current issues, and possible solutions to the careful management and stewardship of Puget Sound.
Besides man-made vertical structure we are working to get a Simon Morris sculpture installed too.
Status: Conceptual. We sources for reef balls.
Contact: Jim Trask (206) 498-5256. jetrask69@hotmail.com
Budget: $750,000
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WSA VP Jim Trask has been extremely busy finalizing the plans for the mooring buoy project he's been working on for years. The final permits have been granted, and while some money has been gathered, Jim is still searching for more funding.
While mooring buoys serve the obvious purpose of giving boat divers and charters a safe, secure place to tie up, and accurate placement of divers on the reef, they also help the environment and local habitat by helping boaters avoid damaging sensitive marine life every time they drop anchor at a popular dive site. Read more...
Please consider making a donation to WSA, it's easy and fast:
Review the latest WSA Board activity here:
New guidebook, Northwest Wreck Dives, by local divers Scott Boyd and Jeff Carr now available. More info here.View the Titlow Artificial Reef Project slideshow by the Bellarmine Preparatory School Marine Chemistry Program right here!
30 Things you can do for the Marine Environment.
WA Dive Flag Rules - Important information for WA divers. Check it out here