This list contains just some of the dives near Salem, Oregon.
The Pacific NW is vast and this is only a small possibility of dive sites available - especially to the self-motivated!
SALT WATER DIVES
Click Here For Printable Local Dive Sites Flier 
Netarts Bay, OR: A very easy and fun
dive with a multitude of small life and color. Octopus and Wolf Eels
can often be seen along with many crabs, nudibranchs, and variety of
small fish. Bring a light and an appreciation for small life. Good dive,
even if viz is down. Great for newly certified divers, but do watch
your tide tables. ETA from Salem: 1 hour 45 minutes
Garibaldi, OR - Barview Jetty in Tillamook Bay:
A fantastic shore dive when conditions are good. Can also be tough,
watch those tides! When it's good, it's wonderful! Octopus and Wolf
Eels. Colorful anemones. Can also be a fun drift dive for more
experienced divers. ETA from Salem: 1 hour 45 minutes
Pacific City, OR - Haystack Rock:
An incredible dive with tons of fish! Great formations of big rocks,
ledges, and crevasses. You'll need a boat to get to this site. Often
visited by Grey Whales and seals. ETA from Salem: 1 hour
Whalen County Park, OR - just past Pacific City:
A mediocre dive, but it's also very easy. Some crabs and small fish.
Two sites on either side of the bridge. With the right attitude and
activity, it can be fun. ETA from Salem: 1 hour
North Pinnacles, OR - offshore from Newport:
When conditions are right this is one of the best dives on the planet.
Really! Tons of fish, huge beds of giant scallops, big octopus, wolf
eels, fantastic u/w landscape, and so much more! Often visited by Grey
Whales! Many charters take divers there, usually for $50-60 per person.
ETA from Salem: 2 hours
Hood Canal, WA: Great diving! Easy
conditions and usually good viz. Octopus Hole and Sund Rock top the list
of great shore dives. A boat gains you easy access to many other
wonderful sites. There is a multitude of life here, topped by the Giant
Pacific Octopus and the Wolf Eel. Hunting is restricted, except
crabbing. Dive sites vary in life and u/w topography. Many hotels
available. ETA from Salem 3.5 hours
FRESH WATER DIVES
(May-October)
Big Cliff at Detroit, OR - between the two dams:
Drift dive. One of the most unique dives in the country. Water is let
out of the dam creating a great ride! Like flying along in a Wile E.
Coyote cartoon! Great topography and rock formations. Life includes
sculpin, trout, crawdads, lost human items, white fish, and Giant
Pacific Salamanders. This is especially great at night when more life
emerges. Water comes from the bottom of the dam, so expect cold, clear
waters until Sept. & Oct. (which is the ultimate drift season). Avg
depth is 30' with a 76' hole near the end. Dive ends at Big Cliff boat
ramp (which is also a good & easy shore dive). ETA from Salem: 45
minutes
Clear Lake, OR: One of the most
beautiful dives anywhere and the clearest known water in the USA! With
only the occasional trout swimming by or rowboat passing overhead, many
divers pass up this dive thinking it will be boring . . . it's not! The
volcanic past, u/w landscape, 3000 year old w/w trees, and true 300'+ of
viz make this dive very special! It is ranked the #9 inland dive in
the USA! Be sure to dive to the left side of the lake where the best viz
is. Max depth is 64' in this area. An incredible night dive when the
moon is full! Please enter from the day use area, not the boat dock. ETA
from Salem: 1 hour 45 minutes
Cement Bridge - Little North Fork River, OR:
A very easy and fun dive. A great way to spend a summer day. Lot's of
life for fresh water. Sculpins, date fish, salmon, big catfish,
salamanders, clams, crawdads, and more. Gets warm in July and August.
Good viz and there is usually small treasures to be found. Max depth is
24'. One of the many sites along the Little North Fork. ETA from Salem:
40 minutes
Detroit Lake, OR: A massive lake
with many dive sites. Some great and some mediocre. Many are accessible
by shore, but a boat gains you access to even more sites, like Blowout
Canyon. Tumble Creek is an easy shore dive. North Shore is a beautiful
dive and you can go deep quick, if you want. Viz is usually good in most
spots. A lot of treasures to be found. Top 40' gets nice and warm
during the summer. ETA from Salem: 50 minutes (On the way back, stop at
Giovannis Pizza in Mill City - it's awesome!)
If you would like to add a dive site to this list or have comments regarding a site already listed, please send us an email
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We would love to hear from you!
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