Review #63
Charlie Wallen (wildwaterlover at yahoo dot com) |
September 27, 2004 |
| Location: , OR USA |
N45degrees20.219, W124de |
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Dive Type: Salt Water |
Facilities: none |
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| Hazards: Tillamook bar, |
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Entry: na |
Surface Swim: none |
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Difficulty: intermediate |
Typical depth: 49 |
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Dive site rating: 8 |
Max depth: 90ft |
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Dive site description:
Diving the south wall of the Cape is a premier scuba adventure, an experience that embodies the variety of diving that can be found along the Oregon Coast. Beginning near shore, in 30-foot shallows, divers will find pristine kelp forests -- home to sea bass, invertebrates, greenling, and the occasional 10-15 pound lingcod. Moving into deeper water, about halfway out, the kelp forests disappear and the shear, near vertical walls drop 50-60 feet to the ocean floor. Along this interface of rocky wall and ocean floor, crumbled rock piles provide shelter for lingcod up to 20 pounds, bring a good dive light to search the dark crevices for this elusive predator. Small caves can found in the wall - large enough for a diver to enter and providing shelter for scallops and a vast array of invertebrates. Kick away from the rock a little to find the sandy bottom, here you can pick up a limit of prized Dungeness crab -- look sharp though, they might be buried, only their stalked eyes rising above the sand. For those seeking photos of colorful critters, or hoping to grab some fresh rock scallops, head towards the tip of the Cape. Within the last quarter mile the wall offers the opportunity for a deep dive, falling away to 80 feet before hitting bottom. Along this final stretch, a diver can find an immense variety of invertebrates in virtually every shade of color, and thousands of rock scallops adorn the site. Take some time to swim the wall and you may find one of the small caverns that dot the area, only 6-8 feet deep, the small vertical coves shelter some of the largest scallops. So much to offer, so much to see. Pack a lunch, spend the day. Cape Lookout is a fantastic experience and will remind each of us why we love diving |
Directions:
The Cape is a boat dive with launch access from Tillamook Bay, Netarts Bay, or Pacific City. Launching from Tillamook is the safest route due to the secure ocean channel produced by the jetties. Launches from Netarts Bay should only be attempted by experienced boat captains; the channel is unprotected. Boats entering the ocean from Pacific City launch off the sandy beaches and must be designed and equipped for such procedures. Normally flat bottom dories or light inflatables are the only boats attempting such a launch. |
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