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The Tower - KVI Tower
 Vashon Island, WA
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Max Depth: 81-90ft/25-27m
Average Viz: 11-15ft/3-5m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Plenty To See
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Rating: 2.75 by 4 divers
Spring: Under 50°F/10°C
Summer: Under 50°F/10°C
Fall: Under 50°F/10°C
Winter: Under 50°F/10°C
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The Tower - KVI Tower is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in Vashon Island, WA. This dive site has an average rating of 2.75 out of 5 from 4 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 81-90ft/25-27m. The average visibility is 11-15ft/3-5m.
The dive site off of KVI Tower is one of the many WDF (Washington Dept of Fisheries) sponsored rock piles that is so commonly called a public fishing reef. The rocks pile up in around 70fsw, and are on a mild slope. This dive site can be done by boat or shore, if it’s a low tide.
Location
Take the West Seattle Ferry to Vashon Island. Once off the ferry, follow the main highway through 2 small towns. At the second town, turn left at the IAMS pet store and follow this road all the way down to the water. At the water, turn left. Head towards the tower and down towards the water. Park near the gate that blocks the entrance to the tower.
GPS coordinates: 47°25.216’ N 122°25.635’ W
Our Dive club visited on 3/29 and the general consensus was that all were pleased, in spite of the LOOONG walk from the limited parking up on the road. It was a -1.5 low that day; current typically remains nil here. The former preponderance of brown rockfish has now been displaced by more coppers and quillbacks and a few blacks, all of which cowered in the many nooks and crannies of the reef, leading me to believe that seals and sea lions must often visit for lunch! This is one of the better shore dives around.
This is an excellent dive location for Puget sound. I sailed here, slept over night and dived the next morning. This year we plan do the same trip but will include a night dive. This dive had good vis and great topography. Recommended.
Also called KVI Tower, I have not done this as a shore dive, but this is one of my favorite boat dives. It’s an artificial reef that is home to lot’s of life. It’s not hard to find gpo’s here, usually several in a single dive. Wolf eels can be common here as well. Bring a good light and take your time looking in and under all of the structures, there’s a lot to be found here.
The artificial reef is located toward the northern end of the bay. Drift on south and there is a boulder field. Lots of anemones, mostly metridium, give this a flower garden feel. I saw several species of fish, octopus, and euphsiids in clouds. Since I was diving in summer, lots of jellyfish (multiple species) and ctenophores were present. The admonitions regarding crowds from charter boats certainly apply. We saw several sets of divers, and two charter boats were in their area. It did not detract from my enjoyment of the dive. We kept our depth less than 80 feet, yet saw plenty.