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Harpers Ferry/Harper’s Fishing Pier
 Harper, WA
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Max Depth: 36-40ft/11-12m
Average Viz: 26-30ft/8-9m
Entry Type: Shore
Bottom Composition: Sand/Rock
Aquatic Life: Plenty To See
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Spring: Under 50°F/10°C
Summer: 50-55°F/10-13°C
Fall: Under 50°F/10°C
Winter: Under 50°F/10°C
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Harpers Fishing Pier (aka Harpers Ferry) is a shallow,
beginner-intermediate friendly dive site with easy entry and also provides
access to a neat wreck in shallow water called The Barbara G.
Features - Large Wreck, Small Wreck, Debris, Structures
How to get there:
Harpers is located a few minutes East of Port Orchard by
land, and just southwest of Blake Island in Yukon Harbor if coming by boat.
If approaching by ferry from Seattle to the Southworth Ferry
dock, continue on SW Southworth DR. It will take a hard right and follow the
water. Harpers Pier is right at the corned before the road makes a hard left.
From Tacoma or Bremerton, Take Hwy 16 toward Gig Harbor and
exit onto 160/SE Sedgwick Rd. Head east until you hit Cottonwood Dr and take a
left. It will take a hard right then you’ll turn left at Stohlton RD, which becomes
Southworth DR, Harpers Pier is right at the corned before the road makes a hard
left.
Park just past the pier on the right side of the parking
area along the water (being sure not to block the residential house/coffee
shop. There is only room for a few cars (3-4). Otherwise you can park along the
road before the pier.
There is a long pier coming out from the parking area then a
dolphin (cluster of pilings) straight out from the end of the pier and viewable
from the surface. The base of these pilings is about 20’ deep. There are some
pilings scattered off the south east end of the pier and a cluster of rotted
out piling "stumps" covered in plumose anemones at the southeast end
of the dolphin (the southeast is to the right side of the end of the pier and
dolphin if heading out from shore).
On the Northwest end of the dolphin (that would be the left
side from shore) there is a small line leading from the pilings to the remains
of a small boat, now just the fiberglass hull remains partially in tact, in
about 30-35’ deep water.
Coming back toward shore along the northwest side of
dolphin, swim to the outside of the diagonal pilings to find another line tied
off to the pilings. The line heading North will take you to the remains of the
Barbara G., a 65’ old wooden fishing trawler that sank in the 1990’s, still
partially intact and standing up to 10’ from the bottom in some places. The
wreck sits in about 30-35’ deep.
Special Restrictions:
Beware of fishermen on the dock and do not park in front of
the residential location on the other side of the parking area. A sign on the
pier says it is open from 7:00am to 10:00pm.
http://www.theperfectdive.com/DEF-Site.asp?sID=169
http://www.sounddivecenter.com/html/harper_fishing_pier.html