Common Mistakes New Divers Make in the Puget Sound

Don’t Hold Your Breath: Common Mistakes New Divers Make in the Puget Sound

The Puget Sound. Just the name conjures images of emerald waters, a Giant Pacific Octopus lurking underneath rocks or various structures, and the thrilling chill that invigorates every dive. It’s a truly spectacular place to explore underwater, offering a unique temperate water experience unlike anywhere else. But like any new adventure, diving in the Sound comes with a learning curve. As an experienced diver, I’ve seen my fair share of new divers (and even some seasoned ones!) make common mistakes that can detract from their experience, or worse, put them at risk.

So, if you’re new to the Puget Sound diving scene, or even just new to diving in general, here are some common pitfalls to avoid to ensure a safe and enjoyable exploration of our incredible underwater world:

1. Underestimating the Cold (and the Gear Needed):

This is probably the most frequent mistake I see. Even in summer, the Puget Sound is cold – think 45-55°F (7-13°C). Your 7mm wetsuit that was perfectly fine in Hawaii won’t cut it here for extended dives.

• The Mistake: Showing up with inadequate exposure protection (thin wetsuits, no hood, gloves, or boots).
• The Fix: Invest in, or rent, a proper drysuit. Seriously, it’s a game-changer. If a drysuit isn’t in the cards yet, at least double up on your wetsuit thickness, and never skip the hood, gloves, and boots. Layering thermals underneath your wetsuit can also help. Being comfortable means you can focus on the amazing marine life, not shivering.
  • Pro Tip for Wetsuit Wearers: Right before you gear up, pour hot (but not scalding!) water into a container and soak your gloves and hood for a few minutes. Putting on warm neoprene is a simple, glorious trick to delay the initial chill and make your entry much more pleasant!

2. Over-Weighting (or Under-Weighting):

Buoyancy control is the bedrock of good diving, and proper weighting is key to achieving it. The Puget Sound’s cold, dense water and thick exposure suits often require more weight than you might be used to.

• The Mistake: Guessing your weight, or using the same amount of weight you used in warmer, less dense water with less gear. This often leads to either fighting to stay down (under-weighted) or struggling with buoyancy and potentially damaging the environment (over-weighted).
• The Fix: Do a proper weight check before your first dive in the Sound, and re-check if you change any gear. You should be neutrally buoyant at your safety stop depth with an almost empty tank. Don’t be afraid to adjust.

3. Poor Buoyancy Control (and Kicking Up Silt):

This goes hand-in-hand with weighting. The Puget Sound often has a silty bottom, especially in popular shore diving sites.

• The Mistake: Bouncing off the bottom, hovering too high, or worse, finning directly into the silt, reducing visibility for everyone.
• The Fix: Practice, practice, practice! Work on your trim and finning techniques (frog kick and helicopter kick are excellent for avoiding silt). Focus on slow, controlled movements and use your breath to fine-tune your buoyancy. A drysuit can make this more challenging initially, so be patient with yourself.

4. Neglecting Your Dive Buddy:

Diving is a buddy sport, and this is even more critical in colder, potentially lower-visibility environments.

• The Mistake: Losing track of your buddy, not performing proper buddy checks, or failing to communicate underwater.
• The Fix: Stay close to your buddy. Establish clear communication signals before the dive. Perform thorough buddy checks on the surface. If visibility drops, use line-of-sight or physical contact to maintain connection. Your buddy is your lifeline.
• Missing buddy: You’re following your buddy, and decide to stop to take a picture, glancing around, you realize your buddy is nowhere to be seen. You remember during your buddy check on the surface, that you both agreed that in the event that you two get separated, you’ll look high, low all around for 1 minute. Noting the time and physical markers (a sunken boat, tire reef, etc.), you both surface safely without performing a safety stop. Happil,y you see your buddy and you both give the ‘diver okay’ tap of the head and resume your dive. However, if your buddy does not surface in the allotted surface time, it’s time to get help fast! 

5. Forgetting Your Lights (Yes, Even During the Day!):

While not always pitch black, the Puget Sound often has darker conditions than tropical waters, even on a sunny day.

• The Mistake: Not bringing a dive light (or a backup light), or bringing one that’s too weak.
• The Fix: Always carry at least one powerful primary dive light and a smaller backup light, regardless of the time of day. Lights not only help you see into crevices and reveal the true colors of marine life, but they also help your buddy see you.

6. Rushing the Dive:

The sheer abundance of life in the Sound can be overwhelming and exciting, leading some divers to rush from one discovery to the next.

• The Mistake: Moving too fast, burning through air quickly, and missing subtle details.
• The Fix: Slow down. Breathe deeply and calmly. Hover and observe. Some of the most incredible creatures are masters of camouflage and require patience to spot. Embrace the stillness of the underwater world.

7. Not Planning for Currents and Tides:

The Puget Sound is a dynamic body of water with significant currents, especially in areas like Deception Pass.

• The Mistake: Diving without checking tide tables and current predictions. This can lead to exhausting dives, getting swept away, or missing your entry/exit points.
• The Fix: Always, always, always check the tide and current charts for your specific dive site. Plan your entry and exit accordingly. When diving in currents, start your dive swimming against the current so you can drift back with it, conserving energy.

Embrace the Learning Curve!

Diving in the Puget Sound is a truly rewarding experience, offering unique encounters with wolf eels, giant pacific octopus, vibrant nudibranchs, brilliant colored rockfish, Massive Lingcod, and cabezon. Don’t let these common mistakes deter you. Instead, learn from them. Get properly trained for drysuit diving, invest in good gear, and practice your skills.

The more comfortable and confident you become, the more you’ll be able to relax and truly appreciate the incredible underwater wonders of the Pacific Northwest. Happy diving!