Come face to fin with Edmonds’ marine life

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, May 26, 2026

EDMONDS — One of Edmonds’ most interesting parks does not have swing sets or monkey bars.

However, it does have octopuses, rockfishes and anemones (oh my!).

Located next to the Edmonds Ferry Terminal, the Edmonds Underwater Park attracts 25,000 scuba divers each year, according to the park’s website.

Beneath the water’s surface, concrete blocks and ropes form a magnetic north-to-south and east-to-west grid system, allowing divers of all levels to navigate with ease. Along the trails, divers can spot various landmarks, including a boatyard and a sword in the stone.

The real intrigue isn’t the man-made features, but the local plant and animal life that call the water home.

A surprising number of creatures hide along the trails, said Bruce Higgins, who leads the Park Stewards volunteer group. “Many are homebodies, so you can re-visit them dive after dive.”

Visitors can brush up on their marine life knowledge on the park’s website, edmondsunderwaterpark.com, which lists the various fish, birds and mammals one can spot at the waterfront.

Above water, the 27-acre park is marked by buoys.

The buoys provide multiple functions, including diver safety and marking the trails, said Annie Crawley, a scuba diver instructor, photographer and volunteer at the park. The buoys provide a rest spot for divers and signal boaters, kayakers and paddle boarders to steer clear of the area.

“I love diving here because there’s no motorized vehicles,” Crawley said.

For those seeking an above-sea-level visit, the shoreline features walking paths and picnic areas. The dive park is located at Brackett’s Landing North, which provides public restrooms, a changing area and an outdoor shower.

During low tide, the rocky Edmonds beach offers an ideal space for tide pooling, allowing visitors to catch a peek at the region’s usually submerged residents.

“If you want to swim,” Crawley said, “it’s sometimes nicer to come at a high tide, because then you only walk five steps.”

PARK HISTORY

The city of Edmonds established the park in 1970 after several council members took part in a dive at the proposed site and were awed by the abundance of marine life beneath the surface.

Upkeep of the park is a labor of love for volunteers who aim to keep the park safe for divers and protect the marine ecosystem.

In 1977, the mayor and park director recruited a local diver, Higgins, to join a Diving Safety Committee after his participation on waterfront projects the year before, Higgins said. He led the volunteer team that placed the buoys and rest floats for divers to catch their breath on.

Nearly five decades later, Higgins remains an active steward of the park.

In 2007, the city named the trail system the “Bruce Higgins Underwater Trails” in honor of his work as a volunteer dive coordinator and driving the trails’ expansion.

Currently, the park offers more than 50 named diver features and over 2.5 miles of trails to explore, Higgins said.

“The trail system expanded year by year since 1983 and has proven to be a nice aid for diver guidance in the park,” he said.

‘TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY’

For Elizabeth Zajaczkowski, living in Edmonds meant growing up around the water. Before she was born, her dad had been a diver, and as a kid, she would frequently go tide pooling.

“I knew diving was a thing people did around here,” she said. “And just loved seeing marine life from the beach so much that I really wanted to explore it underwater, in their habitat.”

Zajaczkowski is an active participant in the dive community. She joined Crawley’s dive team in 2018 and works for Underwater Sports, an Edmonds dive store.

“There’s just a really tight-knit dive community that actively cares about the park, is involved in stewardship, monitoring, all of that,” she said.

Crawley’s dive team for kids and teens teaches scuba diving and ocean conservation. Twice a year, the dive team takes part in a port cleanup to raise awareness about plastic and underwater pollution, Crawley said.

“There’s so many different wicked problems facing our ocean caused by people,” she said. “And only people could be the solution.”

Whether it’s concerns over plastic or a love for sea critters, Crawley wants people to get involved with the ocean.

“I want the world to learn to swim so they can explore the other 70% of our planet,” Crawley said.

BEFORE YOU GO

While grid systems make the park accessible to new and seasoned divers, it’s still important to be prepared before descending.

Preparation begins before stepping into the water, and includes purchasing the proper gear, checking the tides and knowing your personal limits.

Crawley recommends new divers take a diving class, and those unfamiliar with the park take a guided orientation dive. This ensures they have the skills to navigate a dive site and make it back to shore safely.

“Anywhere in the world that I go,” she said. “I need to use my compass, and I need to have the confidence that I’m going to be able to find my way back.”

Beginners only have to walk five minutes down the road to take a class. Underwater Sports, located at 264 Railroad Avenue, offers classes for different skill levels.

Proper gear is important, especially since the water ranges from 48 to 52 degrees year-round. Many divers here wear a dry suit, which are better suited for cold environments.

Don’t have dive gear? Underwater Sports sells everything you need to take the plunge. Visitors can also purchase maps of the underwater park for $10, with proceeds going to the park.

Zajaczkowski recommends divers start by making themselves comfortable with the water.

“Snorkeling is a great place to start,” she said. “It also gives you a taste of what you’re gonna see in the underwater park, helps prepare your fitness for the conditions of diving, because the equipment’s heavy, and it’s something you want to be physically prepared to handle going into the park.”

IF YOU GO

Edmonds Underwater Park is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, although divers can apply for a permit from the city to use the park after sunset.

The park is a Marine Preserve and Sanctuary and a designated no-take zone, so nothing can be removed from the water or shore. Dogs, even on leash, are not allowed at the park. But, furry friends have no fear, just south of the Port of Edmonds marina is the Off Leash Area Edmonds, located at 498 Admiral Way.

To see more of Annie Crawley’s underwater photos and video go to: anniecrawley.com or youtube.com/anniecrawley

Contact Herald writer Jenna Millikan at 425-339-3035; jenna.millikan@heraldnet.com; X: @JennaMillikan

This story originally appeared in Sound & Summit magazine, The Daily Herald’s quarterly publication. Explore Snohomish and Island counties with each issue. Subscribe and receive four issues for $18. Call 425-339-3200 or go to soundsummitmagazine.com.