Columbia River Canyon

Advanced drift dive, moderate visibility, unique riverine marine life.

Boat Access
9m Avg Depth
19m Max Depth

About this dive site

This dive site is an advanced drift dive located in the Columbia River Canyon. Divers navigate through the canyon, experiencing moderate visibility and often dark conditions, necessitating a powerful dive light. The dive begins upstream, progressing with the river's strong current, and the exit is near the base of the 182 bridge. As a major river system, the site's history is tied to the geological formation of the canyon and its long-standing use as a waterway and source of life.

The canyon is home to notable freshwater species. In the deeper sections, channel catfish and juvenile white sturgeon are commonly observed, while the shallower areas may reveal bass, shad, walleye, and carp. The description does not mention specific aquatic plants or other macro life.

The best time to visit for diving is not specified, but appropriate cold water gear (like a drysuit) is essential for this Pacific Northwest river. Divers must maintain extreme vigilance for boat traffic near the marina, which poses a significant hazard, especially with limited visibility. Due to the challenging conditions, this site is exclusively for experienced divers comfortable with strong currents and low visibility.

Diving

Site Ratings

Big Marine Life Good
Macro Marine Life Fair
Landscape Quality Good
Water Visibility Fair Viz

Plan Your Visit

drift diveadvanced onlystrong currentsriver divefreshwater divelow visibilitycold water

Things to Note

Difficulty:

Advanced

Requires experience with strong currents, drift diving, and navigating potential boat traffic in low visibility.

Hazards:
strong currentsboat trafficlow visibilitycold water
Current Strength:

Strong

Plan Your Dive

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This dive site information and pictures are sponsored by nan

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