Rouge Jetty

So named for the rouge brewery parking lot that you park in to get to this site, it's one of the lesser dove sites at newport, but possibly one of the better ones. (particularly night dives). Park in the brewery parking lot, then follow the path to crab dock, but turn off the right side of the path as you see a small trail to the water- toward the boat dock. This dive should eb considered highly sensitive to the fishing seasons- diving during the halibut season for example- when many boats are going in and out- is a bad idea. But on a normal day, the trick is to simply stay completely along the rock wall that will be on your left on your way outm and on your right on the way back in. Stay very close in, and DO NOT run a dive flag, as it isn't possible for boats to stay as far away as the flag denotes. But if you stay in near the rocks, the boats simply don't come near them, as they prefer to keep thier boats whole, and not hole'd. Aside from that important caveat, the dive is fantastic- on big tidal swing days, the protection of the rock wall means zero tide or push, and the vis remains better than the fingers on nearly any day. The main attraction is crab, but you will also see smaller fish and some sea snakes (6 inches or so max). As a night dive is where this dive becomes ideal- the bio-luminescence is off the charts, and can't be beat- turn your light off for a moment and simply wave your hands for a real treat of the area. The depth doesnt get too deep- and you are more likely to turn around based on air than turning around the bend of the end of that rock wall, so make sure you don't kick up too much on your way out, or the dive back will be pretty poor vis. (again, if you are staying close to the rocks, there isnt much you can kick up. If you are over the sand, you're too far over). One perk is that the site needs no navigation, as following the wall will show you all the best spots. To get back, turn around and follow the wall back. This dive is not frequently dived, but two considerations to remember- the boats have right of way here, so make sure you are diving kindly and not getting in the way of the boat traffic, and also be kind to the brewery staff if you encounter them, as the boaters and brewers allow this dive to happen, and either party could get this dive site closed if we don't represent the diving community well. If you're diving skills are not sufficient to keep you in the zone near the wall, avoid this site- both for safety and for the benefit of other divers.

Rouge Jetty Dive Info: Key Characteristics and Details