Turn Island State Park

Turn Island Marine State Park sits just east of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, surrounded by a protected marine waters area. Rocky reefs at 12 to 22 m are carpeted with giant Pacific octopus dens, white and orange plumose anemones, and thick beds of purple sea urchins. Bull kelp forests grow to 15 m at the south end of the island and shelter lingcod, cabezon, and schools of black rockfish. The tidal channel between Turn Island and San Juan Island produces gentle drift conditions on the slack, making it ideal for intermediate divers who want their first taste of Pacific Northwest cold water.