How deep is Sunshine Cove?

Sunshine Cove reaches a maximum depth of 27.4 metres (90 feet). It is a saltwater site rated as intermediate difficulty. Depths vary across the site, so plan your profile to your training and verify conditions locally.

Is Sunshine Cove a shore dive or a boat dive?

Sunshine Cove is a shore dive — you can enter from land. The entry is recorded as a rocky scramble. The entry area is recorded as moderately exposed to surge. No facilities are recorded at the site, and cell service is recorded as good. Entry details and parking notes, where known, are listed in the access section of this page.

Can beginners dive Sunshine Cove?

Sunshine Cove is rated as intermediate difficulty, which may not suit new divers. Listed maximum depth is 27.4 metres (90 feet). Access is from shore, with the entry recorded as a rocky scramble. Consider your experience level, conditions, and local guidance before planning.

What will I see at Sunshine Cove?

Divers at Sunshine Cove in United States commonly report sightings of Kelp greenling, Rockfish, Dungeness crab, Nudibranch, and Sea star. Kelp greenling, Rockfish, Dungeness crab, Nudibranch, and Sea star are recorded as common sightings. Marine life varies by season and conditions—check the site page for recent diver observations and photos.

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IntermediateShore entry

Sunshine Cove

Alaska, United StatesDirections

Open Water suggested27 m depthShore entry7mm or semi-dry + hood typical

Sunshine Cove at a glance

Sunshine Cove is an intermediate shore dive site in Alaska, United States with depths of up to 27.4 m (90 ft). Typically most favorable Jun–Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Kelp greenling, Rockfish, and Dungeness crab. Recent reports put the water around 14°C (57°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 14h ago

0.2 mwaves — under half a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 14°C · seasonal avg 12°C

Site hazards: Tide changes and swift currents farther out from the cove, cold water, steep access trail, remote location with no services

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Sat

Fri7:00–20:00

Sat7:00–20:00

Sun7:00–20:00

Mon7:00–20:00

Tue7:00–20:00

Wed7:00–8:00

Thu—

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:40 · Sunrise 6:21 · Sunset 19:30

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 2.7 km from site · graded 14h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Kelp greenling, Rockfish, Dungeness crab

Best time: Slack tide; plan a full day due to remoteness

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

Jan96%4°C0.4 m
Feb98%3°C0.3 m
Mar96%4°C0.4 m
Apr100%5°C0.2 m
May98%8°C0.2 m
Jun100%12°C0.1 m
Jul100%16°C0.1 m
Aug100%16°C0.1 m
Sep97%12°C0.3 m
Oct95%9°C0.3 m
Nov96%6°C0.4 m
Dec94%4°C0.5 m

April, June, July, and August havetypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

Sunshine Cove is a designated SEAtrails underwater trail roughly 34 miles north of Juneau near the end of Glacier Highway, a wide cove framed by rocky cliffs with a small island at its edge. Reefs in the cove are loaded with nudibranchs and crabs, and Steller sea lions from the nearby Benjamin Island haulout frequently visit divers. Depths run to about 90 feet, and access is via a steep trail from a highway turnout down to the beach.

reefshore

Tide changes and swift currents farther out from the cove, cold water, steep access trail, remote location with no services

Reviews

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