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IntermediateShore entry

Sunshine Cove

Alaska, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested27 m (90 ft) depthShore entryDrysuit 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 7°C (44°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Next window today· 9:00–18:00 · favorable · sunset 17:24

Forecast for this hour · 7:00 · run 10 h ago
0.0 m (0.1 ft)waves — under half a meter expected (waves — under a foot expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 7°C · seasonal avg 9°C ( · Forecast 44°F · seasonal avg 47°F)

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

Lightest wind: Thu
Mon9:00–18:00 favorable

0.0 m waves · 2 kn wind (0.1 ft waves · 2 kn wind)

Tue9:00–11:00 favorable, 11:00–18:00 moderate

0.3 m waves · 11 kn wind (1.1 ft waves · 11 kn wind)

Wed9:00–18:00 favorable

0.2 m waves · 7 kn wind (0.6 ft waves · 7 kn wind)

Thu9:00–18:00 favorable

0.0 m waves · 1 kn wind (0.0 ft waves · 1 kn wind)

Fri9:00–18:00 favorable

0.0 m waves · 4 kn wind (0.1 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Sat9:00–18:00 favorable

0.1 m waves · 3 kn wind (0.3 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

SunNot in the forecast yet

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 7:20 · Sunrise 8:02 · Sunset 17:24 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 2.7 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 21:28 GMT-8

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Sunshine Cove

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

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.

  1. January, 96% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 4°C (39°F), waves have typically been 0.4 m (1.2 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  2. February, 98% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 3°C (38°F), waves have typically been 0.3 m (0.9 ft), wind has typically been 9 knots
  3. March, 96% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 4°C (39°F), waves have typically been 0.4 m (1.2 ft), wind has typically been 9 knots
  4. April, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 5°C (41°F), waves have typically been 0.2 m (0.7 ft), wind has typically been 9 knots, historically most favorable
  5. May, 98% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 8°C (47°F), waves have typically been 0.2 m (0.6 ft), wind has typically been 8 knots
  6. June, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 12°C (54°F), waves have typically been 0.1 m (0.4 ft), wind has typically been 8 knots, historically most favorable
  7. July, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 16°C (60°F), waves have typically been 0.1 m (0.3 ft), wind has typically been 7 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 16°C (61°F), waves have typically been 0.1 m (0.5 ft), wind has typically been 8 knots, historically most favorable
  9. September, 97% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 12°C (54°F), waves have typically been 0.3 m (1.0 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  10. October, 95% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 9°C (47°F), waves have typically been 0.4 m (1.1 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  11. November, 96% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 6°C (42°F), waves have typically been 0.4 m (1.3 ft), wind has typically been 11 knots
  12. December, 94% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 4°C (40°F), waves have typically been 0.5 m (1.5 ft), wind has typically been 12 knots

April, June, July, and August have typically 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

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). 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

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