by John F. Williams
In the emerald waters off Fort Worden is an artificial reef that serves as a popular dive spot. The reef, composed of tires and concrete was installed in the early 1970s as part of an Underwater Park system established by the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission.
The nearby Port Townsend Marine Science Center houses marine exhibits with a wide variety of intertidal plants and animals indigenous to Puget Sound. Touch tanks allow visitors to do more than just see the critters, and volunteer interpreters are available to fill in some of the story of the underwater creatures. There is also a Natural History Exhibit that highlights where the land meets the sea.