Okay - here I am, standing on the bridge, looking pretty much due East, down Deception Pass. (The pass runs East and West.) We must have been there when the tide was slack, because there were boats going through most of the time we were there. In this photo you can see there's some disturbance in the water, but it's not too bad. The tide rips through Deception pass, creating average current speeds of about 6 knots. Speeds can easily exceed 8 knots. The running current forms eddys and whirlpools, and is generally unsafe for boating much of the time. Even experienced boaters plan their trip with Deception Pass in mind! For an aerial view of the bridge (with a semi truck hanging off over the side!) check this out: http://www.komotv.com/news/archive/4116311.html You can see how narrow the bridge really is, as well as what the water looks like when the tide is running.