this lake has the clearest ice. in fact the world ice carving compatison is held in fairbanks, ak because of this lake. in mar 2010 we filmed trucks throw 4 feet of ice and could see the divers as well when we where line tending.

there is a boat lunch to the east with a dock. but i only did ice dives. max deep 39ft. low vis (black water) some times. season 4 of "ICE ROAD TRUCKERS" under the ice filming was done here by myself and a team of divers from Fairbanks, AK.

Birch lake

This is a very convenient site due to it's close proximity to Anchorage. One of the local dive shops www.divealaska.net uses it for winter training. Visibility is up to 70 feet in the winter, but is reduced in the summer due to plankton bloom and run-off. Unlike the boat diving in Resurrection Bay, Smitty's cove is 60 miles inland and is usually very protected even in the winter storms.

Take Seward highway south from Anchorage. As you follow turnagain arm up the valley for about an hour, you'll approach the Whittier turn-off. Turn left to Whittier and follow the road for about 7 miles. The road ends at a toll tunnel which is a one-lane road through the base of the mountain for approximately 3 miles. Toll fee is $12 round-trip. After exiting the tunnel, you follow the road for another 1/2 mile to the first right turn. Whittier is a very small town and as you drive through it several old abandoned buildings will be on either side. at the first left you follow the road until it dead-ends at the cove. Please stop and pay $5 at the sign directing you to do so.

https://divealaska.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/smittycove.pdf

Smitty's Cove

Sunken aircraft(cessna), Train from the 1964 earthquake. guide strings lead from boat ramp to specific areas.

Arrive by train or plane

Whittier Cessna

This is still a working log loading area so make sure no work is going on before you dive. Numerous sunken logs, small boat wrecks and debris have created a great fish habitat. You will also find shrimp, crab, octopus and the occasional sea lion! -- M. Kurth

Drive south on Zimovia Highway to about mile 11. There will be a sign letting you know to turn left to "Pat's Lake" DON'T turn left! You want to go right, down the hill and next to the water (can't miss it).

Pat's Creek Log Dump

Mountain Point is Ketchikan's premier snorkeling destination.  The site has shallow tide pools teaming with marine life and steep underwater rock walls for freediving all just 5 miles from town.  Because we are on the Inside Passage there are no waves to worry about.
ITS FREAKING COLD !

Ketchikan Alaska. Transportation is provided by the dive shop nearby.

Mountain Point

Divers enter the water ONLY at slack tide. Specific warning from divemaster to keep the island on the left, drop to 25-35 feet, and at 12-15 minutes into the dive exist on the lee side of the island. Failure to do so and there is no chance to fight current and beginning whirlpools which will sweep you deep into the boat channel. The reason to dive is to view large collection of gooseneck barnacles.  

Dive must only be done with a dive operator familiar with the site. This is the world's fastest tidal exchange at 22 knots. There is only a 20 minute time line underwater at slack tide. 

Nakwakto Rapids is also known as Tremble Rock.

Nakwakto Rapids

This is one of Vancouver Island's best cold water dive spots. 

To access this dive site it will be necessary to charter a boat, or bring yours. You would need to basically get to Port Hardy. From there you have several options in terms of boats, and resorts that can arrange diving at this site.

Browning Wall is also known as Browning Passage.

Browning Wall

This location should really be done as a night dive, in order to avoid the problem of boat traffic. Other than that, this is one of the easiest places to get in and out of the water.

This dive site is even wheel chair accessible. Due to the fact this is really a boat launch. Just follow the Island Highway to Port Hardy, and take the turn off for the Bear Cove Highway to the B.C. Government Ferry Terminal. Also known as the Port Hardy-Bella Coola / Discovery Coast
Passage Ferry. The boat launch is near the ferry terminal.

Bear Cove is also known as Bear Cove Boat Launch.

Bear Cove

This site was more popular in the past when the pier existed. But there is still enough life here, to make it worth while.

This dive site is located where the old pier used to be near the east end of Mine Road. In Google Maps a pier is still shown, but it was taken down years ago. However, some of the debris remains below the water and provides homes for life. The beach access is located beside a set of industrial buildings that are still in use, and a gravel area at the north end is where the beach access is.

Port McNeill is also known as Mine Road Beach.

Port McNeill

The HMCS Columbia was a destroyer that served in the Royal Canadian Navy and later the Canadian Forces from 1959-1974. She was removed from reserve status in 1988 and sunk as an artificial reef off Maud Island in British Columbia in 1996.

 This is a good first time deep or wreck dive as the stern is shallow (70 - 80 feet or so dependant on tide) and the bow is 115 ft down to the muck. There are 3 bouys to tie up to and they are kept in good repair throughout the year. 
 There is lots of life on this wreck, large lingcod, octopus (look in the vent stacks near the open bridge)greenlings, rock cod, sea pens, anenomes of all sizes....... the list goes on. 
 Great for a night dive as it's in a sheltered area and if the visibility is good; the ship appearing out of the dark is a fantastic sight. 
 For more info on this wreck go to :  http://www.artificialreef.bc.ca/
and check out the video in the gallery. This site also lists other artificial reefs in the Vancouver Island area.

Best access is by boat out of Campbell River. The wreck of the HMCS Columbia is in about 110 feet of water and marked by 3 buoys, one at its stern, which is the North end of the wreck, one amidship and one on the bow. Decend down the Northern buoy line to reach the stern. 

HMCS Columbia is also known as Wreck behind Maud Island.

HMCS Columbia

This sight is best dove at slack tide. But well worth it given the abundance of life, and especially the thousands of Strawberry Anemones that coat many of the rocks and boulders.

This dive site can only be accessed by boat. Use the GPS coordinates based on Google Earth or charter a dive with a local dive boat.

Birch lake

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Birch lake