Henderson Point Dive Site

Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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Difficulty
Unrated
Viz (last reported 133849h ago)
Max Depth
80ft

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Henderson Point Dive Site

The best dive spots are on a heading of 255*. There is one smaller reef and two larger ones just past the first. The bottom is sandy until you hit the reefs. Max depth is 80ft but most of the dive will be 30-60ft. Special note for diving in the Inlet: Ceiling / thermicline can make vis only 2ft at the surface but when you descend below 20ft it will "open up" to excellent vis. It may be dark so carry a flashlight for looking at things up close.-- Geoff <br> <br> Entry: You need to climb down a small drop to get to the beach - use the dead tree for support. To find the site itself swim straight out (west) from the flag pole about 30-50 feet, then drop straight down. This will land you on one of two reefs. Stay on this reef, or continue into deeper water where you'll encounter a second reef. Both reefs have wolf eels, octopi, a large variety of fish, and plenty of other stuff. In summer watch out for large Cyanea jelly fish - they'll give you a nasty sting. First reef is in ~50' of water. Second reef drops down a series of shelves at 60', 80', 130', and possibly deeper. Because this dive is in the Saanich Inlet there is no significant current. IMO this is the best dive in Victoria aftert the Ogden Breakwater. - Bryan H. From Victoria, go north on West Saanich Rd., continue N throughout Brentwood, after passing through the Tsartlip Indian Reserve you will come to a road called Mt.Newton Cross Rd.on you right and Senanus Dr. on your left, turn LEFT. Follow Senanus Dr. all the way to the end where there is a small parking lot. Access is at the left side. Check out the access point before putting on your gear.(200ft walk) There is a tree that you can use to help get onto the beach. - Geoff <br> <br>How to get there: Head north from Victoria along the Patricia Bay Highway (highway 17). After ~10km turn left (west) onto Keating Cross Road. This road will take you past a Whites dive shop with a map of the site - a good reference if you've never been there before. Follow Keating until you hit West Saanich Rd, where you turn right (north). Follow this road ~5km to Mount Newton Cross Road, where you turn left (west). Follow the road until it ends in a small cul-de-sac. Park here (don't hog space), and follow the footpath to the dive site. --Bryan H.
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Lindsay
Lindsay
Jul 8, 2009, 12:00 AM
scuba
This is a great site, with lots to do for divers of all abilities. Someone has recently added stairs down to the beach, eliminating the tricky steep entry. Visibility is variable in the summer, often terrible in the first 10-40 feet (<10 feet), but opening up to 40 or more underneath. There is a shallow reef for beginner divers, deeper reefs for advanced divers, and a small shipwreck (a sailboat) in about 70' of water. Because it's sheltered from the open ocean, currents tend to be nonexistent or weak, and surf is negligible.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Islandman
Islandman
Oct 12, 2007, 12:00 AM
scuba
There are presently three giant pacific octopi in this area. The most prevalent is under a six foot +- boulder on heading 240 from shore. Another is under the anchor block chaining the left floating wharf. Yet another is in a crevasse which I was guided to. Have fun!
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Bryan Heit
Bryan Heit
Sep 5, 2004, 12:00 AM
scuba
Just want to add a little to what I wrote previously. Entry to this site has become more difficult lately - the tree which we use to crawl down to the beach has now fallen over. This has made beach access more dangerous, as there is no longer any way to support yourself as you climb down, and you now have to climb over the remnants of the tree. This is still a great dive, and one worth doing. From the beach swim out at a bearing of 255 degrees until you are 50 or so feet from shore. Descend (vis will probably be about 2 feet at this point). When you hit bottom, follow 255 degrees until you hit the first reef. By the time you reach the first reef (at about 50' depth) vis should have improved. This first reef is quite small; I'd recommend heading onto the second, larger reef, which sits in 70' to 90' of water (also on a bearing of 255). Vis should be great at this point, and there is a lot to see on the second reef. Many octopi make there homes here, so you'll probably find one or two of them each dive. Lots of fish and invertebrates to keep you company. I've been told there are additional reefs at greater depths, as well as the occasional 6-gill shark sighting here. I have no experience with either of these, but it's something to keep your eyes open for.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Clint
Clint
Apr 24, 2004, 12:00 AM
scuba
Good dive. Nice rock formations. Lots of vegetation.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Bryan Heit
Bryan Heit
Jun 10, 2003, 12:00 AM
scuba
Great dive, but try to hit it at high tide to limit the amount of silt. Vis can be really good or really bad. On my first trip here we had vis of over 100m (300') at deeper depths. On our second trip max vis had dropped to about 10m (30'). But there is a lot to see - Juvenile wolf eels, lots of fish, lots of fun...
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Anonymous
Anonymous
Jun 8, 2003, 12:00 AM
scuba
Nice deep walls and canyons if you swim out past the reefs. The topography is quite dramatic. There is not as much life here in the inlet as some of the more exposed Victoria sites. Don't expect the rocks to be covered with large invertebrates. Big jellyfish in summer and fall. Lots of octopus dens. Visibility sometimes approaches 100 feet, although in late spring and early summer, plankton blooms can reduce it to a few feet.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
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