Diving in British Columbia is some of the finest in the world. From the shores of Vancouver, North to the Sunshine coast, and then to the inlets of Vancouver Island, there are phenomenal opportunities to view sea life and explore the underwater terrain. Local operators offer their guidance, expertise and advice; rely on their knowledge and understanding of their region. Explore the variety of dive locations and dive safely!

British Columbia

Vancouver Island and environs are internationally recognized as a premiere diving destination. The Jacques Cousteau Society has rated the water surrounding Vancouver Island second only to the Red Sea for clarity and diversity of marine life. In the winter, peak season for diving around the Island(s), the temperate waters provide incredible visibility. Access to the dive sites is available from numerous communities along the East coast of Vancouver Island, from Victoria all the way North to Port Hardy.

Vancouver Island

Canada

This dive site is very good for beginners. Not good for wheel chairs as you need to take the stairs down to the beach. But from the parking area to the beach is less than 50 feet.

This dive site is located at the west end of Braemar Avenue. To get to this dive site, if you are traveling from the south follow West Saanich Road north, and turn off onto Ardmore Road and follow it until it becomes Ardmore Drive. Braemar Avenue intersects Ardmore Drive.

Braemar Avenue is also known as Braemar Beach.

North Saanich

Braemar Avenue

Dyer Rocks is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Canada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Dyer Rocks

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.

Henderson Point Dive Site

This site may not look the best initially, but over the course of a year many species can be found here. Access is fairly easy, but the last few feet to the water is steep decent of about 10 feet.

This dive site is basically at the end of Senanus Drive in North Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. With parking for about 5 cars.

Henderson Point is also known as Senanus Drive.

Henderson Point

There are a couple of rock outcroppings that start at about 10 feet [3 m] deep and one descends to about 50 feet below the surface, and the other descends to over 90 feet below the surface. There is also the bay to the east to explore.

To get to Setchell Road in North Saanich. You need to follow the Pat [Patricia] Bay Highway from Victoria and just after you pass Sidney, turn off to the left onto Wain Road. Follow Wain until you are forced to go left or right. Make a right onto Madrona Drive. Setchell Road is just a short distance after this to the left.

Deep Cove is also known as Setchell Road Beach Access.

Deep Cove

This dive site despite is shallowness, can sometimes be worth it. But it depends on the season and weather conditions.

This dive site is found near the end of Mosses Point Road. A trail leads off to the solid rock beach. It is best dove at high tide, as at low tide it can be risky going down the solid rock. It might look easy, but the rock can be slippery.

Mosses Point

The town of Sydney has started an artificial reef on both sides of the pier.  These reefs consist of concrete "reef balls".  These balls are shaped like hollow soccer balls, and make homes for a variety of animals.  There isn't too much to see hear - a lot of leaf kelp, a few anemones, some nudibranches and the odd rockfish.  The pier is a popular spot for crabbing, although we didn't see too many large crabs.To find the artificial reefs swim out along the pier until you hit the second-last pair of supports for the pier.  Descend along the support; this will land you directly on the reef balls.  You can then do a circuit - follow the balls east to the end of the pier, then cross the pier to pick up the second set of balls.  Follow these balls west, back towards shore.  That's it - easy as pie!  The dives shallow; at high tide you'll be lucky to hit 10m/30'. Just two things to be concerned about; fishermen on the pier and  current.  This dive is best done on slack.  Fishermen usually don't cast as far as the reef balls, but be prepared for monofilament when you pass under the pier.

From Victoria take highway 17 North until the Beacon Ave turnoff for the town of Sydney (~20km from downtown Victoria).  Turn right (east) onto Beacon Ave, and follow it to 2nd Street - at this point turn right (south) onto 2nd, take it for one block and then turn left.  This'll put you on Bevan Ave, from here you should be able to see the Pier.  Park where possible, gear up, and walk to the pier.  You can enter on either side of the pier - careful, both entries are rocky and slippery.

Sydney Pier

This dive site is hard to predict slack current for. An artificial reef exists here, of hollow concrete half spheres. There is also the wreck of a small sail boat. But despite this dive sites problems this can be an interesting dive.

This dive site is located right downtown in Sidney at the end of Beacon Avenue. There is a park here at the water front. Just look for the beach, and the stairs leading into the water. This is also one of the few dive locations where there is a wheel chair ramp. But this is best used at high tide. As they did not seem to account for low tide for it.

Sidney Waterfront is also known as Sidney.

Sidney Waterfront

Diving here is great! When you finally climb down the rocks using the tree on the right for help. Swim about 100ft from shore then descend. If you swim to the left and out a bit you will come to a sheer wall that drops to 110ft! It is covered in life and in the deeper depths you may find some Cloud sponges. I usually swim on the surface past the 3rd house(left if you are facing away from shore)  descend to the wall then to 100ft.  I work my way up the wall while going back to the entry point for my safety stop in the kelp beds.(it gives my something to look at) - Geoff

Head north on the Pat Bay Highway (#17) turn off, then left at the Royal Oak Dr. overpass (look for the sign) follow Royal Oak Dr. till you get to West Saanich Road. Follow north 6.5km , turn left onto Wallace a Dr. then when you see Willis Point Rd. turn left (the only way to go) Follow all the way to the end (8.2km)  where you will find Mark Lane. Turn right and drive down about 0.6km to a fire lane on the left. Do not park right in the lane and be careful not to block peoples driveways. I believe the address of the last house before the fire lane is 7442.

To find this on a map it is best to enter into Google Maps or Map Quest: Steamer Drive, Brentwood Bay British Columbia - then look for the fire lane as you are driving along. Its beside a black iron fence. If you encounter Steamer Drive itself, you have just gone past the fire lane. Do not block the fire lane as this is for the fire trucks to get water from the ocean. But there is parking for at least 4 cars here.

Willis Point

Diving here you go 30-40 ft from shore and descend. There is a wall with some interesting contours along it. The wall starts at about 30ft and goes all the way down over 120ft. If you are lucky in the summer you will find 6 gill sharks but only at 80ft and deeper. This dive site does require a walk of approximately 5 minutes. And a rocky trail leads down to the gravel beach. Once you are in the water there are some walls, but not much life on them. There is more life in the gravel. This site is more well known for one of the few places that the Six Gill Sharks sometimes are spotted here during the summer at depths of around 30 metres [100 feet].

Head north on the Pat Bay Highway (#17) turn off, then left at the Royal Oak Dr. overpass (look for the sign) follow Royal Oak Dr. till you get to West Saanich Road. Follow north 6.5km , turn left onto Wallace a Dr. then when you see Willis Point Rd. turn left (the only way to go) Follow all the way to the end (8.2km)  where you will find Mark Lane. Go left and you will find McKenzie Bight. There will be a locked gate. Go down the path a bit and you will find different paths that lead to different beaches and entry points(spot #1 is 200m,spot #2 is 600m and #3 is the end). I usual take the first one I see but check it out in advance. - Geoff

McKenzie Bight

McCurdy Point is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Canada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Braemar Avenue

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Braemar Avenue