Nova Scotia

Cape Breton Regional Municipality

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!

Canada

Louisbourg

Evelyn

Célèbre

Prudent

Englishtown is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Canada, Nova Scotia which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Englishtown

Murray Point is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Canada, Nova Scotia which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Murray Point

Divers unfamiliar with the site should travel with a guide due to potential strong currents, depth, boat traffic, fish that like to nip at unwary divers, and the maze of underwater structures.

The dive site is best known for the abundance of marine life and the wreck that lies only 200 ft from the beach. Research conducted by the Baddeck Barnacles Diving Society in 2014 concluded that the reek is the final resting place of the Zealandia. The ship was built as a 3 masted, full-rigged clipper with an iron hull (No. 60969) by C. Connell and Co. in Glasgow in 1869. From 1870-1902 she served as a passenger/cargo ship for the Shaw, Savill and Albion Line of London, carrying over 4000 immigrants to New Zealand. Sold several times between 1902 and 1911 she was renamed Kaleva in 1907. Wrecked on Pumpkin Island Nova Scotia in 1911 she was salvaged and converted to a barge by Charles Brister of Halifax. In July 1916 she broke tow during a gale and sank after crashing into the Barra Strait railway bridge with a load of dolomite bound for Sydney. The wreck is 220 ft long by 40 ft wide and at the stern, it rises 30 ft off the bottom. At the wreck the maximum depth is 68 ft. Note because the wreck had been converted to a barge; most of upper deck structure was removed providing access to the inside of the bath tub like hull. Divers are advised however to avoid swimming under the remaining deck framing as the pieces could be loose. To aid getting on the wreck a rope is usually in place, extending from the beach to train swing bridge pivot support.

Although the wreck is the main attraction other structures merit exploration. A submerged wooden cribbed wharf extending approximately 300 ft to the south and parallel to the boat channel offers wall diving with depths ranging from 15 to 70 feet. Current most be considered here, but with careful planning this Site can make a terrific drift dive.

The Grand Narrows dive site is accessed from Highway 223. Thee site is approximately 62 km from Sydney or 25 km from the Trans Canada via Little Narrows. An entrance through the guard rail is positioned 0.3 km east of the car drawbridge; parking is at the beach.

Zealandia Wreck & Grand Narrows is also known as Kaleva Wreck.

Zealandia Wreck & Grand Narrows

The dive is just past the pilings of the old railway bridge. There is an uw line running from the left side of the beach to the pilings one can use in the tidal currents to go hand over hand to the pprotection of the pilings. Aim for slack tide at high or low, when the current is slower - it doesn't actually stop moving.

The divesite is an old barge that was used to build the railway bridge. It broke free and hit the pilings, and sank in about 50' of water. It is so rich in marine life that it is like a Caribbean reef!!

Great care must be taken in the current and with air management to ensure you can get back through the pilings and onto the line to go back to shore with an air reserve. This is the norhtern entry to the Bra D'Or Lakes, so there is frequent boat traffic next to and over the wreck - don't surface at the wreck...Always go back through the pilings to the beach. Also the current is too strong to swim against on the surface, so surfacing will sweep you through the "Grand Narrows" and you'll have to cut across it to land outside on the west side of the end of the channel and walk back.

Recommended for experienced divers or guided teams.

The dive site is down o the Iona side of Grand Narrows, the western side. You have to cross the bridge if you come from the east side. The road is dirt, narrow and very steep just on the Iona side of the bridge approach on the north side of the road. It leads down to parking above a gravel and pebble beach looking at the the car bridge on your right and the old railway bridge swing across the mouth of the beach. 

Iona

Neils Harbour is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in Canada, Nova Scotia which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Neils Harbour

The top 2-3m is freshwater that has tannins in it, which makes it brown and dark. Below that is saltwater which increases with the tide cycle with a range of 2m. After diving the spot at low tide, I'd recommend just before high tide when more clearer saltwater covers the ship. 

Going straight out from the boat ramp or the floating dock, you swim right into the bottom of the hull. the ship is bow to the left, down river, and is lying on its port side faced away from the shore. A nice route is up on the flank of the ship away from the very slity bottom; go right on top of the hull to the bow; then hop inside to go along the upper portion of the deck near the starboard railings. This way you can drop down onto the superstructure as you see it below you. On the ship  there is little current, but up in the freshwater or on the surface, it can run 0.5 to 1.5 knots. Only properly trained and equipped divers should penetrate - all others stay outside and shinelights in the hatchways and windows. There are some lines, collapsing structures, and some netting so care is required moving along the ship. Railing in the saltwater are cloaked in sea anemones. Main lights, marker lghts and backup lights are recommended. Good buddy team work is essential to a fun safe dive.

We only dive this site outside of summer to reduce pleasure boat traffic - from October to April or May, divers will almost have the site to themselves.

Northeast of Halifax along the Marine Drive Hwy #7 is the community of Sheet Harbour. The habour splits into the main channel and an eat branch called East River. The tramp freighter ARCTIC TRADER caught fire twice at dockside on the large wharf. On the second time, she was cut free and ended up anchored out in front of the floating docks of a small yacht club, just south of the main wharf. Torpedo Rays Dive Shop has a good online write up for it, which led us to explore the spot. Take the righthand paved road shortly before crossing the large, green, steel East River Bridge. There is parking out of the way near the wharf and above the yacht club. Don't block the boat ramp.

Arctic Trader shipwreck

Nice little spot facing mostly west at the narrowing in the harbour so winds aren't a factor. The nice diving is along the flank of the shore to the right and up to the wharf.

Off Shore Road in Dartmouth, which is just south of the MacDonald Bridge. Take Windmill Road and turn down to the water on the first south of the bridge called Best Street to reach the spot. It is on the south side of a large open, gravel parking area across the railway tracks. The entry is off the gently sloping pebble beach.

Skull Cove - Dartmouth

The golden sand beach is flanked on the south side by shale ridges running out to sea with kelp, seaweeds and lots of invertebrate marine life. The north side is contained by the long breakwater for the Halifax Container Peer. Divers shouldn't go past the breakwater, as large ships pass by. This still gives a huge area for diving. The central area of the dive site grads down to silt with some eelgrass beds. But the nicest diving is on the flanks. The shale is in bedding planes, like a layer cake making lots of nooks and crannies for critters to hide in. And the breakwater is a very steep slope composed of large boulders and some small rock all being taken over by the sealife!

Good parking above the beach in the parking lot adjacent to the container terminal. There is a short walk along a boardwalk and a path to get to the beach itself. The area is very protected from the west and north winds.

Black Rock Beach is also known as Point Pleasant Park east side.

Evelyn

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Evelyn