Diving in British Columbia is some of the finest in the world. Read the British Columbia guide
Ogden Breakwater is a marine preserve with features created just for divers. A very easy entry marks the start of a diving 'scavenger hunt' for the sunken plaques that line the break water. Each plaque contains information about the area and marine life you'll encounter. From the inner harbor of Victoria, drive South 1.5km to the end of Government Road, and turn right on Dallas for 1km.
For something completely different, try the Tuwanek Beach dive. You'll be swimming in the very protected Sechelt Inlet, just North of the town of Sechelt. It will be a shallow dive, but worth it for the marine life you may not see elsewhere. You may notice that you can hear a pin drop in this neighborhood. Let's keep it that way! In the town of Sechelt, head North on Wharf Ave or Xenichen. Turn right on East Porpoise Road, which becomes Sechelt Inlet Road. Travel for 9.7km until you reach the parking below.
Lions Bay offers an easy access dive for those interested in seeking out smaller creatures to observe. Shallow and rocky, you'll have plenty of time to explore. A dive flag is very important in this area. Give the marina a call (604-921-7510) before you decide to show up. Diving is restricted to certain times of the year. Heading North from Horseshoe Bay, after about 11km, take the second exit into Lions Bay. Head West toward the water, until you see the tracks below.
McNeill Point is an exciting spot to explore, but only during ideal conditions. The tidal currents through here could ruin your whole day if you're not careful. Check with a local dive shop about seasonal and hourly conditions at this site! Located 0.4km West of the Victoria Golf Course on Beach Road.
Are you looking for a good beginning dive? How about an advanced dive? Coopers Green has it all in the protection of Halfmoon Bay! Simple entry into the shallows allows easy exploration of the small island just meters off shore. Beyond that, the depth drops off rapidly. About 7km North of Schelt on 101 make a left on Redrooffs Road. Wind your way about 8.5km to the entrance below.
An excellent park for the kids, with picnic and playground facilities. For you divers, expect a rocky reef just off shore with all the small marine creatures you'd expect! From South of Vancouver's Second Narrows Bridge, head East on 7A for about 14km, parallel the Burrard Inlet. Wrap around Port Moody by taking a left on Ioco Road. In 4.5km, take a right on 1st Ave, and in 0.7km turn left on Bedwell Bay Road for another 5km. You'll see the park on your left.
Whytecliff Park is the premier dive spot for divers of all capabilities. You can find dive classes exploring the inner cove, and advanced divers venturing further out toward the Queen Charlotte Channel. All the classic sea life of this area can be found within an afternoon of touring the slopes and walls. For the non-divers, food and restrooms are found close the parking area. The original name was White Cliff City. In 1914, Colonel Albert Whyte pressed for the spelling change from White Cliff City to Whytecliff. The park is currently home to more than 200 marine animal species and is the first Marine Protected Area in Canada. Sea lions can be seen sunbathing on the beach during summer. Whytecliff park is located near West Vancouver's Horseshoe Bay Neighbourhood. To get there, take Marine Drive west from the Lions Gate Bridge past light house park to Horseshoe Bay and then continue on to 7100 Block Marine Drive. 2014 Note from Chanel MacKay: I am the current operator of the concession at Whytecliff Park and am in the process of reducing my hours of operation for the fall and winter 2014. I thought I would reach out to you to see if there would be any interest in my staying open for coffees, soups, and sandwiches over the park's off season. I know from speaking to divers this summer that the fall and winter are generally better for diving at Whytecliff. Would a hot drink and snack be appreciated by your divers or do they prefer to take off once out of the water and head somewhere warm to shower and dry off properly? Any feedback you could offer would be greatly appreciated as this is my first year in operation and I would like to make sure I'm meeting the needs of park guests. Please email me at foxfoodsvancouver *at* gmail*dot*com. Thank you!! From the Copper Cove dive site turn right onto Marine Drive. In a short distance you'll see the entrance to Whyte Cliff Park.
Porteau Cove should be renamed Diver's Paradise! The park system went all out to make this an appealing marine park for all levels of divers. Easy entry, marine life, marked wrecks, and a stair-side shower for your return make this site a two-tanker! Heading North from Horseshoe Bay, after about 23km, you'll see the park on your left.
Ten Mile Point can offer some great sights for the advanced diver. A constant current of varying strength keeps this area alive with sea life. You can stay in the shallows to explore the shore, or quickly drop down to 30 meters to investigate the nearby wall. Our best advice is to get a map of Victoria once you arrive, and locate the general area of the point in the Cadboro Bay district. Find Tudor Ave which runs the length of the small peninsula, and head Southeast. Tudor will eventually bend to the left; in 300m, take a right on Baynes Road, then a left on White Rock. You'll see the intersection below. Ten Mile Point is also known as Whiterock Street.
Whiskey Cove Lane is one of those spots used by the locals for a relaxing dive of exploration. The rocky walls of the cove and the small island make perfect hiding places for sea life. From South of Vancouver's Second Narrows Bridge, head East on 7A for about 14km, parallel the Burrard Inlet. Wrap around Port Moody by taking a left on Ioco Road. In 4.5km, take a right on 1st Ave, and in 0.7km turn left on Bedwell Bay Road for another 5km. Then after making a right on Belcarra Bay Road, watch for the parking area below in another 0.7km.
A more user-friendly, easy-access park, you'll find Bonnie Bay a quiet dive with wonderful scenery. There are no facilities here, just a nice, grassy trail and park. Drive South on Marine Drive 1.4km from Horseshoe Bay. Turn right, after the Glen Eagles Golf Course, onto Glen Eagles Drive. Stay on the upper road and wind your way 0.6km to the end of the Drive.
Spring Bay is a very easy dive for beginners, but can become quite difficult if you venture too far out. Although mostly protected from the current that plagues Ten Mile Point, the closer you get to Ten Mile, the more you will feel the current. So, stay in the general area of Spring Bay, and swim into any current you encounter. Our best advice is to get a map of Victoria once you arrive, and locate the general area of the point in the Cadboro Bay district. Find Tudor Ave which runs the length of the small peninsula, and head Southeast. Tudor will eventually bend to the left; continue to the parking lot at the end of the road.
It looked mighty nice, however you may now find it impossible to dive there. Apparently the neighborhood association decided to 'privatize' the beach, which effectively ended all diving there, unless you can kayak in from elsewhere. We present the site, nonetheless, in the hopes that it will one day reopen to us Marine Explorers. You must go to the marina at Lions Bay and get a parking permit then return back to Kelvin Grove. Heading North from Horseshoe Bay, after about 10km, take the first exit into Lions Bay. Wind your way South, toward the water. You'll dead end at the park.
For a very quiet dive through some rock and kelp-laden waters, you'll find this area a joy! You are in the midst of a tightly packed neighborhood, so be courteous and silent. Be very careful of the current! Located just Southwest of Victoria Golf Course, take the first road to your left off Beach Drive: Radcliffe/Hood Lane.
Not much to see here due to the over fishing from the wharf. Some interesting debris and old garbage if you get a bit away from the wharf. Good spot for training dives (I did my Rescue Diver course here). Large Parking area with short walk to picnic area and beach. Regional Park so check for park hours or drive around park to road on north side (about 10 mins more drive time) and park on roadside. Easy access to water on north side of wharf. Be alert for fishermen and crabbers on wharf.
The Ogden Point Breakwater is an 800-metre long breakwater constructed of stacked granite blocks and concrete. Although the breakwater is a marine sanctuary, line fishing is allowed; be alert for fishing gear on the bottom and overzealous boaters. There are five dive flags painted near the top of the west side of the breakwater, with corresponding bronze plaques at the bottom stone of the breakwater directly in line with each flag. The plaques provide a description of the marine life in the area, and the compass bearing to the next plaque. Entry is from the beach, breakwater or dive boat. Caution must be exercised when entering from the breakwater due to the barnacles and concrete blocks obscured by bull kelp. Beach to Flag 1: Mixed cobble and sand bottom, shallowing slowly to 8 metres. Flag 1: 8 metres depth, sand bottom. Flag 2: 8 - 17 metres depth, sand bottom. Flag 3: 17 - 20 metres depth, sand bottom. Flag 4: 22 - 25 metres depth, sand bottom, rubble below 9 metres. Flag 5: 28 - 35 metres depth, mud, sand bottom, tumbled granite blocks. The marine life in this area is abundant and varied. Expect to see the following: Sleeping Canary, Tiger, Black, Yellowtail, Puget Sound and Quillback Rockfish, Octopus, Harbour Seals, Dogfish, Rat Fish, Wolf Eels, Black Eye Gobys greenling, lingcod, Perch, Flounder, Kelp Greenling, Grunt Sculpins, Decorated Warbonnets, Mosshead Warbonnets, Burrowing Sea Cucumbers, Chitons, Hairy Lithoide Crabs, Brittle Stars, Metrudium and Plumose Anemones, Abalone, Crab, Puget Sound King Crab , Swimming Scallops, Ghost Shrimp, and Nudibranchs. There is a dive shop, the Odgen Point Dive Shop , located at the end of the breakwater where you can conveniently get air and rental gear. Odgen Point Breakwater is located at 199 Dallas Rd, Victoria, BC. It is right next to the Helijet airport and the docks where the cruise ships dock. There is a parking lot with paid parking right by the dive shop, with a few stairs to get to the breakwater itself, or follow the path around to the beach. Your entry and exit points can be anywhere along the breakwater, from a minute's walk to a half hour hike from the end.
Enter the water immediately in front of the parking site, and follow a bearing of 0 degrees (i.e. due north). You should hit the King Koho at about 20m/70' in depth. Local divers have run a line out to the boat - so if you come across a week-encrusted line you can follow it to the wreck. The King Koho is a 10m/30' sail boat that sunk in the late 90's. There are a lot of fish on the wreck, some good sized anenomies, and some octopi make their homes under the wreck. The only hazard here is the fishermen - they seem to think that the divers have hidden all the fish. Apparently 'over fishing' isn't in their vocabulary. Drive towards the ferry terminal in the town of Comox. Immediately before entering the ferry grounds there will be a road going off to the right, turn onto this road. Follow this road for 2-3 blocks until you hit singing sands road. Turn left onto singing sands road and follow it to the end. There is a bit of space to park at the end of the road. This is a busy site, so don't hog space.
For a relatively easy entry and dive, try Ross Charles Park. There are several rocky outcroppings to explore, and a flat bottom otherwise. From the inner harbor of Victoria, drive South 1.5km to the end of Government Road, and turn left on Dallas for 3.7km. After you pass the cemetery on your left, prepare to turn right on St. Charles Street.
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 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 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.
Based on Zentacle reviews, the top-rated sites in British Columbia are Ogden Breakwater (4.8 from 17 reviews), Tuwanek Beach (4.8 from 13 reviews) and Lions Bay (5.0 from 3 reviews).
The top-rated beginner sites are McNeill Point (5.0 from 3 reviews), Coopers Green (4.7 from 13 reviews) and Whytecliff Park (4.6 from 24 reviews).
Ogden Breakwater, Tuwanek Beach, Lions Bay and McNeill Point are the top-rated sites you can enter from shore.
Zentacle lists 23 dive shops in British Columbia. The top-rated are Diving Sports Canada Inc (5.0 from 133 reviews) and Kocher's Diving Locker, Ltd. (4.9 from 141 reviews).
