Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Alberni-Clayoquot

The top 10 dive and snorkel sites in Alberni-Clayoquot, ranked by diver reviews, with maps and photos. Read the Alberni-Clayoquot guide

dive sites: 10

AreasEcoole3 Bamfield2 Port Alberni2 Kakawis2 Equis Beach1

10 sites, ranked by diver reviews

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Eagle Island

No reviews yetCanada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island

Eagle Island is also affectionately known by the proprietor of the local dive shop as Ewok Island due to its remarkable likeness (above water) to the forests where the Ewoks from Star Wars live. This dive site is notorious for having very strong currents. It is precisely this reason that makes it a good drift diving spot. The underwater biology largely consists of large white sea anemones coupled with a myriad of fish species, various crustaceans and the odd seal. This site can only be accessed by boat (or floatplane). The only local dive centre; Ocean Planet Adventures Tofino, is a company that will take divers to this site via dive boat. Eagle Island is also known as Ewok Island.

BeginnerMax depth 26.2 ftBoat entry

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China Creek Wall

No reviews yetCanada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island

The wall is readily visible from shore and requires little effort to get there. Visibility can depend on many things, there is a fresh water flow that is in the first 15 - 20 feet and then the saltwater mix below so that, at times i.e. your 15' safety stop and as you descend, it looks like your in italian salad dressing. Depending on the time of year also will effect visibility as heavy rains mix it up and the plankton bloom can reduce vis significantly.There are interesting artefacts to view, like a phone both and a small boat and a tug boat. The wall has life on it; octopus, anenomes, rock fish, sea plummes etc... you just have to look. This is good dive for an intro into decreased visibility diving but as you can follow the seabed,wall contour this makes a good navigation site as well. If you want to go deep (130') this site allows that. A great place to spend the weekend camping, diving and just enjoying being outside in this part of the world. This is also a one off dive site as both freshwater and saltwater mix with a wall , wreck thrown in to boot !!! Go to Nanaimo in Vancouver Island, drive to Port Alberni and 13 km on the way to Bamfield turn right to China Creek RV and Campground. Go to the first campsite at the water you see when coming into the area.

BeginnerMax depth 65.6 ftShore entry

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Rendezvous House Reef

No reviews yetCanada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island

An area marked by varied terrain from sand aeras with giant nudibranchs and Co-soles to rock formations with walls. Generally many invertebrates and fish species and even six gill sharks on occassion. Great for an afternoon dive or night dive after the usual boat dives This dive site is right off the dock of Rendezvous Dive Adventures Ltd. This remote dive resort can only be reached by boat and is open virtually all year round. Rendezvous House Reef is also known as Off the dock.

BeginnerMax depth 49.2 ftShore entry

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Kyen point

No reviews yetCanada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island

A double pinnacle with a nice shallow sand channel in the middle. Lots of invertebrate life and fish. Occassionally a skate. Wolf eel and octopus are hanging around often and ratfish can be seen here too Close to the Sechart channel , Barkley Sound

BeginnerMax depth 49.2 ftBoat entry

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Renate's reef

No reviews yetCanada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island

A rather larger pinnacle that has wolf eels, giant pacific octopus, schools of rock fish, nudibranches and much much more. In the heart of the Impreial Eagle Channel, Barkley Sound

BeginnerMax depth 55.8 ftBoat entry

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Tyler rock

No reviews yetCanada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island

Tyler rock is a pinnacle that comes up from surrounding deep waters.It is one of the sites inBC where six gill sharks can be found in the summer. There is always great life and a swimm through covered with anemones. In the shoulder seasons sea lions may come a check you out. By boat through the Alberni Inlet at the mouth of Barkley Sound

BeginnerMax depth 59.1 ftBoat entry

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Pill point wall

No reviews yetCanada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island

Through Port Alberni

BeginnerMax depth 65.6 ftBoat entry

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China Creek Wreck

No reviews yetCanada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island

The wreck is accessible by starting off from campsite No 44. Beach entry headed south go to depth contour 80 Ft and turn right following that depth. You will hit the wreck within 5-10 min. This was a chinese fishing vessel bringing over refugees. Go to Vancouver Island, specifically Nanaimo. Drive to Port Alberni and on to Bamfield. Drive to the China Creek RV and Campground some 13 km south of Port Alberni. Enter the water at Campsite 42 headed south. China Creek Wreck is also known as The Wreck Dive at China Creek.

IntermediateMax depth 82 ftShore entry

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Vanlene

No reviews yetCanada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island

The Vanlene went down in 1972 and the ship was loaded with Dodge Colts (cars) the bow is pretty much smashed up into the rocks and in a big kelp field. The midsectionlies in about 16 meter and has a big boiler standing up. The stern section which is most intact is in about 27 meter and has still some car parts in it Via Port Alberni

IntermediateMax depth 59.1 ftBoat entry

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North Dunlap Island

No reviews yetCanada, British Columbia, Vancouver Island

A relatively easy dive site. The biology of this site is quite varied and impressive with seasonal bull kelp growing up to 45 metres long. Giant Pacific Octopus is the main draw card to this site as they are in abundance. Spider Crabs and Dungeness Crabs lurk on the seafloor. An abundance of colourful, diversely shaped nudibranchs and an assortment of fishes and sea anemones also inhabit this site. Access to this dive site is via boat only. Charters are available from the local dive shop in Tofino; Ocean Planet adventures.

BeginnerMax depth 39.4 ftBoat entry

Snorkeling & Scuba Map of Alberni-Clayoquot: numbered map of the top 10 dive and snorkel sites, with ratings — Numbers match the ranked list of Alberni-Clayoquot dive and snorkel sites. Full map with key

Alberni-Clayoquot diving guide

Ready to check out the best sites in Alberni-Clayoquot for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? Zentacle has 10 dive sites, snorkel spots, beaches, and more. Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you.