Scuba Diving In British Columbia

Many professional divers consider British Columbia to be one of the world’s top diving locations to take a vacation. This is an excellent place to dive, whether it be by yourself, with friends, or even with family.

British Columbia is a popular vacation option that is quickly becoming of the most sought out locations for diving. In fact, it won the 2010 Scuba Award for being the World’s Best Cool Water Dive Destination. The province was ranked highly in several subcategories as well, being named the best location in North America for value, fish life, healthiest marine environment, wreck locations, underwater photography, big animals, visibility, and more. To make matters even better, the country features hundreds of sites that divers can visit, which include those perfect for the beginner to the professional diver.

There are so many sites in British Columbia for diving that you will have to spend some time planning ahead to determine which ones you would like to visit the most. If you plan on visiting Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, then the Whytecliffe Marine Park is an excellent choice. Because Vancouver is a port city it is encompassed by water and the best sites are only within minutes away. Whytecliffe is located in Howe Sound and is best known for its spectacular scenery, both above and underwater, as well as its naturally rugged coastline. This is even an excellent spot for beginners because a variety of dive classes are offered here.

Browning Wall

Scuba diving in British Columbia during a vacation would also not be complete without a visit to Race Rocks which is located near Victoria. Here you can find a vast assortment of charming dive sites, hotels, restaurants and shops which are all conveniently located together. This location is widely appreciated as one of the best cold dive destinations on the planet. The waters there are much protected and contain some of the most diverse marine life in the area including giant fields of kelp, basket stars, seals, sea lions, red urchins, anemones, cod, sponges, and sea stars among others.

If you are going to be visiting the Sunshine Coast, then there will be several sites you can visit. The area can be reached by a 40 minute ferry ride out of Horseshoe Bay which is located in West Vancouver, British Columbia. This area is perfect for scuba divers because it features a pristine, 80 km stretch of coastline. If you love wreck diving there will be plenty of opportunity for it here as there are several wreck locations to visit including both authentic and artificial sites. High current drift dives are also available for every skill level.

These are only a few examples of the countless dive site destinations for scuba diving in British Columbia. Other noteworthy locations that you may want to visit include: Renate’s Reef, Fearney Bluffs, Kelvin Grove, Swordfish Island, 10 Mile Point, and the 737 Artificial Wreck which is located in Chemainus and is the world’s first artificial reef.