Canada is surrounded by three oceans and speckled with hundreds of lakes and rivers. With so many locations to dive in, it may be onerous to know the place to start. Under is a brief checklist of the most effective locations to dive in Canada. Go to this web page for a extra in depth checklist of prime dive websites in Canada.
Atlantic Canada
Discover diving in Jap Canada, the place chilly, nutrient-rich waters create biologically numerous underwater habitats. From colourful wrecks and icebergs to accessible coastal websites, Atlantic Canada provides journey for all ability ranges.
Bell Island, Newfoundland
There are quite a few wrecks round Bell Island, however the PLM-27 and SS Saganaga are probably the most accessible. Each dives begin at about 18 meters/60 ft. The 137 meter/450 foot SS Lord Strathcona is the biggest and warrants two dives. All of the wrecks are coated in life and surprisingly colourful.
Conception Bay, Newfoundland
From Could by way of June, you may dive below historical icebergs in Conception Bay, Newfoundland. It’s an expertise you gained’t quickly neglect.
Paddy’s Head
Paddy’s Head is situated in St Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia, about 40 min drive from central Halifax. It’s a comparatively shallow website appropriate for all ranges with a mean depth of 6 meters/20 ft and a max depth of 18 meters/60 ft. Count on to see hermit crabs, lobsters, torpedo rays and loads of fish.
British Columbia
British Columbia (BC) constantly ranks among the many prime cold-water dive locations on the planet, and for good cause. The reefs are coated in colourful life, and BC is dwelling to a number of bucket checklist animals. Visibility is reliably 21-30 meters/70-100 ft between October and April, and water temperatures are typically 7-13°C/45-55°F yr spherical.
A few of British Columbia’s finest diving is within the inside passage — a waterway that stretches from southeast Alaska, previous Vancouver Island and into Washington state. Whether or not you’re into wrecks, attention-grabbing marine life or enjoyable photograph ops, there’s one thing for each diver in “Tremendous, Pure British Columbia.”
Love street journeys? Load up your gear and take the gorgeous Sea-to-Sky Freeway to discover Howe Sound and the Sunshine Coast. Make sure you cease and see the well-known Powell River mermaid in Mermaid Cove.
High dive websites round Vancouver Island embody:
- God’s Pocket and Browning Cross – Jacques Cousteau named God’s Pocket Marine Park the most effective chilly water diving locations on the planet. Count on to see cloud sponges, colourful anemones, big Pacific octopuses, wolf eels and possibly even a six-gill shark. Browning Wall is one in all many notable dive websites within the space.
- Norris Rocks, Hornby Island – Steller sea lions are a seasonal attraction. These extraordinarily pleasant marine mammals will swim proper as much as your digicam and possibly have a nibble in your fins. Contact an area PADI Dive Store to plan your go to.
- Barkley Sound – In case you’re merely searching for a relaxed, stunning dive, Barkley Sound has kelp forests and sheltered reefs loaded with attention-grabbing marine life.
- Nanaimo and close by Chemainus, BC have two attention-grabbing synthetic reefs. The HMCS Cape Breton and a decommissioned Air Canada 737.
Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Whereas the Prairie Provinces don’t supply the identical diving alternatives as their coastal cousins, there’s an underwater ghost city in Lake Minnewanka, Alberta that’s value a go to. As an added bonus, the dive is in breathtaking Banff Nationwide Park.
In case you’re occupied with diving central Canada, listed below are just a few assets we suggest:
Ontario
Off the shores of Tobermory, Ontario in Fathom 5 Nationwide Marine Park, you’ll discover quite a few wrecks, attention-grabbing geological formations, clear water and wonderful photograph alternatives. There’s one thing for divers of all ranges (and even snorkelers) at Fathom 5.
There’s lots to discover, however skilled divers ought to prioritize:
- The Niagara II, a 55-meter/182-foot purpose-sunk wreck (see if you happen to can spot the smashed up piano)
- The remarkably well-preserved Arabia, a three-masted wood barque that sank in October 1884.
For extra, try this text about The Wrecks of Tobermory from our pals at Scuba DivingTM journal.
St. Lawrence River
The St. Lawrence River has many wonderful diving areas, however two of the most effective areas are Brockville, ON and Thousand Islands Nationwide Park. These areas are typically diveable year-round, however the water is exceptionally heat August by way of October. The water temperature on the floor can attain 20-24°C/68-75°F.
Each areas have wreck dives and drift dives. Underwater photographers ought to try Brockville’s underwater sculpture park.
Canada’s Finest Dive Websites, Chosen by Native Consultants
There’s much more to discover. Go to PADI.com for a extra thorough checklist of the most effective dive websites in Canada — compiled by native PADI Dive Retailers.
