San Juans versus Nanaimo versus Powell River

[cagemaker]

I will be in Seattle for about a month this winter and plan to test out my new Fusion dry suit with the MK3 undergarment. What are the differences in visibility and marine life in the San Juans, Nanaimo and Powell River areas?

How do costs compare and what area did you like best?

thanks,

cagemaker

 

[cooldives]

Have you considered Port Hardy as well?

 

[cagemaker]

I have been considering Port Hardy as many people point me there.
How do costs compare with other Vancouver destinations?

thanks,

 

[StuartT]

It's all about the same all over Vancouver Island. Port hardy is about 4 hours north of Nanaimo. Campbell River/Quadra Island also has excellent diving about 2 hours north of Nanaimo. Check out the wrecks just outside of Nanaimo Harbour. Divers choice does charters around Nanaimo.

 

[Darnold9999]

Would not have said it is all about the same. The diving off Quadra Island and the diving in Browning Pass is superior to Naniamo and Victoria. With the possible exception of Dodd's Narrows in Naniamo and Race Rocks in Victoria but scheduling a dive there is not easy. Can't speak to Powel River.

The cost is all over the map depending on how you want to dive. A resort like God's Pocket is at the upper end of the scale shore diving at the other end. One of my favorite dives is off the Victoria breakwater. A marine park, lots to see and its a shore dive so the cost is minimal.

The difference in visibility is again all over the map. Depends on current, rain, and time of year. It can range from a foot or two in spring to 100 feet or more near the open ocean in Browning Pass in winter.

Ultimately you can't lose diving Vancouver Island. There is lots of good diving, the San Juans I believe are very similar but just in the US and much smaller vs Vancouver Island which is in Canada and much more variety.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

My first question would be how much time to you have?

Port Hardy is unquestionably the best cold water diving I've ever done. But it's expensive, and you have to allow at least a full travel day each direction from Seattle. I'm going back up there in early March, and the cost (at The Hideaway, which is less expensive than God's Pocket) is $1150 for the week, excluding travel costs.

You can get in some outstanding diving elsewhere for a lot less money ... although it won't be quite as good.

Someone mentioend Campbell River/Quadra Island. This is diving in Discovery Passage, which is very current-intensive. The walls are amazing, although I don't think they're quite up to Port Hardy standards. There's a couple of all-inclusive dive operations on Quadra Island. If you don't have the time and money for Port Hardy, it's a very good alternative for some mind-blowing dives.

You asked about the San Juan Islands. Check into Friday Harbor. There's a local charter, easy access to some outstanding dive sites, and in winter both access and lodging at Friday Harbor is quite affordable. You can catch a ferry over there from Anacortes, which is about a 2-hour drive north of Seattle. Alternatively, you can dive some of the closer San Juan Island dive sites from Anacortes ... with either Lu Jac's Quest or Deep Sea Charters. Personally, I think the outer island sites offer more variety and the potential for better vis. The important thing to keep in mind is that the water's pretty cold in winter ... low 40's.

You asked about Nanaimo. It's also pretty accessible ... and the main attraction there is the wrecks, but there are some other nice sites available. Although there are some shore dive sites north of Nanaimo, most divers use the charters. Personally, I think Victoria offers more due to greater accessibility to shore dives (Ogden Point breakwater, 10-Mile Point, etc). You've got access to wrecks (McKenzie & Church), and Race Rocks ... which to my concern is one of the better dive sites on the southern side of the island.

I haven't been to Powell River, but south of there is Sechelt Inlet which has an all-inclusive dive operation called Porpoise Bay Charters that I really like. Winter diving is fantastic ... vis is usually in excess of 100 feet. There's also a wreck there (the Chaudierre) and some amazing walls and drift dives.

There's plenty of options ... to my concern, if you can deal with the cold then winter's the best time to dive here ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[TSandM]

As Bob says, it really depends on your time. Be aware that all the Vancouver Island destinations really require a full day of travel. It's about two hours from Seattle to the Tsawassen (sp?) ferry, and another hour and a half ferry ride or so; it's then a half hour's drive or so to Nanaimo. All the other places you've listed are even further away.

The advantage of the San Juans is that you can easily drive up to Anacortes and get on a charter, dive all day, and drive back to Seattle in the evening. However, it's not likely that you will encounter fabulous visibility there, because of the particulates dumped by the Fraser River.

 

[Darnold9999]

Would agree with Bob re Hideaway over Gods Pocket - was there a month ago and the vis was 100+ feet, we saw whales, porpoises, eagles on the surface, a large group of sea lions came by to investigate on one dive, (bit one diver - no damage to the diver just a couple of small holes in the dry suit) and pretty much the best cold water diving I have done. However it was a full day travel to get there and the same coming back and Seattle to Vancouver adds another two or three hours to that. Worth it for a long weekend of diving.

Also agree re Race Rocks and my post was confusing - Dodds Narrows is hard to schedule a dive, Race Rocks is pretty easy.