NavyDoll
Contributor
I've had a few people ask about the 'local' dive sites in & around Victoria, BC... so here's a short list of a couple of my personal favourites (in no particular order)!!
Race Rocks (boat dive)... the best place to dive with sea lions... especially during the winter!! the site also has alot of plant life and can be very colourful in the spring. plan to dive this site a slack tide... as the currents can be very strong. it is a drift dive and live boat is highly recommended!
Ogden Point (shore dive)... at the "Breakwater" for Victoria Hrb. Site of Ogden Point Dive Shop (which is handy for air fills and renting any gear you might have forgotten). The highlight of diving the Breakwater is seeing wolf-eel and octopi. I've also run into a seal at this site, as well as a ratfish!!
Saanich Inlet (shore dives)... 3 great sites along the Saanich Peninsula side of the Inlet!! MacKenzie Bight, Willis Point and Henderson Point. The Inlet is great place to dive in fall, winter & spring.. but not such a great place to dive during JellyFish season! These sites are great for deep diving... along the 'walls'. Six-Gills have been seen at MacKenzie in the summer months.. as have Dog Fish. We've also seen a few cloud sponges in the area!!
And last, but definitely not least... the WRECKS!! GB Church & HMCS MacKenzie. These two dives (boat dives) make a great day of diving. We go from the Tulista Boat Launch in Sidney. Despite being sunk behind Gooch Island.. diving on the MacKenzie is strongly affected by the currents & tides. Check the tide tables before planning a dive here!!
A little further north.. the HMCS Saskatchewan & HMCS Cape Breton lie in about 90-100ft of water... off Snake Island!! Only had the chance to dive these ships once.. but I can't wait to go back!!
This is an sample of the diving in the Victoria & southern VI area... feel free to ask questions, etc..
Race Rocks (boat dive)... the best place to dive with sea lions... especially during the winter!! the site also has alot of plant life and can be very colourful in the spring. plan to dive this site a slack tide... as the currents can be very strong. it is a drift dive and live boat is highly recommended!
Ogden Point (shore dive)... at the "Breakwater" for Victoria Hrb. Site of Ogden Point Dive Shop (which is handy for air fills and renting any gear you might have forgotten). The highlight of diving the Breakwater is seeing wolf-eel and octopi. I've also run into a seal at this site, as well as a ratfish!!
Saanich Inlet (shore dives)... 3 great sites along the Saanich Peninsula side of the Inlet!! MacKenzie Bight, Willis Point and Henderson Point. The Inlet is great place to dive in fall, winter & spring.. but not such a great place to dive during JellyFish season! These sites are great for deep diving... along the 'walls'. Six-Gills have been seen at MacKenzie in the summer months.. as have Dog Fish. We've also seen a few cloud sponges in the area!!
And last, but definitely not least... the WRECKS!! GB Church & HMCS MacKenzie. These two dives (boat dives) make a great day of diving. We go from the Tulista Boat Launch in Sidney. Despite being sunk behind Gooch Island.. diving on the MacKenzie is strongly affected by the currents & tides. Check the tide tables before planning a dive here!!
A little further north.. the HMCS Saskatchewan & HMCS Cape Breton lie in about 90-100ft of water... off Snake Island!! Only had the chance to dive these ships once.. but I can't wait to go back!!
This is an sample of the diving in the Victoria & southern VI area... feel free to ask questions, etc..