HMCS Cape Breton ? the Expansion of Life
I have put the pages content below in case the link ever breaks
Although many divers describe her as a wreck, HMCS Cape Breton is actually an artificial reef, sunk deliberately by the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia in October of 2001. After months of preparation by hundreds of dedicated volunteers, the huge vessel went down in under three minutes, coming to rest as planned in 140 FSW in the waters off of Nanaimo, BC, near Snake Island, becoming what was then the newest of the city of Nanaimos underwater attractions. Her years spent underwater have changed her and made the ship one of the most popular dive sites in Canada with her vast accumulation of marine life she has truly become a wonder to behold.
HMCS Cape Breton is a veteran of the Second World War, although she never saw action in that conflict. Built in 1944 at the Burrard Dry-dock Facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia, with a design similar to that of the famous Liberty Ships, the ship was originally christened as HMS Flamborough Head. She was originally earmarked to be used in the war against Japan as well as in what was supposed to have been the re-colonization of Asian territories as part of restoring the pre-war British Empire. Launched in Vancouver in 1945, the ship remained on active service with the British Royal Navy until 1952, at which time she was purchased by the Royal Canadian Navy. In January of 1953 the ship was commissioned and renamed as HMCS Cape Breton, serving in Halifax until 1958 as a repair ship and training establishment vessel. Transferred to the West coast of Canada in 1959, HMCS Cape Breton served as an escort maintenance ship until February, 1964, when she was paid off into reserve. During the 1970s and 1980s, she served as a towed mobile support facility and was berthed semi-permanently as a part of the Fleet Maintenance Group (Pacific). Eventually, with the redevelopment of the dockyard approaching completion, HMCS Cape Breton was declared surplus and assigned to the Reserve fleet in Colwood, British Columbia. She was eventually acquired by the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia.
Along with the incredibly extensive cleaning of the ship that was required, prior to her sinking the stern section of the Cape Breton was removed at her birthplace, the Burrard Dry-dock in North Vancouver, along with the ships huge triple-expansion engine. Eventually, both the stern section and the engine are destined to be featured exhibits at the North Vancouver Maritime Museum, scheduled to be opened in the future. A series of photographs showing the extensive cleaning phase as well as the removal of the stern section and engine can be found at:
http://www.artificialreef.bc.ca/OurReefs/100_CapeBreton/index.htm
HMCS Cape Breton is 442 feet long and listed at 10,000 tons, which at the time of her sinking made her the largest ship ever sunk as an artificial reef. Since then, however, the sinking of the USS Spiegel Grove off Key Largo and the USS Oriskany off Pensacola has deprived her of that honor.
Prior to sinking, the Cape Breton had numerous holes cut into her in an effort to make an exit visible from every entry point and the vessel is now extremely popular for penetration dives. In fact, despite the fact that the ship rests in 140 FSW it is possible to penetrate her and dive BELOW that depth since she hit the bottom with such force that her keel now rests deeper than the surrounding bottom. The size of the ship is immense and one dive simply cannot do her justice.
Those wishing to dive the Cape Breton can do so by visiting the marvelous little city of Nanaimo on the southeastern shore of Vancouver Island. Easily reached by ferry from the city of Vancouver on the mainland, the city looks at divers as a tourism asset and welcomes us with open arms:
Accommodations, Things to Do and Dining in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, BC | Tourism Nanaimo | It's AMAZING what you can do here!
BC Ferry System:
BC Ferries - British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. - Experience the Difference
The ADM team used the professional services of Divers Choice Dive Charters, and highly recommend them:
Divers Choice Charters - Captain Ken Adrian
Telephone: (250) 716-8867
Toll-free: 1-866-716-8867
E-mail:
aadrian@telus.net
diving bc canada scuba dive charters diver Vancouver Island Nanaimo British Columbia
Accommodations were provided by the Buccaneer Inn, an extremely hospitable and clean hotel that caters especially to divers located near the waterfront:
Nanaimo Motel Accommodation - Buccaneer Inn, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island
