Dive sites in Canada
Browse by region, city or dive type to find suitable locations for your experience level.
Regions
All dive sites
Browning Wall
Port Hardy · British Columbia · Canada
A world-famous cold-water wall dive in British Columbia renowned for its explosion of colourful invertebrate life — giant plumose anemones, cloud sponges, and rockfish.
HMCS Saskatchewan Wreck
Nanaimo · British Columbia · Canada
A deliberately sunk Canadian naval destroyer escort resting off Nanaimo, now an artificial reef teeming with giant Pacific octopus, lingcod, and plumose anemones.
Whytecliff Park
Vancouver · British Columbia · Canada
Canada's first marine protected area and Vancouver's most popular shore dive, featuring giant Pacific octopus, wolf eels, and rich cold-water invertebrate communities.
Halifax Harbour Shipwrecks
Halifax · Nova Scotia · Canada
The harbour and approaches of Halifax, Nova Scotia harbour centuries of maritime history with dozens of accessible shipwrecks from both World Wars, colonial-era vessels, and merchant ships scattered across the harbour floor and nearby coastline.
Fathom Five National Marine Park
Tobermory · Ontario · Canada
Canada's first national marine conservation area in Lake Huron's Georgian Bay, where crystal-clear freshwater preserves over twenty historic shipwrecks from the 19th century amid dramatic limestone cliffs and cold-water biodiversity.
Dive centers in Canada
Ocean Quest Dive Centre
Conception Bay South · Newfoundland · Canada
Newfoundland's premier dive center offering Bell Island WWII wreck diving and iceberg diving experiences.
Rendezvous Dive Adventures
Nanaimo · British Columbia · Canada
Vancouver Island dive center offering emerald-sea diving with wolf eels, giant Pacific octopus, and artificial reef wrecks.
Sundown Diving
Vancouver · British Columbia · Canada
Vancouver-based dive center specializing in shore diving at Whytecliff Park and Porteau Cove with Pacific Northwest marine life.
Diving in Canada
Dive sites in Canada include wall, wreck, reef locations across British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario. Each location includes depth, conditions and environment type to help you plan safely.
Use the region and city navigation above to narrow your search, or explore individual site pages for detailed conditions, entry type, skill requirements and nearby alternatives.
FAQ
What exposure protection do I need for Browning Wall?
A drysuit is strongly recommended for diving Browning Wall, as water temperatures range from 7 to 12 degrees Celsius depending on season and depth. Most divers use a drysuit with a thick fleece or thinsulate undersuit. Some experienced cold-water divers use thick semi-dry suits, but drysuit certification and experience are advisable. Gloves and a hood are essential year-round.
Why is Browning Wall so famous for invertebrate life?
Browning Wall benefits from the nutrient-rich currents of Queen Charlotte Strait, which deliver a constant supply of plankton that feeds filter-feeding invertebrates. The wall's orientation exposes it to these currents, allowing dense colonies of giant plumose anemones, cloud sponges up to two metres across, and various hydrocoral species to flourish. The cold, nutrient-dense water creates conditions that simply do not exist in warmer seas.
How do I get to Browning Wall?
Browning Wall is accessed by boat from Port Hardy, located at the northern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Port Hardy is reachable by a six-hour drive from Nanaimo or by short flights from Vancouver. Several dive operators in Port Hardy offer boat charters to Browning Wall, typically as part of multi-dive day trips or multi-day liveaboard expeditions exploring the Browning Pass area.
Can I penetrate the HMCS Saskatchewan wreck?
Yes, the HMCS Saskatchewan was specifically prepared for recreational diver penetration before sinking in 1997. Large openings were cut into the hull and superstructure, hatches were removed or secured open, and hazardous materials were cleaned out. Multiple swim-throughs allow divers to pass through compartments with natural light visible at both ends. However, wreck penetration certification is recommended, and divers should carry a backup light and be comfortable in enclosed spaces.
How deep is the HMCS Saskatchewan?
The wreck rests on its keel on a sandy bottom at approximately 37 metres. The main superstructure rises to about 18 to 20 metres, and the top of the mast reaches approximately 12 metres. Most divers spend their bottom time exploring the superstructure between 18 and 30 metres before ascending to the mast area for their safety stop. The relatively deep seabed makes bottom time management important, especially on air.