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Scuba Diving in British Columbia |
Scuba Diving in British ColumbiaSome of the world’s most unique and beautiful cold-water scuba diving sites are situated off the coast of British Columbia. The scuba diving is best in winter, when divers can regularly experience up to 40 meters of visibility. The marine-life includes sponges, anemones, soft corals, rock fish (china, vermilion and canary), rock scallops and cukes. There are also a number of shipwrecks that dot the underwater terrain.
The first step when planning to scuba dive in British Columbia is to get a copy of the British Columbia diver’s handbook – 141 Dives in the Protected Waters of Washington and British Columbia by Betty Pratt-Johnson. Diver magazine is another very good resource; its scuba directory lists retail stores, resorts, charter boats and other Scuba services. Then head to Vancouver, where a quick look through the telephone book will show you that scuba diving is alive and well in this community. The city’s numerous scuba shops have everything you need, and they are all superb sources of information on the best diving spots along the Georgia Strait. The can also usually tell you who is chartering what, and when.
The most popular scuba diving sites are located off the Gulf Islands, Nanaimo, Campbell River, Telegraph Cove, Port Hardy and Powell River (the scuba diving capital of Canada). Many of the coastal communities along Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast have dive shops with gear rentals and air tanks, and most can put you in touch with charter dive boats and guides.
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