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Mermaid Cove - Photo by Darren Robinson
Diving on the Sunshine Coast of british columbia
In the area of the Skookumchuck Narrows rapids, the Sechelt Inlet offers some of the best cold-water dive sites in the world, highly rated by diving magazines and the Cousteau Society. Topping the list of dive sites is the scuttled WWII Royal Canadian Navy escort destroyer, the 112 m (366 ft) HMCS Chaudiere. Sunk by the Artificial Reef Society of BC in 1992 at the mouth of Salmon Inlet, it's now a colourful marine ecosystem of Orange Plumous Anemones, White Tube Worms and Ling Cod. The rapids themselves are for experienced divers only! The best way to dive the Skookumchuck Rapids is on a charter; most local operators have hundreds of hours of experience 'diving the Skook'. Lost anchors, strange rock formations and flourishing sea life makes Pirate Rock one of the area's most dramatic dives. The most popular shore dive is at Mermaid Cove, where Canada's first underwater statue rests serenely; the Emerald Princess is a 2.5 m (8 ft) sunken bronze mermaid.
Sunshine Coast Diving Video
While visibility in local waters is generally high at 15 to 24 m (50 to 80 ft) due to a lack of agae bloom, underwater diving in the winter offers extraordinary viewing distances up to 46 m (150 feet).
Top Lower Coast Boat Dives
HMCS Chaudiere Artificial Reef
110 m (366 ft) retired destroyer scuttled in 1992. Ideal year-round, years of marine growth with over 100 species.
Northern Agamemnon Channel
Power lines. Deep walls and ledges, cloud sponges and fans of red gorgonian corals.
Tzoonie Narrows
Drift dive. Sea lemons, lingcod, kelp greenlings, silvery pile perch, wolf eels, decorated warbonnets and octopus.
Fearney Bluffs
Deep wall, cloud sponge, full of marine life.
Sakinaw Rock
Nudibranch, free-swimming octopus.
Top Lower Coast Shore Dives
Tuwanek Beach Dive, Lamb Islets
Wall dive, easy access, wolf eel.
Coopers Green
Excellent shallow diving, easy access, ideal for novice divers, wolf eel and resident octopus.
Francis Peninsula, Martin Cove
Wall dive, chimney sponge, anemones and octopus.
Trail Bay (bottom of Wharf Avenue)
Easy access, treasure dive, antique bottles and china.
Egmont (near marina)
Access off shore near leaning tree. Caution: tides, heavy current, mix of sea life.
Powell River & Area Dives:
Mermaid Cove, Octopus City, Grief Point, Wreck of the Malahat, Gibsons Beach, Edmonds Beach, Okeover Breakwater
Top Lower Coast Boat Dives
HMCS Chaudiere Artificial Reef
110 m (366 ft) retired destroyer scuttled in 1992. Ideal year-round, years of marine growth with over 100 species.
Northern Agamemnon Channel
Power lines. Deep walls and ledges, cloud sponges and fans of red gorgonian corals.
Tzoonie Narrows
Drift dive. Sea lemons, lingcod, kelp greenlings, silvery pile perch, wolf eels, decorated warbonnets and octopus.
Fearney Bluffs
Deep wall, cloud sponge, full of marine life.
Sakinaw Rock
Nudibranch, free-swimming octopus.
Top Lower Coast Shore Dives
Tuwanek Beach Dive, Lamb Islets
Wall dive, easy access, wolf eel.
Coopers Green
Excellent shallow diving, easy access, ideal for novice divers, wolf eel and resident octopus.
Francis Peninsula, Martin Cove
Wall dive, chimney sponge, anemones and octopus.
Trail Bay (bottom of Wharf Avenue)
Easy access, treasure dive, antique bottles and china.
Egmont (near marina)
Access off shore near leaning tree. Caution: tides, heavy current, mix of sea life.
Powell River & Area Dives:
Mermaid Cove, Octopus City, Grief Point, Wreck of the Malahat, Gibsons Beach, Edmonds Beach, Okeover Breakwater
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