Vancouver may not have tropical reefs, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t offer amazing scuba diving opportunities. In fact, British Columbia was voted as the number one scuba diving destination in North America by Scuba Diving Magazine thanks to its abundance of wildlife. Seals, nudibranch, octopus, eels, crabs, and even a couple of different species of shark are all waiting to be discovered under the waves near Vancouver. When it comes to topography, divers will be rewarded with anemone-covered pinnacles, walls, and a couple of great wrecks to explore.
Locals love dive sites around Howe Sound which, as a marine sanctuary, is home to plenty of different species of marine life. Whytecliff Park is probably the most popular spots in the Howe Sound area. There are several dive sites here suitable for all levels of divers with lots of crevasses, overhangs, and rock walls to explore. Another favourite dive site is the HMCS Annapolis; a helicopter-carrying destroyer. It was scuttled in 2015 and has quickly become a favourite dive site not just in British Columbia, but in all of Canada.
As an avid scuba diver, I love diving shipwrecks. There is something thrilling, and maybe even a little spooky, about exploring these massive structures in the dark, murky waters. It’s also fascinating to see just how quickly the ocean and its inhabitants claim the wreck for themselves.
Visit The Diving Locker or Sea Dragon Charters to plan your scuba diving adventures in Vancouver.
Accommodation: You can’t stay underwater, but at the Granville Island Hotel you can stay on the water. This boutique hotel offers a homey stay in what I think is one of Vancouver’s coolest areas, Granville Island, which is home to food markets, breweries, and local artisan shops.