Top 10 Best Dive Sites in Canada
Most people do not think of Canada as a scuba diving destination when arranging a trip. Canada has more shorelines than most other countries, thanks to its ... read more...numerous lakes and beaches. It is, in fact, one of the most well-known scuba diving destinations in the world. Despite the weather, adventure enthusiasts go to Canada to partake in the aforementioned activities. Some Canadian locations, such as Ontario, Newfoundland, British Columbia, and others, provide numerous scuba diving opportunities. Both seawater and saltwater diving are popular in Canada. When you go scuba diving in Canada, you will be able to see a wide variety of aquatic species. Here are some of the best dive sites in Canada.
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Brockville ranks 1st on the list of the best dive sites in Canada. This place is one of the few places in Ontario where you may see and examine more than 10 wrecks beneath the river that runs between Brockville and Rockport. Even if you are not a certified scuba diver, the Robert Gaskin location is ideal for you because the water is quite shallow and only reaches a maximum depth of 70 feet. Furthermore, the current is rather low. You can go to Henry C. Daryaw's webpage if you are an experienced diver.
Around eighty years ago, a 220-foot cargo sank on the location. The ship is 90 feet below the river's surface, with a powerful current to contend with.This webpage will give you the shivers if you really desire to go on an adventure. The St. Lawrence River in Brockville is at a pleasant temperature. It usually varies from 20 to 23-degree Celsius. Tourist attractions in Brockville include the Brockville Tunnel, Fulford Place, and the Aquatarium.
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Tobermory ranks 2nd on the list of the best dive sites in Canada. Tobermory, on the other hand, is another Ontario town on the Georgian Bay. It is also relatively near to Toronto. There are several diving sites to choose from, and it is a diving paradise for certified divers. Niagra II and Arabia are the two most notable shipwrecks that may be examined there. Arabia sunk in 1884, and Niagra II has been there since 1999.
Because the depth is over a hundred feet, you'll need some scuba diving expertise before taking on this expedition. You will not only be able to see the ships, but you will also be able to tour the control rooms and other areas of the ship. As Tobermory is a marine park, you will be able to see everything quite clearly since the water is pretty clean. That is why scuba diving is so popular in this part of Canada.
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Bell Island ranks 3rd on the list of the best dive sites in Canada. Scuba diving on Bell Island in Newfoundland is recommended for those interested in the marine life of aquatic species. Marine species such as jellyfish, ray-finned fish, lumpfish, eel, and other spectacular sea creatures may be found in the waters of this island. Aside from the beautiful aquatic life, you'll be able to see boats that were sunk during World War II. There are numerous important boats, including the SS Lord Strathcona, PLM-27, the SS Rose Castle, and the SS Saganaga. These wrecks are located at an average depth of 80 feet below the surface.
If you're looking for a unique site to visit, the whale graveyard in South Dildo is a good choice. The carcasses and skeletons of whales that have been discovered there will astound you. Due to the strong currents and extreme height, you will only be permitted to participate in scuba diving on Bell Island if you have received scuba diving training.
Location: Conception Bay, Newfoundland, Canada
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Barkley Sound ranks 4th on the list of the best dive sites in Canada. Barkley Sound is also a diving destination in British Columbia that is home to large and spectacular aquatic species such as Pacific Octopus, starfish, and sixgill sharks, among others. The sheer size of the beasts will take your breath away. Scuba divers and photographers flock to this location because the marine life and beauty under the surface of the Pacific Ocean are breathtaking.
You may also see wolf Eels, sea lions, harbor seals, and other animals on Renate's reef. Every single one of the species is incredibly lovely. If you are a certified diver, you must go to Barkley Sound in British Columbia, as it is home to the most humpback whales. Hornby Rocks is another very memorable local dive. In the mouth of Barkley Sound, guides joke about the next stop is Japan but they are not wrong, this is a very open but shallow spot but the seabed here is covered with brilliant orange anemones, yellow sponge, and fish.
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
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Kingston ranks 5th on the list of the best dive sites in Canada. Kingston, on the northern side of Lake Ontario, is one of Canada's most popular scuba diving destinations. It is also not far from Brockville. The reason this site is preferred above others is that the wrecks are not only considerably more firmly anchored in the water, but they are also well maintained. One such ship that has been maintained is the Katie Eccles. It sunk in 1922, but because of its exceptional preservation, you will be able to see the ship's complete authenticity.
If you are an experienced diver, you will be able to explore the region fast because the water temperature drops swiftly. Throughout the year, the temperature ranges from 3 to 10 degrees Celsius. There's also the wreckage of the Wolfe Islander II, which sunk in 1985. Because the reef was purposefully dropped, you'll have to dive to a depth of 80 feet to access it. The ship is enormous, so you'll have no trouble exploring the entire reef. Come here and enjoy your time in this place!
Location: Ontario, Canada.
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Pointe-au-Père is a large lake located a few hours north of Toronto. It is known for great visibility and at least 25 shallow wrecks. Pointe-au-Père, which is part of the town of Rimouski in the province of Quebec, has shipwreck diving. The town is located where the St. Lawrence River widens and nearby becomes the Gulf of St Lawrence.
There are a number of shipwrecks in the area, including the Empress of Ireland. This ship sunk in 1914 and is doomed as the Titanic of Canada. Indeed, it collided with the Storstad, a Norwegian ship, and sank in less than 15 minutes, killing over 1000 people. Today the wreck sits in 100 feet (30 m) of water. Visitors should go during April, August, and September because this time is suitable for you to scuba dive and see the life under the ocean. You can even see and play with baby turtles in the open sea.
Location: Quebec, Canada
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The Thousand Islands is an area of the St Lawrence River near Lake Ontario. This is another great destination for wreck divers with 25 wrecks in the park. It is also a place for technical divers and cave divers. In fact, there are over 1,800 islands in this portion of the river, which marks the border between the United States and Canada. There are many dive sites in the area including shore dives on both sides of the border. Dive sites requiring boat access can be dived from the Canadian without accessing the US, however, you must clear immigration to do a shore dive on the US shoreline. The Thousand Islands is a very popular summer boating and camping area. You will find many dive shops in Rockport and Brockville.
Visitors who want to scuba dive at The Thousand Islands must make reservations in advance because the island's government only allows 120 people to go into the water every day for the purpose of preserving the coral reef here. Therefore, when traveling to the Thousand Islands, you need a diving permit sold through resorts or tour operators with a daily diving time from 6 am to 4 pm, visitors are not allowed diving permission at night.
Location: Lake Ontario, Canada
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Port Hardy is one of the best dive sites in Canada. This location has sheer cliffs, falling hundreds of feet into pristine BC blue-green waters. Teeming with life, this area is great for those divers interested in seeing wildlife. From giant Pacific octopuses to wolf eels. And don’t forget about the sea lions which call Vancouver Island home. They’re easy to spot and often visit divers to see what they’re up to.
Every year, about one million tourists come Port Hardy to visit, so the coral reef marine ecosystem is very vulnerable. Therefore, the local government has built the entire island into a nature reserve. It is used to protect the natural ecosystem that is already very fragile here. The fish here are not afraid of humans at all. When the seawater washes in, the little fishes swim freely around your feet. Even if you don't use diving equipment, only goggles, and a snorkel, you can also dive into the sea to see the world of coral reefs.
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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Whytecliff Park ranks 9th on the list of the best dive sites in Canada. Located close by Vancouver, making it a great spot to swing by for a shorter dive, after all, if you’re in Vancouver, you can’t spend the entire time underwater. Located on the coastline of Howe Sound, this dive spot has several options at the site to cater to dives for beginners or experts. Giant octopuses are regularly spotted around here so keep an eye out!
Besides, when walking on the white sand beach, visitors can also encounter rare animals that are being preserved such as sea turtles, sea snails, starfish, and terrestrial animals. In particular, the thing that attracts the most tourists is scuba diving and swimming with golden turtles and octopus. etc. It is known that this is a long one-channel diving wall with strong currents flowing through it. Visitors will be able to see coral reefs along the canal bottom and some species such as moray eel, scorpionfish, green turtle, etc. This is an extremely interesting and very safe activity under the enthusiastic guidance of scuba diving experts.
Location: West Vancouver, Canada
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Saltery Bay ranks 10th on the list of the best dive sites in Canada. A popular dive site with easy shore access to some of the best Pacific Northwest diving in Canada. Have your camera ready for the mermaid, and be careful near the wall. This part drops to 60 meters (200 ft) very quickly. Stay safe out there!
Saltery Bay is where you can admire the height and depth of the steep cliffs above the clear and blue sea level. The best time to dive in West Sipadan is in the afternoon when the currents are directed towards the south. People often participate in scuba diving when the weather has a visibility of 40m to clearly see the sea creatures living on the bottom of the Ocean such as lobsters, snapper, hammerhead sharks, and coral sharks. In addition, you will also have the opportunity to see many rare coral species and many species of seahorses in the shallow water. Especially when going to explore the western area, you should go in a group to ensure your own safety.
Location: British Columbia, Canada