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Powell River and Area Dive Sites
This page will be updated and added to on a regular basis. Keep checking back. For detailed directions to these sights, drop into the store. We have dive site maps for some of these locations as well.
If you know of any good local dive sites not listed, let us know and we will check it out and add it.
Saltery Bay Area Shore Dives
Mermaid Cove
Location: Saltery Bay Provincial Park
Experience Level: Beginner to Expert.
Summary: This is one of the more popular dive sites in the area. There is shallow diving and snorkeling available right in the cove for newer divers. More experienced divers may want to see the Emerald Princess, a 3 metre tall bronze statue of a mermaid at a depth of 18 metres (60 feet). Advanced divers call descend down the wall behind the statue to depths of 66 metres (200 feet) or more. This sight boasts large ling cod, rockfish, huge plumose anemones, giant swimming nudibranchs, and occasional octopus. Chimney sponges, and cloud sponge can be found deeper down the wall.
Amenities: Change rooms, outhouse and fresh water showers. Wheelchair accessible to the waterline (at higher tides)
Hazards: Extreme depth, careless boaters, watch for current, and in the summer months, Lions Mane Jellyfish.
Octopus City
Location: Saltery Bay Provincial Park Picnic Area
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced
Summary: A scattering of boulders located on an otherwise flat sandy bottom at a depth of 18 metres (60 feet), this site is home to octopus, rockfish, ling cod, cabezon, ratfish, nudibranchs, red urchins and one large chimney sponge. Look under the rocks to catch glimpses of octopus. During night dives, they may come to investigate you.
Amenities: Outhouse, picnic tables, parking lot.
Hazards: Heavy boat traffic. This is where the boat launch is in Saltery Bay. Tow a float or flag to warn boaters.
Powell River Area Shore Dives
Beach Gardens Marina
Location: Beach Gardens Resort –south side of southernmost marina breakwater.
Experience Level: Beginner
Summary: Best done at higher tides. Follow the breakwater out to the end and enjoy all the sea life that lives among the rocks. Sea perch, rockfish, starfish, jellyfish, and occasionally octopus. This is a great night dive spot. Depths to 30 feet.
Amenities: Dirt parking lot by beach.
Hazards: Dive on the slack or beware of strong currents at the end of the breakwater. Also watch for boat traffic when near the end of the breakwater. Use a dive flag or float.
Grief Point
Location: Grief Point Park at the end of Malaspina Ave.
Experience: Advanced
Summary: Although this is a relatively easy dive, it is easy to get caught in the current if not done on slack tide. About 50 metres straight out from the storm gutter outfall on the beach, there is an old outfall pipe. Fish congregate around the pipe and octopus use it for shelter as well. This pipe goes down to a depth of 25 metres (75 feet). Another great close to town night dive.
Amenities: Limited parking.
Hazards: Current, boat traffic.
Wreck of the Malahat
Location: Seconds Beach Breakwater (by the Mill) in Townsite.
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced.
Summary: Great wreck of an old wooden hulled 5 masted schooner with an interesting history. Although not recognizable as a ship, this site still has some of the wooden ribs and some steel water or fuel tanks left. This wreck site is covered with sea life. Ling cod, rockfish, plumose anemones, sea cucumbers, sunflower starfish. Do this site in late November until February and you have a good chance of having a Sea Lion encounter!!
Amenities: Limited parking. Nice beach.
Hazards: Current, boat traffic, sea lions(only when aggravated)
Gibsons Beach
Location: North of town off of Hwy 101, just past Wildwood.
Experience Level: Beginner
Summary: Relatively shallow (<30 feet). Home to starfish, sea cucumbers, anemones, and crabs. Nice night dive spot.
Amenities: Parking, boat launch, fire pits, and outhouse.
Hazards: Watch for current and boat traffic. Dive flag or float is recommended.
Lund Area Shore Dives
Emmonds Beach
Location: Off of Hwy 101, at the end of Emmonds Road.
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced
Summary: Great shore dive. Surface swim out to Magoo Rock and start your dive there. (It may not be visible at high tide) This dive is best done on low slack tide. You will see lots of fish. Sea perch, rockfish, green and red urchins, sea cucumbers, starfish, octopus and if you go deep on the south side, chimney sponges. You may encounter some kelp beds as well during the summer.
Amenities: Limited Parking at end of Emmonds Road. (max.2 vehicles)
Hazards: Current and boat traffic.
Okeover Breakwater
Location: Okeover marina breakwater, located at the end of Malaspina Road.
Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced
Summary: One of the best shore dives in the area. Dive on the outside of the stone breakwater. Bottom is a gentle slope that keeps going down. Swim along the rocks and look at all the life. BIG rockfish, quillbacks, tigers and the occasional yelloweye(red snapper). Wolf eels, huge sunflower stars, brittle stars, nudibranchs, perch, sea cucumbers, lots of crabs like Dungeness, rock crabs, kelp craps, hermit crabs. Giant plumose anemones. Great night dive, deep dive, photo dive, etc. There is a small wreck located nearby as well that is teeming with life. This is a great spot when the weather on the coast gets too snotty to dive.
Amenities: Limited parking. Laughing Oyster restaurant located nearby. Outhouses at the Provincial park. Boat launch. Easy entry and exit point.
Hazards: As this site is located close to a marina watch for boat traffic. Use a dive flag or float. Poor cell phone reception in the area, however there is a pay phone at the government wharf.
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