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Broken Islands - A spell-binding collection of mountain islands sunken in the Pacific Ocean with hundreds of rocky outcroppings located on the west coast of North America. It is such an important ecological reserve that the Broken Islands Group is one of the three sections that make up the heralded Pacific Rim National Park.

The untouched west coast islands has very primitive anchorage opportunities for marine Boaters. The scenery is amazing, but comes at a cost as there are no luxury moorage opportunities when cruising the inner and outer Broken Islands as there are no buoys, docks or services located in this boating paradise.

Exploring the Broken Islands Group , boaters, must rely on their navigation skills, chart reading and weather forecasts when cruising the many coves and bays of the islands.

The inner islands offer, by far, more protected moorage from the ocean swells and winds. The farther inwards into the maze of islands the more protection boaters enjoy. The inner Broken Islands is a green family of beautiful, picturesque islands with many sheltered coves and relatively calmer ocean channels.

The Broken Islands consists of smaller groupings of islands like Sechart, which is part of the Pinkerton Islands. Here the waters are shallow with a mud bottom. Just west of the Pinkerton Islands is Equis Beach which is a popular anchorage area, although it is exposed to the westerly winds.

Hand Island is a beauty with three beaches and is a very popular destination drawing many boaters, especially to the northeast side where the depths of the ocean reaches only 12 -30 feet and anchorage is possible , yet boaters are still exposed to the northerly winds.

Brabant Islands is south of Hand Island and consists of five smaller islands with some anchorage opportunities, but southeasterly winds can make the area a challenge for overnight anchorage.

One of the more popular anchorage destinations is off the shores of Nettle Island on the southeast side in a protected cove. But, because of the popularity of the cove, the cove is sometimes occupied. If this is the case proceed a few hundred feet ahead and another protected cove appears. Both of these sheltered boating anchorage hide-a-ways offer good protection from the winds and surging ocean swells.

Javis Lagoon is by far the most protected anchorage destination but it is not as easily navigated as others. There are protruding shoals to avoid, which is not any easier because of the cloudy water created by the eel grass. The entrance is tricky but worth it as the lagoon is completely protected and boosts the warmest waters of the islands.

Turtle Bay is another all weather anchorage area with some strong currents but no ocean swell build up and boaters can weather almost any storm here too.

The Broken Islands Group beaches and shorelines have plenty of intertidal life to explore after a day of boating. There are many beach access points with caves to discover that have been created by years of battering ocean waves and funneling winds from the unforgiving Pacific storms.

Boaters who venture out into the outer Broken Islands should expect rough boating conditions with strong sea swells, at times gale force winds and varying tidal currents. It is always important to plan for the unexpected when boating the open waters away from the protection of the inner Broken Islands.

The communities of Tofino, Ucluelet, Port Alberni and Bamfield are the launching points to the Broken Islands. Be prepared with maps of the islands for navigation and be aware that the drinking water is scarce and far between during the dry seasons.