Scuba Dive
Vancouver Island, British Columbia,
Canada
The Pacific Ocean surrounding Vancouver Island on the west coast of British Columbia is home to some of
the best underwater marine environments in the world to explore.
There are over 6000 islands surrounding Vancouver Island providing many coastlines and underwater reefs for divers to explore. There are many sunken ships and planes, referred to as artificial reefs, located a short distance off the coast of Vancouver Island for divers to discover.
Marine life is colourful and unique on the west coast. There are wolf eels, seals, sea lions, sea cucumbers, salmon, halibut, jelly
fish and crabs. Some of the marine life is very specific to the region like the Giant Pacific Octopus, Killer Whales and the Six-Gill Shark. And then there are the kelp, sea anemones and sponges adding colour to the ocean floor.
Jacques
Cousteau once said that the oceans off the coast of British Columbia
were … "the best temperate water diving in the world and
second only to the Red Sea". Choice Awards have consistently ranked British Columbia
as "the best place to dive in North America!"
Dive shops operate in many of the coastal communities especially in the communities were there are artificial reefs and scuba resorts nearby. The dive shops provide advice on good dive locations, equipment rentals and lessons.
Along the coastline of Vancouver Island and on some of the few islands just off the coast of Vancouver Island are scuba diving resorts and retreats. These resorts provide accommodations, meals and transportation to dive sites.
The artificial reefs off the coast of Vancouver Island attracts many scuba divers to the area. The first artificial reef was the 53 metre (175 feet) coastal
freighter G.B. Church from England. The Church was sunk in August of 1991 near Sidney,
British Columbia, Canada.
The Restigouche-class Destroyer Escort was the next artificial
reef. The 111 metre (366 feet) vessel was stripped
and sunk in December of 1992 off of Kunechin Point near Porpoise
Bay in Sechelt which is part of the Sunshine Coast region.
Next was the 111 metre (366 foot) Mackenzie-class Destroyer Escort. It was sunk off of Gooch Island
near Sidney BC in September of 1995. A year later, the Restigouche-class
Destroyer Escort was sunk off the shores of Maude Island near Campbell
River in June of 1996.
In June of 1997 the
Mackenzie-class Destroyer Escort was sunk off the shores of Snake Island
near Nanaimo. There
was a lapse in sinking activity for some years until in October
2001 the 134 metre (440 feet) World War II Victory Ship was sunk
off of Snake Island - making it two ships near Snake Island.
In January 14th, 2006 the Xihwu (pronounced key'
quot) was sunk off the coast of Chemainus BC. Instead of a boat, this time it was a Boeing 737 airplane. "Xihwu" is the Hul'qumi'num
First Nation people's name for Red Sea Urchin.
Scuba
Diving