SCUBA DIVING IN CANADA: best of cold water dives. Divers’ Reviews

Canada offers plenty of scuba diving opportunities and rich diversity. Gear up for the cold water and explore the amazing dive sites in Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Quebec. Keep in mind that springtime brings algae blooms, so for better visibility consider the late summer months through autumn. British Columbia has dive sites considered the best cold water dives in the world.

VANCOUVER ISLAND, ENTHUSIASTIC DIVING COMMUNITY

Vancouver Island has popular dive sites where you can spot whales and seals as well as do some wreck diving. Many of the dive sites can be accessed from Nanaimo Vancouver, so consider basing yourself there. Vancouver Island is said to be the best cold water diving on earth. A liveaboard option is recommended to explore the island.

Harbor seals and Steller sea lions are often seen in the dives from Nanaimo. Browning Wall is an outstanding dive site, you can arrange a boat from Port Hardy; every inch of the wall is populated by invertebrate life. Nutrient-rich waters move in through the Queen Charlotte Strait from the North, and in the narrow Browning Pass this translates to plenty of marine life, including mammals. Jesse Island, north of Nanaimo, is an easy and safe dive area, popular for photography.  Fulford Reef is a dive site recommended for all level divers.

ONTARIO, FRESH WATER LAKE DIVES

Ontario and the Great Lakes not only offer beautiful landscapes but very well preserved shipwrecks, as a result of cold, fresh water. Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario and Lake Superior have a good variety of dive sites and form the largest group of fresh water lakes in the planet.

The James C. King wreck in Lake Huron, near Russell Island, is a Schooner Barge that. It is one of the best dive sites in Ontario; the wreck is in very good condition. The Power House, a Marine Historic Site, is recommended for experienced divers. Prepare yourself for currents in the descent and ascent, bring a flash light, and you are in for a fantastic dive.

All diving in Ontario is lake diving, but it´s a great place to visit, full of natural wonders. The Niagara Escarpment is a popular hiking trail and has been designated as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve because of its ecological significance. Visit the famous Niagara Falls and the Wine Route, extremely scenic and with world class wines

NOVA SCOTIA, WIDE VARIETY OS SCUBA DIVING OPTIONS

Nova Scotia has over 30 great dive sites from ice diving to drift diving, amazing wrecks and fresh water diving. Halifax is a point of access to most dive sites so consider staying there. Birchy Head is a great challenging site in Peggy´s Cove, dive 60 ft. under and there is a lot of wildlife in the benthic zone especially. The wreck of the Englishtown is another excellent site, a shore dive for OW divers and where seals can be found.

The wreck dive sites in Cape Breton are a must-see, some wrecks are from the 18^th century. HMC Cape Breton is a great artificial reef with a significant amount of marine life.

Fox Point Beach is a good dive site for divers of all levels and a nice beach to picnic, sea perch and flounder can be found. The best time to visit this dive site is in the late afternoon since aquatic plant life blooms and there is much more fish activity. The Costa Rican Trader, sank in 1967, has 40 years of marine life growth and is a fantastic dive site if you enjoy wreck diving.

QUEBEC, 17^th & 18^th CENTURY WRECKS

Spring is the best time to dive in Quebec. The St. Lawrence seabed is very rich and diverse. Parc National de Forillon was the first National Park in Quebec; it includes forest, coast, salt marshes and cliffs. It´s a great place for diving with a good variety of dive sites for all level divers. Grande-Grave stands out as one of the best sites and it is also good for snorkeling. The Lower North Shore is an incredible journey, and you can visit Innu villages.

The Germanicus wreck sank in 1919 near Biquette Island is an excellent dive site. It has the wreck of the Blehem right underneath; it’s a wreck from 1878. This site is for experienced divers only due to strong currents. To see both wrecks, prepare for a deep dive and make 2 dives. Be respectful of wildlife. Close by you can dive to the RMS Empress of Ireland, the third largest shipwreck tragedy after the Titanic and Lusitania.

Quebec has charming old buildings and coble stone streets that resemble Europe. The Old City (Vieux-Quebec) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

DIVE OPERATORS LISTED IN CANADA

Einstein Scuba