Name: Beach Garden Resort
Rating: 4.0

Sunshine_Coast

Canada

There are two very easy dives at the Beach Garden, one to the left and one to the right of the marina.  These protected entries are perfect for the beginner, and the breakwaters offer an ideal location to check out new gear and have a relaxing dive.

From the ferry terminal at Saltery Bay, the entrance is 26km to the North on 101, just South of Powell River.

Beach Garden Resort

For some spectacular diving in some very clear water, try Octopus City.  The point offers a good chance to see the namesake.  Take a couple of tanks to explore the long coast line out to the point.

From the ferry terminal at Saltery Bay, the entrance is less than 3km to the North on 101.

This dive site is actually the Saltery Bay Boat Launch. Just enter the water, and turn right to explore Octopus City.

Octopus City (Saltery Bay Boat Launch)

Far more boulders and formations than Octo City and far more life.  Really a much nicer dive than Octo city and almost guaranteed a big Octo or two.

This dive site is actually the Saltery Bay Boat Launch. Just enter the water, and turn left (south to about 100' at average tide) to explore Octopus Ghetto.

Octopus Ghetto is also known as Saltery Bay Boat Launch South.

Octopus Suburbs

This is a great Wreck/Wall combo dive ! It will accommodate all divers AOW and above plus Tech/CCR divers will get to play on site that much longer. Tie up to the buoy and follow it down to the plaque that is displayed on the stern of the ship. Follow the ship towards the bow and, if the visibility is good, you should start to make out the wall of Dinner Rock. This is not an artificial reef but an actual vessel that ran aground in 1947.

To get to the wreck of the MV Gulfstream, you will need a boat. It is just south of Lund, B.C. Canada. This dive site is easily accessed on the south side of Dinner Rock and there is a mooring buoy to tie up to. My suggestion would be to go with a charter out of Comox/Courtenay as there are many other sites within reach and can be combined in a multi dive trip.


MV Gulfstream is also known as Dinner Rock wreck.

MV Gulfstream

The Powell River area offers such spectacular diving, and Dinner Rock is no exception.  Basic campground facilities are available, so take a couple of tanks and plan on spending the evening.

Drive 4.5km South of Lund, or 15.5km North of the Powell River bridge, then turn Southwest on Dinner Rock Road.  The preceding roads you'll encounter from Lund are Malaspina, then Dinner Rock.  The preceding roads you'll encounter from Powell River are Wilde, Southview, Gifford, Atrevida, Craig, Emmonds, then Dinner Rock.

Dinner Rock

Enter on the south side of the jetty.  The jetty itself has a lot of small invertebrates and fish, but the most interesting stuff is the two small wrecks located south of the jetty.  The easiest way to find the wrecks is to swim south from the jetty and keep yourself in water ~30' deep.  Both wrecks lie between 30-40', and the slope is steep enough here that following the depth contour will take you straight to both wrecks.  There is little current in the area, but lots of boat traffic.

From Powell River, head north on highway 101 towards Lund.  About 5km before Lund is a turnoff for Okover Provincial Park (Malispina Road).  Turn right (east) onto this road and follow it to the park.  The best diving is by the jetty found just south of the wharf.

Okeover Provincial Park

Brooks Cove is for the more advanced diver.  You'll have quite the swim to get to the prime diving spots, but the effort will be worth it.  With depths to over 100 feet, the water clarity will be spectacular!

At 1.3km North of Halfmoon Bay, turn left onto Brooks Road, and follow the signs to Smuggler Cove.

Brooks Cove (Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park)

This is a 366 feet (111 metres) restigouche-class Destroyer Escort. Sinking date: December 5, 1992. 2900 tons.
Motto: "Fortune smiles on the Brave"
Source: Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia


Kunechin Point, Porpoise Bay, Sechelt.
20 minute boat ride from Sechelt marina.
Mooring bouy above wreck.

HMCS Chaudriere

Are you looking for a good beginning dive?  How about an advanced dive?  Coopers Green has it all in the protection of Halfmoon Bay!  Simple entry into the shallows allows easy exploration of the small island just meters off shore.  Beyond that, the depth drops off rapidly.

About 7km North of Schelt on 101 make a left on Redrooffs Road.  Wind your way about 8.5km to the entrance below.

Coopers Green

 Once at dive site and you have brought your gear down to the water you can suite up and enter facing west. There can be a good exchange, so be aware of the tides and currents for the location and time of day. This is a good place for a first time current dive and also there's lots to see. (Kelp, fish of all kinds, swimming scallops, seals, maybe an otter or two if your very lucky !) Depending on time of year the visibility can be either great or terrible, ask the locals or a dive shop for info. This is a good first time current, kelp, shore type dive for the new divers and those who have been away for a bit. It's all good when you go get wet !!

Quathiaski Cove is the commercial hub and point of arrival for the regular ferry service between Campbell River on Vancouver Island and Quadra Island. To get to the site you will have to travel off the ferry to Green rd then follow left until Pidcock rd. Once on Pidcock follow until Anderson (going north) and then left on to Old Ferry Road. Follow till the end and park. There is a bit of a hike to the water but very doable. 

Quathiaski Cove is also known as Q-Cove, Old Ferry landing.

Quathiaski Cove

There are two walls here. One as you enter the water, and a much deeper wall whose top starts at about 40 feet and descends below 100 feet. For first time divers, the left most path to the water gives a good starting point as it's easy to enter and the depth is about 20' or so. Watch your footing as there is lots of seaweed on the rocks when the tide is out. There is a channel cut into the rock and can make entering easier then jumping from the rock edge. The second wall most western end can be found at roughly 360 degrees magnetic north. Follow the path from the vehicles straight out to the water (roughly north)and enter the water in a shallow channel. You will have a surface swim of about 500' or so, head out at a North East heading (you can see a snow covered peak in the distance - aim for that)and then descend. 

 The two walls have lots of life on them, there are wolf eels on the outer wall and octopus on both. Crab, lingcod, dogfish etc... can also be seen here and at times the seals will visit.
 In the spring,summer the visibility can be tough at times (10' or less)but usually at depth it improves.  Winter is the best but we have had awsome vis (80' plus)in June. It just depends on the plankton bloom.



Follow the Island Hwy north towards Parksville, at Nanoose Bay you will come across Northwest Bay Road at the set of traffic lights. Make a right on to it. Follow Northwest Bay Rd for a few kilometers, and make a right onto Arbutus Drive, then a left onto Madrona Drive and follow it to the end. About a kilometre. The end of Madrona Drive is the parking lot. There is only room for about four cars here. Once your parked, there is a bit of a hike down to the shore. Follow the path and once through the clearing, turn left to go to the shallow wall or go straight (follow the "V" in the rock) to enter for the far wall.

Madrona Point is also known as Madrona Wall.

Madrona Point

This site is pretty shallow ~30 feet tops. Sandy bottom for the most part, many types of crabs and small fish. This was a very easy dive. You could easily do this same dive with a snorkel.

Beach Garden Resort

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Beach Garden Resort