Shore Diving Maps - Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Vancouver Island is home to some of the best diving in the world! Stop in store to pick up a map, chat with our staff about each site, and to grab any rentals or purchases you may need.
Argonaut Wharf (click to download PDF)
'Argo' is a must see dive site located in Campbell River. A great place to see octopus, painted anemones, sculpins, nudibranchs, red Irish lords, ling cod, kelp greenlings and rockfish. It has parking for a half a dozen cars, with a short distance to water. A popular shore diving site, and for good reason - the pillars of this wharf are covered in life. The vertical structures have become an artificial reef, offering an interesting dive from 45 feet to just below the surface. Argonaut Wharf is well known by local divers, and if it’s your first time at the site, we’d recommend buddying up with a local as the site is known to have challenging currents if not timed correctly.
Dolphin (click to download PDF)
This a great shore dive site from newly certified to well seasoned advanced level divers Dolphin has parking for up to two cars. Tyee Cove is a short drive away and has a portable toilet, changing room, and picnic table. Water access is easy with one entry and exit point. High tide is recommended for an easier entry. Descend at any point and follow the gradient to the right. Divers usually turn around and head back to the same entry/exit point. Check all the boulders and rocks for octopus.
Madrona (click to download PDF)
Madrona is one of our favourite shore dives on Vancouver Island. It is one of the best dive sites to see giant pacific octopus and wolf eels. The dive site is located at the end of Madrona Drive with a 70m walk to the water. Entry can be very slippery on low tide and it has two possible entry points. There are three walls here to explore, the Main Wall being the largest and deepest (60ft plus). All three walls can be done in one dive with appropriate gas planning. Most divers will explore the Main Wall as the first dive, and the Mid Wall and Small Wall together as their second.
Oak Leaf (click to download PDF)
Oak Leaf has become one of the most popular shore dive sites in Nanoose Bay. It's located in a beautiful community park called Es- hw Sme~nts (meaning seal rock). Gear up in the parking lot then walk the 150 meter path to any of the three dive sites. Divers can explore three sites that all link up to form one large site. If the wind is coming from the east or west, the opposite side can often be dived, making this a very versatile site. The right wall can be a challenge with surge or currents. If conditions allow, starting on the right, divers can explore the large wall, before making their way left and shallowing up with boulders, surfacing in the left bay.
Singing Sands (click to download PDF)
This is our go-to local dive site in Comox. Located only a few minutes south of the Powell River ferry terminal, at the end of Singing Sand Road, just a ten minute drive from the Pacific Pro Dive store. So there’s no excuses not to check this one out! Parking for a half a dozen cars, and a short 10 meter walk to the water across a pebble beach. This dive must be timed with slack tide, currents are strong here so always take an SMB on your dive, and don’t surface away from the shore. Descend near the beach and head due north until you reach a small yacht at around 70 foot depth. The 30 foot long wreck is the only feature at this dive and can be easy to miss.
Tyee Cove (click to download PDF)
Tyee is one of the most accessible shore dive sites on Vancouver Island. In almost any condition of wind or tide, this is the "go to site" when all others are inaccessible. It is also a great site for training dives. Tyee Cove has parking for half a dozen cars, with a portable toilet, changing room, and picnic table. Easy access to water with a small slope. There is a defined pathway into the water on the far right of the beach, avoiding shallow rocks. There are two dives at this site. Right wall: descend at any point and follow the gradient to the right. Explore the wall at depth, before turning and making your way back shallower. Left wall: a deeper dive that has nice sponges.
