Seasonal Highlights: Diving Vancouver Island Year-Round

One of the best things about diving around Vancouver Island is that no two seasons are ever the same. The Pacific Northwest changes dramatically through the year, and so does the marine life you’ll encounter beneath the surface. From migrations to mating seasons, every dive is a chance to witness key moments in the life cycles of our coastal species. Here’s a look at what makes each season unique and how divers can help prepare for and protect these spaces.

Fall - Salmon Runs

As the leaves start to turn, rivers and estuaries come alive with one of the Pacific Northwest’s greatest natural events: the salmon run. Beneath the surface, it’s a front-row seat to the circle of life. Five species of Pacific salmon return from the ocean to spawn, fueling an entire food web. Seals, eagles, bears, and countless scavengers depend on their migration. For divers and snorkelers, it’s a rare chance to be immersed in one of nature’s most powerful spectacles.

💡 Diver Tip: Always bring a buddy if you’re free diving or snorkeling. Many of the best salmon viewing rivers require a hike in, so pack sturdy shoes, warm layers, and drinking water for the trek. Once you’re in the water, give the salmon space and allow them to move naturally around you. Staying calm and observant will reward you with the most incredible encounters, while also ensuring you don’t disturb their important upstream journey.

Best spots: Campbell River, Puntledge, Oyster River

Conditions: Water temperatures average 10–12°C (50–54°F). Visibility is variable (3–10 m / 10–30 ft) due to river activity and plankton, but can clear up nicely after heavy rains settle.

Winter - Dramatic Marine Life, Crisp Visibility

Winter diving around Vancouver Island has a magic all its own. With the colder water comes incredible visibility- often the clearest of the year, which makes encounters with iconic giants like wolf eels and giant Pacific octopus even more unforgettable. These species can be seen year-round, but in winter the crisp clarity gives divers a chance to truly appreciate their scale and behaviour up close.

It’s also the season for some of the most dramatic marine life spectacles. Steller sea lions gather in impressive numbers, buzzing divers with their playful curiosity, while lingcod can be found fiercely guarding their nests, a fascinating behaviour unique to this time of year. For those who don’t mind the chill, winter diving offers a front-row seat to some of the richest encounters the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

💡 Diver Tip: Winter diving is all about preparation. A drysuit with proper underlayers will keep you comfortable, and bringing a thermos of something hot between dives makes a world of difference. Don’t forget a good pair of gloves and a hood, they’re essential for enjoying those long winter dives!

Best spots: Campbell River, Parksville, Nanoose, Comox, Port Hardy and surrounding areas

Conditions: Water temperatures drop to their coldest at 7–9°C (44–48°F). Visibility is often the best of the year, averaging 10–20 m (30–65 ft) on calm days.

Spring - Herring Spawn, Sea Lions

Early spring, especially March, marks one of the most spectacular events on the coast: the herring spawn. Millions of herring return to shallow waters to lay their eggs, turning the ocean into a frenzy of life. This massive event draws in whales, orcas, seabirds, and, of course, huge numbers of Steller and California sea lions.

For divers, the weeks leading up to the spawn are the sweet spot. Sea lions are at their most energetic and playful, darting around in groups, tugging at fins, and performing acrobatic spins. Once the spawn begins, however, the water quickly turns milky with eggs, and visibility drops dramatically, so timing is everything if you want to experience these interactions in clear water.

💡 Diver Tip: If you’re hoping to see sea lions at their peak, aim to book charters just before the spawn kicks off. Seeing sealions can be one of the most exhilarating cold-water dive experiences in the world.

Best spots: Hornby Island, Campbell River, Comox / surrounding areas

Conditions: Water temperatures begin to climb, averaging 9–11°C (48–52°F). Visibility can be 6–12 m (20–40 ft), but may fluctuate with spring plankton blooms and herring spawn.

Summer- Kelp Forests

Early summer (Late May to mid-July) is the best time to experience Vancouver Island’s bull kelp forests at their peak. By midsummer, they have grown into towering underwater canopies, creating one of the most dramatic dive environments in the Pacific Northwest. Sunlight filters through the blades in golden shafts, turning each dive into a beautiful experience.

These forests provide critical habitat for rockfish, perch, nudibranchs, and countless invertebrates, making them a hub of biodiversity. By late July and August, the kelp naturally begins to age and thin, so while there’s still plenty of life, the earlier season offers the most lush and photogenic conditions for divers and underwater photographers.

💡 Diver Tip: Kelp thrives in surge and current, so plan dives around slack to make navigation easier. Always carry a dive knife or line cutter in case you get tangled, and don’t forget a wide-angle lens or GoPro, this is one of the most visually spectacular dive settings you’ll ever encounter.

Best spots: Campbell River, Barkley Sound, Port Hardy and surrounding areas

Conditions: Water warms slightly, averaging 11–14°C (52–57°F). Visibility is 5–10 m (15–30 ft), often reduced by rich plankton blooms that also fuel the kelp’s growth.

Diving Year-Round

No matter the season, Vancouver Island has something unforgettable to offer beneath the surface. Winter brings crisp visibility and close encounters with giants like octopus. Spring explodes with the energy of the herring spawn, filling the water with sea lions, whales, and seabirds. Summer reveals vibrant kelp forests teeming with life, while fall carries the raw power of salmon migrations and the predators they attract.

Every dive is a chance to witness a different chapter of the coast’s story,  a living reminder of how interconnected and resilient these marine ecosystems are.

At Pacific Pro Dive, we believe that by exploring responsibly, we can both enjoy and protect these waters. Whether you’re joining us for a charter, taking your next certification, or getting in for a guided dive, every season offers something extraordinary.

Note: The spots we’ve highlighted here are focused on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, where Pacific Pro Dive is based and operates. The south island also has incredible diving opportunities, and adventurous divers may find seasonal highlights worth exploring there too.

We’re always keen to answer any questions you might have, and we’d love to hear from you about your own seasonal diving experiences. Feel free to reach out - we’re happy to point you toward dive opportunities all around Vancouver Island.

Contact us at _info@pacificprodive.com or call 250-338-6829

Images by Maxwel Hohn