Type:
Boat wreck dive
Above water:
The wreck is marked but 3 yellow marker buoys at the bow, amidships and the stern
Underwater:
Located in Sechelt Inlet off Kunichin Point this is an excellent
dive for all avid wreck divers. Laying on it's
side means this is a deep dive with the stern at 55fsw and bow at
105fsw depending on tides. Access holes have been cut into the hull
and super structure to allow access to the three diveable decks.
This 366ft vessel offers many areas for exploration and interior
penetration to those qualified. Glassy tunicates are everywhere on
this wreck, initially appearing in the first 6 months of being
underwater, and this has only attracted more marine life.
The Chaudiere is a destroyer escort built during the post wars years
along with a number of other vessels of this class. Visibility in
this area usually averages 30-50ft and has been known to exceed 100ft.
This wreck is only accessible by boat.
Warnings:
This is a wreck dive and only qualified divers should attempt penetration dives. Also depth can be a factor here.
View a contour drawing of the Chaudiere as she is today.
This review and drawing provided by Bernie Kyle ....
Bernie_Kyle@mindlink.bc.ca
Type:
Shore dive.
Location:
Take the ferry to Langdale then drive to Sechelt and on past Porpoise Bay
provincial park to the end of the road.
Above Water:
No facilities, in this small community and very limited parking. If its
full move on.
Underwater:
A very sheltered dive with no current considerations. There is an island
within snorkeling distance so you can try diving around that. Lots of
fish life and great invertebrates. Look for octopus and wolfeels. A good
spot for giant swimming nudibranch (dendronodus iris). No need to go
below 60 feet but you can if you want.
Warnings:
Not much, just watch out for boats in the summer.
Type:
Shore dive.
Location:
North of Sechelt on Red Rooffs Road.
Above Water:
Cooper's Green is a regional park so there are washrooms, picnic tables, a
concession and a boat launch.
Underwater:
There is a small island just off shore and that is the dive. It's a bit
short but a good second dive. The back of the island has along horizontal
crevice that hides tiger rockfish and a pair of wolfeels. On my last dive there I came upon a big skate in the shallows. A very easy dive.
Warnings:
Watch out for boats and STAY AWAY from the approach to the boat launch.
Very occasionally log booms are moored on the back side of the island
making it an overhead environment.
Type:
Shore dive.
Location:
North of Sechelt to Francis Peninsula Road then turn left and carry on to
a fire hydrant by Kieth Road. Park by but NOT in front of the hydrant. A
small path has been cleared to the bay below.
Above Water:
Just the side of the road. Be considerate of local residents.
Underwater:
A great dive IMHO. Go along the right side of the bay, around the point
bottoms out at about 110 feet. A great spot to see big Boot sponges.
There are also octopus, tiger rockfish, wolfeels and a good selection of
invertebrates. Schools of fish are all over. Look in the boot sponges to see what is hiding in them, also check ot the boulder fields for wolfeels and octopus. On one dive at the bottom of the wall I saw an octopus, tiger rockfish, ratfish and dogfish in about a one minute time span.
Warnings:
Don't fall on the path to the water but that's about it.
Type:
Shore dive.
Location:
Located in Mermaid Cove provincial park about a mile from the ferry terminal.
Above Water:
A Provincial Park with camp sites, pit toilets and running water. The dive site is wheelchair accessible and there is an outdoor gear rinse area.
Underwater:
This site is called Mermaid Cove because of the 9 foot bronze mermaid statue that resides at 50 feet. The general location of the mermaid is marked by a surface
buoy which is moored about 50 feet from the mermaid. I've often found a octopus under the mermaid. The mermaid is not the only thing to see here, the shoreline to the left of the mermaid is a great little wall. It's crevices hide octopus and red brotula, herds of prawns come up from the deep at night. If you
descend on the wall behind the mermaid to the right you will be treated with a great if deep (140 + feet). The wall abounds with invertebrates, galithide crabs, decorator crabs and sponge.
Warnings:
Not many, watch your depth.
Type:
Shore dive.
Location:
About a mile past the Mermaid Cove camp ground at Mermaid Cove picnic site.
Above Water:
A picnic site with all the usual picnic stuff plus a boat launch. Follow a path to the right of the boat launch till you find a old wooden dive flag on a tree, enter here.
Underwater:
Look around at the entry point until you find a 1 inch cable running on the bottom. Follow this cable out and you will come to a cluster of boulders. Look under the boulders. I have always found at least 3 octopus here and sometimes as many as 6. Several times I have also found female Octopus on eggs at this site. If you angle slightly to your right as you return to shore you should pass the wreck of a small (20-25 foot) sailboat which is also home to an Octopus or two. In addition to Octopus I have seen ratfish, dogfish, seals and lots of invertebrates. I've had good luck finding various types of nudibranchs here. A nice easy dive.
Warnings:
In the summer there is a lot of boat traffic, stay away from the launch and do not surface in deep water, instead follow the bottom in to shore.
Type:
Shore dive.
Location:
Just past Beach Gardens Resort turn left down to the water and park in a dead end by a small playground.
Above Water:
A playground and parking, but that's all (no Washrooms). Check the cobblestone beach for the remains of a corrugated pipe that runs out to sea.
Underwater:
Follow the old corrugated pipe out, as you go it branches off the main, check these old decayed pipes for octopus. As you get deeper rockfish start to appear. The pipe ends in a concrete distribution box at about 80 feet, the first dive I did here there was a BIG octopus sitting in this box. As you swim back in angle to the right and you will go through a patch of boulders that hide many interesting things. I've seen cockerel's dorids here and hooded nudibranchs.
Warnings:
There can be some current here but I've only encountered it once.
Don't trip on the way in.
Type:
Boat
Location:
Near the High voltage power lines that cross the channel.
Above Water:
Not much to mark the site other than the power lines
Underwater:
The reason you dive here is that you can see two species of gorgonian corals. The first you will
encounter is a small bright red one below 60 feet. The second is an immense orange one that can be over three feet tall and almost as wide starting below 140 feet. On the way down you will see huge cloud sponges, 3, 4 even 5 feet across. There is a good
representation of other B.C. marine life here but the reason people come is the corals.
Warnings:
DEPTH, you had better be COMFORTABLE diving below 140 feet if you want to see the corals.
