Diving in British Columbia -

Discover What Makes Cold Water Diving in British Columbia So Rewarding

Article by Drew Beattie

Jacques Cousteau once said that Vancouver Island has “the best temperate water diving in the world, and second only to the Red Sea.”

So why is it that so many people who live near cold water diving never try it? Whether you’ve logged hundreds of dives or are just getting started, here are five reasons to plan a trip to explore the cold, rich waters around Vancouver Island.

1. Incredible Marine Life

One of the main reasons we dive is for the wildlife. Most divers seek out destinations with variety—not just one or two notable species. It’s no surprise: if you had to choose between a site with manta rays, sharks, turtles, and seahorses versus one with only turtles, the choice is clear.

That’s one of the best parts of diving around Vancouver Island. Our waters are rich and incredibly biodiverse. The Pacific Northwest is home to an amazing range of marine life—from countless species of nudibranchs, crabs, and jellies to octopus, rockfish, anemones, and sponges… the list goes on.

2. Unusual Giants of the Deep

Thanks to this biodiversity, BC has one of the widest ranges of invertebrate life in the world—both tiny and massive. In our colder northern waters, we see a phenomenon called polar gigantism—similar to deep-sea gigantism—where invertebrates grow significantly larger than their warm-water counterparts.

That means we get the largest octopus in the world. Giant Pacific Octopuses (GPOs), known to grow up to 10m/30ft across and 270kg/600lbs, are common sights for those who know how to spot their dens. Visiting divers are often surprised by how frequently we see and interact with these incredible animals. Nudibranchs, jellies, crabs, and squid are equally prolific. I once spoke to an instructor who said he saw three nudibranchs in his entire three years in Grand Cayman—while here, we’ll often see 3–5 different species on a single dive!

2. Unusual Giants of the Deep

Thanks to this biodiversity, BC has one of the widest ranges of invertebrate life in the world—both tiny and massive. In our colder northern waters, we see a phenomenon called polar gigantism—similar to deep-sea gigantism—where invertebrates grow significantly larger than their warm-water counterparts.

That means we get the largest octopus in the world. Giant Pacific Octopuses (GPOs), known to grow up to 10m/30ft across and 270kg/600lbs, are common sights for those who know how to spot their dens. Visiting divers are often surprised by how frequently we see and interact with these incredible animals. Nudibranchs, jellies, crabs, and squid are equally prolific. I once spoke to an instructor who said he saw three nudibranchs in his entire three years in Grand Cayman—while here, we’ll often see 3–5 different species on a single dive!

3. The Challenge is Part of the Reward

Diving in BC can feel like a big shift for those used to warmer climates. First of all, it’s cold. To stay warm, we use drysuits with thermal underlayers—or very thick wetsuits. To compensate for the extra insulation, we carry more weight. Visibility is often lower than in the tropics.

There are a few equipment adjustments needed for cold water diving, but these are mostly minor. This is drysuit country—which is a different style of diving, but it comes with incredible payoffs.

Diving, like life, is about balance. The effort it takes to prepare and dive in cold water makes the experience more rewarding. Many of us find that part of what makes cold water diving special is how much goes into it—and what we get out of it. Simply put, greater challenge can yield greater reward.

4. Expand Your Diving World

Just as snow-capped mountains and palm-lined beaches are totally different environments, so are tropical and cold-water dive sites. These are places of incredible natural beauty: dramatic fjords, forested coastlines, and snowy beaches in the winter months. By only diving in warm-water destinations, you’re cutting your potential dive experiences in half!

Cold-water diving—especially in the Pacific Northwest—offers encounters you won’t find anywhere else. We regularly dive with Steller sea lions during the annual herring spawn. We’ve also discovered Glass Sponge Bioherms, ancient reef structures once thought extinct. The underwater world here is as mesmerizing as any tropical reef—but in an entirely unique and awe-inspiring way.

5. Build a Community at Home

For many traveling divers, the one thing missing is a strong local dive community. If you live near the coast in the U.S. or Canada and haven’t tried diving locally, now is the time.

Yes, there are challenges, but there’s also a welcoming community ready to help you get started. You’ll get to know the dive professionals at your local shop, meet dive buddies, and form lasting friendships. These are the people you’ll do night dives with after work or plan weekend dive trips with—no flights required. So many divers have amazing dive sites right in their own backyard and don’t even realize it.

Even if it’s just once, trying cold water diving could positively impact your diving life for years to come.

Start Your Cold Water Journey

If all of that wasn’t enough to convince you, remember this: by embracing cold-water diving, you dramatically expand the diving you can do around the world. One of the best places to start is Vancouver Island, British Columbia. We have some of the most diverse and abundant cold-water diving on the planet—and it’s only getting better.

So take the plunge. Embrace a little cold. And join a dive community that welcomes anyone ready to give it a try.

Local Dive Centers

The first step in joining any community is finding one of the pillars that help support it. In this case your first step is usually stopping by one of the local dive centers to take a course, join a dive trip, or get some advice about local diving. In Vancouver, we have several Dive Centers you can choose from!

Diving Sports Canada offers the widest range for all divers. Anything from Intro to Scuba, PFI Freediving, TDI courses and organized dive trips. Ocean Quest Dive Center is well known for their technical diving training in the Vancouver area and have been training divers for many years. Nanaimo Dive Outfitters is an excellent option on Vancouver Island itself for training and charter dives. Sea Dragon Charters, Dive & Sea Sports and Dive Safe International also offer a wide range of diving options.