NANAIMO WRECK TREK
Artificial Reef Diving On Vancouver Island
Nanaimo is home to some of the best wreck diving in British Columbia, with multiple purpose-sunk artificial reefs offering dramatic steel structure, marine life, photogenic swim-throughs, and unforgettable cold-water diving experiences.
UB Diving's Nanaimo Wreck Trek is designed for divers who want fast boat access to legendary wrecks, professional cold-water operations, and serious Vancouver Island diving without the chaos and crowding often associated with large charter operations.
Steel, history, marine life, and real Pacific Northwest wreck diving.
Why Dive Nanaimo With UB Diving
Professional Operations
Cold-water diving operations built around real Vancouver Island marine experience.
Fast Dive Boat Access
Efficient charter logistics and direct access to Nanaimo's legendary artificial reefs.
Iconic Wrecks
Dive HMCS Saskatchewan, HMCS Cape Breton, and RivTow Lion with experienced local operators.
Cold-Water Expertise
Real British Columbia cold-water diving support, not tropical resort diving adapted poorly to the Pacific Northwest.
Underwater Photography
Excellent marine life, structure, lighting, and wide-angle opportunities for photographers and videographers.
Simple Pricing
$165 per person per day with clean straightforward charter pricing.
The Wrecks We Dive
HMCS Saskatchewan
Originally commissioned in 1963, HMCS Saskatchewan was intentionally sunk near Snake Island in 1997 to create one of British Columbia's most iconic artificial reefs.
- Depth: Approximately 80–130 feet
- Massive upright wreck profile
- Heavy marine growth
- Rockfish, lingcod, plumose anemones, and nudibranchs
- Excellent exterior exploration and photography
HMCS Cape Breton
Originally built in 1944 at Burrard Dry Dock in North Vancouver, HMCS Cape Breton was intentionally sunk in Nanaimo in 2001 and remains one of the largest artificial reefs in the Pacific Northwest.
- Deck around 60–65 feet
- Bottom near 140 feet
- Towering multi-level steel structure
- Massive scale and dramatic relief
- One of the most impressive wreck profiles on the coast
RivTow Lion
This retired deep-sea rescue tug was sunk in 2005 by the Nanaimo Dive Association to create an accessible and marine-life-rich artificial reef.
- Starts around 50 feet
- Bottom approximately 80–90 feet
- Excellent marine life density
- Plumose anemones and tunicates
- Ideal for photographers and recreational wreck divers
What Makes Nanaimo Wreck Diving Special
Very few locations in Canada offer such a concentrated collection of purpose-sunk artificial reefs accessible within practical day-charter range.
The combination of military history, massive steel structure, cold-water marine biodiversity, and Vancouver Island coastal scenery makes Nanaimo one of the most respected wreck diving destinations in British Columbia.
These wrecks are living artificial reefs covered in marine growth and surrounded by schools of rockfish, lingcod, plumose anemones, nudibranchs, and Pacific Northwest marine life.
This is real cold-water wreck diving.
Who This Trip Is For
Experienced Recreational Divers
Advanced Cold-Water Divers
Underwater Photographers
Artificial Reef Enthusiasts
Visiting Vancouver Island Divers
Divers Seeking Iconic BC Wrecks
Book Your Nanaimo Wreck Trek
Professional wreck diving charters, cold-water operations, Vancouver Island expedition diving, and access to British Columbia's most famous artificial reefs.