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Port Hardy Dive Trips

Book your spot for Spring/Fall 2025 here!

Diving in Port Hardy, BC, is a truly enchanting experience, offering a glimpse into a vibrant underwater world teeming with life. The area is renowned for its crystal-clear waters, allowing divers to marvel at the kaleidoscope of colors displayed by the abundant marine life, from the playful sea lions and majestic orcas to the intricate corals and sponges that decorate the ocean floor. The unique geography of the region, with its dramatic drop-offs and mysterious caverns, provides a stunning backdrop for underwater exploration. Moreover, the nutrient-rich waters of the Pacific Ocean support a diverse ecosystem, making every dive an opportunity to encounter something extraordinary, whether it be a rare nudibranch or a school of shimmering fish. The sense of tranquility and connection to nature one feels while diving in Port Hardy is unparalleled, making it a must-visit destination for diving enthusiasts from around the world.

 

Seven Tree Island

Browning Wall

 

Browning Rocks

Browning Wall

 

Pricing & Details
 

  • 2-3 dives per day (tide and weather dependent)
  • $744 per person for 3 days , weights by request, air, 80 cu ft YOKE aluminum tanks
  • You are responsible for your accommodations and food ( we have some recomendations below!)
  • Equipment rental separate
  • Maximum of 8 divers (DM for an extra charge)
  • The boat has a diver elevator, and an on-board head
  • If you are diving in a drysuit, we recommend around 15+ drysuit dives before diving in port hardy due to the challenging conditions.

 

 

 

Accommodations
 

You are responsible for arranging your own accommodations in Port Hardy. There is a decent variety you can choose from, including:

Getting There
 

  • Port Hardy is located on the North end of Vancouver Island
  • Driving times:
    • Campbell river: 2.5 hrs
    • Courtenay: 3.5 hours:
    • Nanaimo: 4 hours
    • Victoria: 5.5 hours
  • Coming from the mainland, the best route is to take a ferry to Nanaimo and drive up
  • You can fly in to Comox, Nanaimo, Victoria, Campbell River, or Port Hardy itself

 

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?
 

Depending on the tides and the weather, we will leave the dock around 8-10 am. After a 30-40 minute boat ride out to Browning Passage, we'll get ready for our first dive. Depending on the tides, this may be during slack on an exposed site, or off-slack in a sheltered area. More info on dive sites below.

The day will consist of 2 or 3 dives, each up to 60 minutes long, with at least 1 hour on the boat in between dives. We will be on the boat all day, returning back to Port Hardy around 3-5 in the afternoon, depending on conditions and tides.

 

What to Bring
 

Port Hardy is not exactly a big city, and there's no local dive shop. We have tools for repairing your gear but it is good to bring your own items as well.

  • Cold water dive gear: drysuit, hood, gloves, boots, mask, fins, snorkel, regulators, BCDs, tanks, weight harness or belt (weights are provided on the boat)
  • Dive lights
  • Save a dive kit (including spare seals if yours are interchangeable)
  • Lunch, thermos for hot drink
  • Warm undergarments
  • Rain gear, toque and gloves to stay warm on surface interval
  • Camera

Dive Conditions
 

  • This is cold water diving; expect water temperatures around 8-10 degrees C
  • We will try to dive the exposed sites on slack tide, but currents can be strong and unpredictable
  • Some dives are pretty deep or along sheer walls which drop off into the depths, proper buoyancy control and monitoring of no-deco time are important
  • Visibility can range from about 10 m - 30 m (30 - 100 ft)
  • It can be quite dark at depth, so bring a dive light
  • You should be a comfortable cold water diver to dive here.
  • Diving is unguided and unsupervised. There will be a briefing on the boat, then you and your dive buddy are free to explore however you would like!

 

Dive Sites

The dive sites can be divided into two categories: exposed sites you need to dive on slack, and protected sites you can dive off-slack. The exposed sites typically have the most life, but the protected sites are still very good, much better than your typical diving on Vancouver Island. So, really, you can't go wrong. But we do try to do at least 1 exposed site at slack every day, as conditions permit.

 

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