INTRO:

Unless noted all information was provided by Dan Meyer .

Victoria is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. It is accessible
by air and by ferry, which departs from near Vancouver BC. Victoria diving is
diverse and good year round. The Victoria area benefits from numerous shore
dives and umpteen boat dives.

There are currently (Aug. 96) four dive shops operating in Victoria. Probably
the largest is Frank White's Scuba Shop with two locations. The main store is on
Blanshard St. and the Sidney store is located in Sidney-By-The-Sea underneath
the Sidney Hotel on Beacon Drive. Plans are underway to move this store to a
different location on the Saanich Peninsula. FWSS is a PADI 5* IDC shop and runs
courses up to and through MSDT and MFA Instructor. They have the Island
exclusive on USD and also have Sherwood. They have a great service dept. and can
service all but Zeagle/Apeks, Oceanic, and Pro Sub. They are also the
distributor for White's Manufacturing and carry their wetsuits and drysuits.
FWSS runs a free, Divemaster supervised dive every Saturday morning on a drop in
basis. It leaves the store at 10 am. Every 2nd Thursday is a DM run night
dive...you must be Advanced or higher to go. Also on the 1st and 3rd Sundays the
Sidney store runs a dive of the same format as the Sat Morning Dive. These dives
are a great way to meet people and become familiar with some of Victoria's shore
dives.
Ocean Centre on Cloverdale Ave. is probably the next largest. They are
primarily a Mares and ScubaPro store, though they carry many other brands. They
have a modular system for courses and are quite flexible. They have an excellent
rental department, and they are a PADI 5* facility. They run a weekly Sunday
dive on a drop in basis. They offer courses through DM and many specialties,
including (incredibly enough) a Bottle Diver course.
Team Sprocket Dive Shop is on Douglas St. It is in the location that PSD Divers
used to be. It is under new ownership and management and deals in Oceanic,
Oceaner, Dacor, and Zeagle. Sprocket also runs a Saturday morning drop-in dive.
Plans are in the works to get nitrox fills at Sprocket.
ScubaLand is in the Colwood/Langford area, about a 20 minute drive from
downtown. Joe (the owner) is currently the only shop in Victoria that has nitrox
fills. He buys premix and blends it down, so fills of up to 40% are available.
ScubaLand has Sherwood, Oceanic, Seaquest and other brands. Joe also
manufactures very popular soft weight belts and tank weights.
A newcomer to the Victoria scene is the Ogden Point Dive Shop, currently under
construction. It should be open by October 96...I think. It will feature a cafe
as well as washrooms, showers and lockers for divers that are diving Victoria's
favourite dive site, the Ogden Point Breakwater, on which this shop is being
constructed. Rumour has it that it will stay open quite late for fills and late
night lattes.

All stores are of good repute, and air averages about $3.75 a fill, though
scuttlebutt has it that it will go up soon. Joe charges $10 for a nitrox fill,
and $12 with O2 clean tank rental...pretty good. Rental rates at all stores are
around $35-40 per day, or $60 for a weekend...including all but mask, snorkel and
fins. Dive guides are available for shore and boat dives at an average rate of
$40. This is highly recommended for divers unfamiliar with local conditions, and
the guides know where all the cools stuff is.

Most shops are open 9 am to 5:30 or 6 pm every day.

All the shore dives in the Victoria area are within about a 35 minute drive from
downtown. Some are just a 10 minute walk from Inner Harbour.

IF you come to Victoria, the diving is usually best during the winter months.
Sunlight produces algae blooms in the summer, sometimes reducing viz to 10 feet,
although average viz is about 30 feet. This summer we saw 150 foot viz in the
Saanich Inlet for weeks on end, so crystal clear water does occur. Remember
that it rarely snows here, and the climate is much drier than that of Vancouver
or Seattle.

 
THE SOUTH SIDE

 
The South side of Victoria is directly on the Juan de Fuca Strait. Fast tidal
currents and very high tides are characteristic of this area. The current tables
for Race Passage are a good indication of tidal currents. The tables are
available at any marine shop for about $6.95. Subtract 15 minutes to all times
in the tables for most Victoria southern dives. Also, the velocity is about 75%
of what is indicated. Remember to ADD 45 minutes instead during daylight
savings.

Because of the fast currents this area is very high in nutrients, which gives
life to amazing amounts of life. The diving is fabulous.

Ogden Point Breakwater
Probably the most popular dive in Victoria, the Breakwater is good for all
levels of diving. It is a designated marine sanctuary, which means that divers
cannot remove any life from the water, although fishermen are allowed. It is
essentially an 800m long structure made of stacked granite blocks and concrete.
It is home to an amazing amount of life. The Breakwater is divided into 5
sections called "flags". These are dive flags painted on the Breakwater with
plaques sunken at the bottom under each flag. The plaques are an overview of the
site and have marine identification keys on them. The first flag is at the first
elbow of the Breakwater. The water is about 25 feet deep here, with a sand
bottom. The flags are progressively deeper, with a maximum depth of around 110
feet. Entry can be off the beach or off the Breakwater itself.

Beach to First flag.--The beach is mixed cobble and sand. It gets
deep at a slow rate. Most people snorkel past this area. Watch the
sand while you snorkel for small flatfish such as Pacific Sanddabs
and baby Starry Flounder. Juvenile Lingcod also hang out here, and
the occasional Kelp Greenling is seen also. Once I saw a 4
Longnose Skate in about 6 feet of water. As you get towards the
bend and the first flag, the water gets about 25 feet deep. There
are often floats here, and on Sundays the place is crawling with
Open Water Classes. Because of the easy bottom it is a training
site of choice. It is a very good place to begin your dive.

1st to 2nd flags.--If you follow the bottom from the 1st flag, you
descend along a stairway of granite blocks. Not far past the first
flag (about 30 kick cycles) is an octopus den under the bottom
block. Look for the crab and scallop shells outside. It is usually
inhabited by a large octopus. As you get towards 40 or 50 feet,
look up to see schools of Puget Sound Rockfish mixed in with the
Perch and Quillback Rockfish. There are fallen blocks just off the
wall that are home to large Plumose Anemones and small Longfin
Sculpins that look like tiger-painted clowns. Explore under the
rocks for the more elusive sculpin species and tons of Blackeye
Gobys. Also in evidence are several species of Gunnels. As you
approach the 2nd flag, the area is covered in a virtual forest of
white Plumose Anemones. Look for Decorated Warbonnets curled around
the base of the anemones. Also resident in this area are a few
monstrous Lingcod. Watch for egg masses, and avoid these normally
placid fish during March and April while they guard their eggs.

2nd to 3rd flags--The depth here is about 60 feet at the bottom. The Breakwater
is a steep hill of rubble below about 30 feet. In this rubble lives thousands of
Brittle Stars, and you can see their legs waving all over the place. Also around
you is the orange frilled mouths of Burrowing Sea Cucumbers. Explore these rocks
carefully to see Grunt Sculpins and Hairy Lithoide Crabs. On the rocks Swimming
Scallops abound.

3rd and 4th flags--Getting deeper to 70 or 80 feet at the bottom, this area is
rarely dived because it is such a long walk or swim from the beach. Virtually
virgin territory for divers, this is a good place to find Wolfeels and Octopus.
Schools of Black Rockfish and Yellowtail Rockfish are everywhere.

5th flag--An extremely long walk in full gear and a bit of a climb, this dive is
for the very experienced only. The bottom varies 90 to 110 feet, and is mostly
mud and sand. But there is 100 feet of tumbled granite blocks and rubble with
the most amazing colony of Metrudium anemones. It is all here. A night dive in
this area is spectacular, with lots of Tiger Rockfish and sleeping Canary
Rockfish. Octopus are always found, and large Decorated or Mosshead Warbonnets
stick out of cracks or shells. Puget Sound King Crabs can be seen, purple and
orange tanks that are more than 20 inches across. Harbour seals are a common
visitor here, and Dogfish and Ratfish are de rigueur.

Watch out for fishermen's lures and tangles of fishing line when diving the
Breakwater. It is very hard to get lost here, and exit points are many. I have
done maybe 100 dives here, and I swear I've seen something new every time.

How to get there: The Breakwater is located on Dallas Road just west of Beacon
Hill Park. Drive up Douglas St. from downtown and hang a right at Mile Zero.
Then go till you see the Breakwater. Parking is allowed on the street and there
is ample angle parking. There is also parking on the other side of the
Breakwater, but costs $0.50 for 2 hours. Be careful when climbing on the blocks
because the sharp barnacles can slice open your suit. Remember that it is
illegal to dive the west side of the Breakwater because of boat traffic.

The following review of Ogden Point Breakwater was Written by Bryan Crawford

Type:
The Breakwater is probably the most popular divesite near Victoria due to the ease of access, variety of life, and the shelter from waves and current. It makes a great night dive as well.

Location:
The breakwater is on Dallas Road, about 2km west of Beacon Hill Park.

Above Water:
There are almost always divers here, but it's a big breakwater, so it is rarely too crowded. However, since many classes do their open water dives here, you may want to swim out past the first bend in the break water to get past them. If you have a wagon, dive-sherpa, or other means of transporting your gear out along the 1km length of the breakwater, entering at the end of the breakwater, especially on a flooding tide, and diving the length of the breakwater is a great dive.

Underwater:
The big granite blocks of the breakwater are festooned with bull kelp in the summer, and you will find numerous rockfish, greenling, lingcod, and perch inhabiting the kelp. The rocky bottom is covered with plumose anemones, chitons, abalone, swimming scallops, ghost shrimp and nudibranchs. There are also a couple of octopi denning among the rocks. Along the length of the breakwater there are 5 plaques at the base of the rocks, describing (after you scrape the algae off) the local fauna, and giving a bearing to the next plaque. The breakwater is a marine sanctuary, so no harvesting is permitted, however line fishing is allowed, so be alert for broken line and hooks.

 
San Jose Crescent
Just a block away from Ogden Point Breakwater is a series of small rocks off the
intersection of San Jose and Dallas Road. There is a set of stairs going to the
water. This is both entry and exit point for the dive. Parking is angle parking
along Dallas Rd. There are no bathrooms at this site, so make sure you relieve
yourself beforehand.
This dive is quite shallow, with a maximum depth of about 45 feet, do be sure to
do it at high tide. During low tide it is an excellent place to snorkel, perhaps
after a dive at the Breakwater. Snorkel out to the rocks from the stairs and
descend on the far side of the largest islet. The depth here is about 30 feet.
The bottom is a myriad of small boulders and rocks embedded in the sand. There
are beautiful Rock Greenling around, and often skate and rays are seen here.
Look for Starry Sole and Arrowtooth flounders on the sand. Buffalo sculpins bury
themselves with just their eyes showing, and bright orange Sea Pens are in the
sand off the islets.
Explore the bottom to your heart's content and then take a North heading to get
back to the sea wall. The water near the wall is quite shallow, and you should
have no problem getting back to the stairs. This is a dive for all levels of
diver, but be sure that the water is calm for this dive. It can be quite
dangerous here in choppy or stormy weather.

 
Clover Point
Clover Point is a jut of land on the west side of Ross Bay, near the Ross Bay
Cemetery. It is part of the Dallas Rd. Park and is a popular place to fly kites
and watch sea storms. The bay to the right of the point is a famous windsurfing
spot, and the cliffs provide a place for some intrepid souls to hang-glide. The
dive is off the front of the point. Park your car near the Angler's Club on the
left side of the point. After gearing up, walk down the boat ramp to get into
the water. Watch your step because the anglers sometimes grease the slats on the
ramp so their boats will slide up easier. Once in the water, swim southeast
through the path in the kelp to the edge of the kelp forest. It is about a 5
minute snorkel, and the water is about 8-10 feet deep here. Watch for Pacific
Tubesnouts and various Kelp and Spider Crabs as you snorkel. Kelp Poachers and
Sea Dragons are sometimes found in this kelp, but are extremely hard to see due
to their amazing camouflage. Once outside the kelp bed, look down to see sand.
Descend and you will be in about 35 feet of water. Swim along the margin between
rock and sand for a great dive. About 10 feet off this margin is the edge of a
huge garden of Sea Pens, bright orange creatures that look like feather pens and
stand about 18-24 inches tall. There are more than 1000 sea pens here, and
Buffalo Sculpins, Skate, Ratfish and Dogfish are abundant. This is a great place
to find some of the more elusive small sculpins, and it is a haven for Red Irish
Lords. Try to keep your general heading to the west or north to get around the
point, where there is another boat launch that you can come up.

For the more intrepid or advanced diver, there is a wreck of 4 railroad boxcars
off the point. I have been unable to determine how they got there, and they are
hard to find. The shipping channel is about 1 km off Clover Point, so divers
doing this dive should use a flag or float. From the edge of the kelp forest
there is a reef curving off to the right that starts in about 40 fsw. Follow the
reef out (quite far) and then locate the boxcars off the south end of this
east-curving reef in about 60 fsw. They are inhabited by a large octopus and
many dogfish. They are a bit hard to find, and have not to my knowledge been
mapped. Very few people I know have been out to them, but don't get discouraged
if you don't find them the first time. I had done about 25 dives there before I
discovered them.

The Clover Point dive is an excellent place to go for a second dive of the day.
It has limited depth and lots to see. Be sure to check your current tables
before diving here, because the tide can really rip through off the point. Some
people may tell you about the sewage plant here, but it is merely a pumping
station and the outfall is some miles away at Saxe Point, so do not be
concerned.

To get there, turn left off of Douglas St. on to Dallas Rd., and drive till you
see a cul-de-sac lookout jutting into the water. This is Cover Point, located at
the intersection of Moss St. and Dallas Rd.

 
McMicking Bay
This is a rarely dived spot for more advanced divers. The currents here can be
tricky and very fast, so be sure to dive it near slack tide. McMicking bay is a
small adjutment off of McNeill Bay. It is a fabulous dive that is virtually
unspoiled. I would not recommend diving it in the summer due to an excess of
kelp that makes it hard to navigate. In the winter the kelp dies off, leaving a
system of reefs with amazing life. Parking is along Beach Drive, with a small
cutout off the road. Stairs lead down to a gravel bar that connects to a rocky
point.

There are two dives here. One is off to the left of the bar. Enter on the left
side of the bar, and snorkel out about 150 feet. Descend to find yourself on the
beginning of a system of reefs that lead to the east and northeast. Dive the
outside of the reefs, and come back on the inside. You will find the biggest
stands of Staghorn Bryozoans in the area, with the biggest, fattest Kelp
Greenling I have ever seen. Also large Lingcod and Blue Barred Perch. There are
a few Sea Pens, and I have found neon orange Nemertean Worms here. I once found
a 10 foot Octopus here, and I have seen juvenile Wolfeels in and around the
reefs. There are a lot of Rock Scallops and Red Abalone here, and their empty
shells are home to Grunt Sculpins and Scaleyhead Sculpins.
Watch your depth and find a maximum of around 70 feet, though it is possible to
find depths exceeding 130 in the channel, which is not recommended unless you
have a boat.

The other dive is off the south and south west part of the gravel bar. There is
a system of small islands that are fun to explore. Juvenile Wolfeels have also
been seen here, and Pacific Staghorn Sculpins hide out here. Puget Sound King
Crab and Heart Crabs are in the rocks, and this is the one other place I have
seen Rock Greenling in the Victoria area. I have also seen a California Sea Lion
here and once I saw a Baird's Cormorant swimming under the water. Amazing! Take
care on this side of the bar. Although for the most part you are sheltered from
the current, ebb tides create a back eddy that can push you toward the main
current.

To get there drive Out Fort St, heading east out of downtown. Turn right on Cook
St. and continue to Fairfield Rd. There is a Shell Station at Fairfield. Turn
left and follow Fairfield all the way to the water, where it merges into Beach
Dr. The bay here is McNeill Bay, and look for the cut out and gravel bar about
300 m to the left. There is a blue concrete wall, and the gravel bar is beyond
the end of the wall, where a green metal railing is.

 
ARBUTUS RIDGE AREA

 
Arbutus Ridge is an area near the University of Victoria. It is a high current
area, and it is chock full of popular dive sites. There are four in particular.

 
Smuggler's Cove
Part of the Ten Mile Point Ecological Reserve, Smuggler's Cove is an underrated
dive. Easy entry is off the beach, and there is parking for a number of cars. It
is a small, shallow bay past which a very fast current is present during flood
and ebb. To the right of the bay is an extremely shallow (15-25 feet) dive full
of current loving critters such as crabs, Ochre Stars, and Barnacles. Octopus
can usually be found here at night. On the left side is a series of small
shelves that get deeper. I have been to 65 feet here, and I probably could get
deeper. A large number of Sea Urchins, California Sea Cucumbers (Stichopus), and
Gumboot Chitons live here, along with Rock Sole, Flounder, and Red Irish Lords.
There used to be a Wolfeel here, but I have not seen it for a few months.

Make sure you check the current tables for this dive, since the current off the
bay is one of the fastest around. Divers have often been caught in this current
and rescued by boat. If you stay near the shore, though, the current is usually
manageable.

Directions I will give here, but ask at a dive store, since it is easy to get
lost in this area.
Drive out Blanshard St. from downtown, and hang a right at Hillside Rd. Drive
out Hillside for about 10 minutes till you come to Cadboro Bay Rd., where you
turn left. You will reach a 4 way stop at Sinclair Rd. where there is a small
mall and a couple of Pubs. Continue straight, and the road does a couple of
twists, first right, then left. Just after the left twist, turn right onto the
road marked Seaview, and follow it as it curves left. Follow this road past a
sharp left curve, and then turn right onto McAnally Rd. At the end of McAnally,
where it turns left, is Smugglers Cove.

 
Ten Mile Point
Probably the second most popular dive site in Victoria (also the second most
popular fishing site) Ten Mile Point is a wall dive in a high current area. With
particularly tricky and unpredictable currents, dive here with a local your
first few times. There is a small parking lot with room for about 10 cars. The
entry is tricky. Climb down the rock where there is a brown fence to your left.
Enter the water at the fence. Usually this is done as a drift dive. Get down as
soon as possible when you get in, and find the bottom at around 100-120 feet. Of
course, you don't have to go this deep, and the best area is between 70 and 90
feet. Drift along to the right to find an amazing array of life. Sunstars that
are more than a meter across. Every type of cool sculpin. This is the best place
to see Red Irish Lords, who seem to own the area. Painted Greenling poise on
vertical surfaces, and large Christmas Tree Anemones share room with the
Metridium. Decorated Warbonnets nestle in shells and around anemones, and once
we saw 10 octopi on one dive! Wolfeels live here, and the opportunities for
macro photography are incredible. This is the favourite dive site of many local
divers.
Last year a friend of mine turned around during his safety stop to see an Orca
not 10 feet away.
Two popular exits are around the corner to the right. One is a path/boat ramp
below a house. The other is a groundwater drainpipe on the rocks. Both offer an
easy exit. If you drift past the boat ramp, there is a small beach that is just
a block from the cars...not too far.

Some intrepid divers (very experienced only) do a drift dive at high current
times that takes them all the way to Smuggler's Cove, where they leave one car
in advance. This takes a lot of skill and experience and lasts about 50 minutes.

Directions are best found at a dive shop, but if one were to continue to the
left from Smuggler's Cove (above) and turn right at the next intersection, go to
the end of that road (Baynes) and turn left onto the Ten Mile Point cul-de-sac,
the site is there.

The following review of Ten Mile Point was Written by Bryan Crawford

Type:
Probably the best dive site near Victoria is Ten Mile Point, which is a current swept wall just North of Cadboro Bay.

Location:
From Cadboro Bay, go north on Cadboro Bay road to Sea View Road, and make a right. Then make a left onto Tudor Ave. Follow Tudor to Baynes Road, which you follow to White Rock Street, which ends at a turnaround on the point.

Above Water:
Ten Mile Point protrudes into Haro strait, and is therefore exposed to the tidal current which sweeps nutrients through this passage. This is both the best and worst feature of Ten Mile Point as a dive site...the current facilitates the growth of a wonderful variety of creatures on the rocky wall, but it also makes it undiveable except on the slack. Subtract 15 minutes from the Race Passage current tables to predict the time of the slack at Ten Mile Point.

Underwater:
After picking your way over the rocks leading down to the water, you will find that the kelp-covered bottom drops down to a shelf at about 40fsw, after which it drops off as a wall. To the left of the point (facing out to sea), the wall reaches a sandy bottom at about 80fsw. On the right, it gets deeper.

You will find a bewildering variety of filter feeders living on the rocky wall, where the limit to growth is substrate rather than food. There are also many rockfish, greenling, cabezon, red Irish lords, and other fish to be seen. Ten Mile Point is a marine ecological reserve, so no harvesting by SCUBA is permitted, however, people are allowed to line-fish here, so be alert for monofilament, and hooks.

Spring Bay
Visible from Ten Mile Point, Spring Bay is essentially the same area. It is a
series of shelves dropping about 10 feet for each one. There is tons of parking
here, with stairs to the beach, which is a small bay. Check the current before
diving. It can be quite strong and pull you all the way to Ten Mile. Generally,
the current is at the surface only, and disappears or even reverses direction at
depth. Because of shallower depths, Spring Bay is much better suited to
beginning divers than Ten Mile. Much of the same life is extant here, with many
sightings of Octopus, Wolfeels, and Grunt Sculpins. The shallow area is home to
Pacific Clingfish and Marbled Snailfish. Also found here are the odd Kelp
Poacher and Spiny Lumpsucker. Sharpnose Crabs and Decorator Crabs are
everywhere, and sea urchins fill all the cracks.
Entry is off the beach. Use your buddy to stabilize yourself getting in, and
swim as soon as it's deep enough. The cobble here is of larger size, and because
it is covered in slippery algae it carries real potential for twisted ankles. Do
not drop gear at this site. It has a reputation for "eating" equipment, since
the leaf kelp on the bottom and silt in the shallows makes recovery of dropped
gear virtually impossible. OTOH I once found a USD Monitor 2 computer here...
Make your dives down the shelves, but be sure to take a heading for the beach
when you descend. It is easy to get turned around at this spot. If you get lost,
follow the shelves up, and eventually you will get to shore, though you may be a
long swim from your entry. It is easy to climb onto the rocks anywhere along
here.

Again, ask for directions at a dive shop, but Spring Bay may be found by
following the directions to Smuggler's Cove, except that instead of turning
right onto McAnally, you continue on straight. The road continues until you see
it split around a tree growing in the middle of the road. Just past that tree
is Spring Bay

.

Telegraph Bay
Not a popular dive site, Telegraph Bay is a calm, shallow dive that is good for
novice divers. The bay is quite large, and there is an interesting wall on the
right side that descends to about 50 feet. The Annual Underwater Easter Egg Hunt
used to be held here, but has moved to another site this year because of
limited parking. Entry is very easy. The current can get quite strong past the
mouth of the bay, and it is recommended that only experienced divers go here.
Telegraph sports large numbers of Dungeness Crab, Red Rock Crab and Pacific
Sandabs. The wall to the right is an underrated dive. Look for rare species of
sculpin and limpets in the eelgrass on the wall. Large schools of Silversides,
Anchovy, and Oolichan can often be seen here. High coloform counts have scared
divers and swimmers away in the past, but recently the counts have fallen
drastically, making this once again a safe dive site. The area is popular for
training on choppy days since it is usually very calm and sheltered.

To get to Telegraph Bay, drive out Blanshard to Hillside, hang a right and go
till you meet Cadboro Bay Rd. Turn right and follow Cadboro Bay past the village
and through a few twisting curves to its terminus, a gravel parking lot and
beach access.

 
Spindrift Cove
A rarely dived site, Spindrift is known by many names. We call it Spindrift
after the name of the mansion at the access. It is a shallow cove slightly north
of Telegraph Bay, and it drops off just outside the rocks. Like all the dives in
this area, care should be taken with regards to tidal current movements.
I have only dived Spindrift 4 times, this is what I know of it.

Entry is at the end of Cranford Place off of Queenswood Drive. It is a bit of a
climb to the beach, but not too bad even in full kit. There is a shallow lagoon
surrounded by rocks. To the left of this lagoon is a bottom of mostly sand and
rock to a max. depth of about 17 feet. There is a bit of a wreck here, a
thrashed 16 ft. fishing boat lying upside down. It is in a different location
every dive. To the right is very shallow boulder bottom, maybe 8 feet deep.
During slack tide you can dive outside the lagoon on a series of shelves much
like Spring Bay. The max depth I have been to here is 75 feet, but it may get
deeper. The area is covered in different species of Nudibranch, including
Nanaimo Nudis, Yellow Cadlinas, Sea Lemons, Clown Nudis, Alabaster and
Opalescent Nudis. Also a few more that aren't skimming off the top of my mind. I
saw a Wolfeel here, and I have heard tell of Blue Sharks (Prionace Glauca) off
this location.

If you dive here be sure you use a float, and keep good track of where you are.
To my knowledge it has never been well explored, though everybody seems to have
been there at least once.

To get to Spindrift, go out Cadboro Bay Rd. as per the directions to Telegraph.
Just before the lot at Telegraph, turn left onto Queenswood Dr. and follow it
to Cranford Pl. Another potential dive site is just a few blocks farther along
Queenswood, off of Guinevere Pl. I have not yet explored there.

 
ESQUIMALT

 
There is only one dive I know of that is dived regularly in the Esquimalt area,
it is

Saxe Point
A small memorial park in southern Esquimalt, Saxe Point is a popular training
site and a good dive for beginning divers. There are two dives here. One is
directly off the south end of the point. It is mostly sand bottom, and has all
the life associated with such an area. In the rocks is an inordinate number of
Octopus, and one expert I know says that it may be the best place in Victoria to
see Octos. But I have yet to see one here...perhaps I don't know where to look.
About 1.5 km out is the sewage outfall. I have heard that the outfall has an
amazing amount of life, but I have never been out there. Currents are usually
mild here, and the rocks off to the left offer quite an interesting dive.
Dogfish and Ratfish are common here, as are Sea Pens and Sea Urchins. Usually
only seen at deeper depths, I once saw a Basket Star here as well.

The more popular dive is down a path to the right of the point. There is a beach
here and a dive around the point to the left of the beach can be quite
rewarding. The bottom is sand and silt, so be careful with your bouyancy here.
It takes hours for the silt to settle. This is another mecca for Nudibranchs,
and there are plenty of macro opportunities. The dive is fairly shallow, with a
maximum depth of around 50 feet. I rarely dive here because of it's out of the
way location, but it is a popular spot for crabbing as well as diving.

To get there from downtown, cross the Johnson St. Bridge (going out Pandora St.)
and find yourself on Esquimalt Rd. Continue straight past Lampson St. and the
Esquimalt Rec Centre and Mr. Grocer. Just past this complex, turn left onto
Fraser St. Drive to the end of Fraser St where you will see a sign for Saxe
Point Park. The site is at the end of this road. There are washrooms here as
well.

The following review of Saxe Point was Written by Bryan Crawford

Type:
Shore dive
This shallow bay makes a great second dive, with a remarkable variety of life, including lots of octopi.

Location:
Saxe Point Park is in Esquimalt, west of the city of Victoria, just across the harbor.

Above Water:
From the parking area in the park, you can enter the water either by walking down a short path to a sandy beach on the NW side of the point, or by climbing down the rocky tip of the point into the water.

Underwater:
If you enter at the beach, you can swim around a small rocky islet just off shore and then head west along the rocky wall of the point towards the ocean. This wall is very shallow, about 20fsw at it's base, but it has undercuts and crevices which shelter the most delightful creatures. Keep and eye peeled for piles of crab shells, which is the best indicator of an inhabited octopus den just uphill. I've found as many as 8 octopi on one dive here. If you're patient and gentle, they will occasionally come out of their dens. Continuing out around the tip of the point, you get into more exposed water, with bull kelp, eel grass, and urchins. Here you can find umbrella crabs, gooseneck barnacles, and featherduster worms.

Warnings:
The only major difficulty here is getting out of the water if the surf has blown up while you were down. If things get rough, you can always swim back into the bay and exit on the sandy beach.

 
SAANICH INLET SHORE DIVES

 
Deep Cove Mystery Wreck
Sometime long ago, a train barge struck a reef just outside Deep Cove. It limped
in, and sunk in 65 fsw smack dab in the middle of the cove. No one knows who
owned it, who was on it, and exactly when it sank. There is no name on it. It is
known only as the Mystery Wreck.

It is 152 feet long, and home to a huge number of Perch and Lingcod. Fat Kelp
Greenlings also hide in the shadow of rotting timbers, and Buffalo Sculpins
shelter underneath the bow. For a while there was a carved pumpkin on the bow,
but a storm washed it away.

There used to be a dive shop here, but it is now just an air station. There are
two entry points, one off the dock (for which you have to pay $3) or off of
Setchell Point. I always use the point. There is limited parking on the point,
but there are rarely other divers here. A path leads from parking to the water.
As you enter off the rocks, take a compass bearing for the wreck, which is
marked by two metal buoys. Take care not to head for someone's mooring by
mistake. If you decide to snorkel out to the buoy, it is tied to a concrete
block just off the bow. Usually, we descend at the entry point and swim to the
wreck. It seems like a long way, but just as you think you missed the wreck
altogether it looms out of the emerald water. The bottom along the way is mud,
and it is strewn with shoes and bottles. There was a very old Chinese settlement
here, and unusual and valuable bottles are often found in the area. Look for
small Sea Pens and many many Tube Dwelling Anemones. Feeding on these are Giant
Nudibranchs (Dendronotus iris) and Stubby Squid hide in the mud.

Watch out on the wreck. It is fragile and there are many places to get snagged
on. The bow is metal and has a few places with penetration possibility, but I do
not recommend it. It is not worth the trouble, and despite appearances, it
could be quite dangerous. Because of usually murky water (viz 10 to 30 feet)
this wreck appears very spooky. It is a good place for divers of all levels, and
easy to find. Depending on the height of the tide it is in 55-70 fsw, and there
is rarely any current to speak of. Leave the wreck at about 800-1000 psi for
the swim back. Simply find the bow and head back on a reciprocal direction. With
a 3 minute safety stop you'll be on shore with 500 psi.

Watch for boat traffic. If you decide to dive from the dock, simply go to Deep
Cove Marina and head directly out off the dock.

To get there drive out of town towards the ferry terminal (Swartz Bay) along the
Patricia Bay Hwy.(#17) Shortly before you reach the ferry terminal, take the
exit onto Wain Rd. (heading west) and follow it all the way to Madrona
Drive. Turn right onto Madrona and find Setchell Rd just off to your left...about
500 ft down the road. Turn onto Setchell, and the lot is at the end of the road.
To get to the marina, follow Madrona past Setchell Rd. around the corner. There
is a sign for the marina another 500 or 600 ft. down Madrona. Travel time from
Victoria is about 45 minutes

The following review of Deep Cove was Written by Bryan Crawford

Type:
There's an old sunken barge on the bottom of Deep Cove which makes an interesting dive.

Location:
From Brentwood Bay (about halfway up the Saanich Inlet) take Wain Road west to Madrona Drive. Turn right onto Admirals Walk which will take you to the marina.

Above Water:
I'm told that there is now a modest fee to use the private wharf, which is waived if you get your tanks filled at the dive shop at the marina.

Underwater:
Gear up on the wharf, and take a heading of 270 from the end of the wharf. Follow 270 until you reach a rocky outcropping at a depth of about 60fsw. Just past the rocks, you should start seeing pieces of the wreck on the sandy bottom. If you miss the wreck, there's not much down there to look at, but you may find interesting bottles.

The wreck is not intact, but the rotted timbers make a great substrate for many different species of invertebrates. The last time I dove there, the worm-eaten ribs were covered with lovely horned nudibranchs, and ribbons of eggs. There are also myriad anemones, hydroids, crabs, and fish.

 
Henderson Point
This is my favourite Victoria shore dive. Located at the northern end of
Brentwood Bay, this site best shows the unique diving in the Saanich Inlet.
Because the mouth of the inlet is shallower than the rest, much of the deeper
waters get little circulation. Only the upper waters of the inlet are churned by
the tides, and there is visible layering of the waters from top to bottom.
Henderson Point has a series of shelves, each in a different layer of water and
with a different series of species.
There are two basic dives here, although there are many places to explore. The
first of the two dives is recommended for all levels of diving. Entry is down a
path from the limited parking. A bit of a climb is necessary to get onto the
beach, and the dead oak provides a handhold to this end. There is a wall to the
right of the small bay, with a flagpole. The flagpole makes a very good surface
reference. Descend from about 30 feet west of the flagpole, or even a bit
further. You will find yourself in 20-30 fsw at the top of the first reef.
Descend down the shelves till you meet a sand and shell plain that slopes away
from the bottom of the reef. Most of the reefs lead in a northwest direction
from the descent point. Be aware that a few reefs curve around to a more
northern direction, so keep an eye on your compass. Go along the bottom till you
reach about 1500 psi. You have probably come much further than you think, so
ascend to the top of the reef, or perhaps the next one, and come back in a
southeast direction.

This is a heavy boat traffic location, so diving with a float or flag is
recommended. Try to get into the shallows before surfacing, and this will
prevent any potential problems with boaters.

At around 60 fsw look for hordes of Copper Rockfish. Painted Greenlings are
everywhere, and at night 15 Scaled Worms can be found on the rocks. Also at
night Plainfin Midshipmen are at the bases of the reefs, and Juvenile Wolfeels
come to shallower depths. This is a good place for Sturgeon Poachers day or
night, and Great Sculpins feed on the Coonstripe Shrimp that are everywhere. On
the shell plains Halibut, Rock Sole and other flatfish may be seen, including
the C-O Sole. Giant Nudibranchs are common here, feeding on the Tube Dwelling
Anemones. As you come to shallower depths, look for baby Octopus and Opalescent
Squid. There are a few Plumose Anemones that aid navigation, and juvenile
Plainfin Midshipmen hang sleeping at night, a few feet off the bottom. Night
dives here usually find Sailfin Sculpins and large Red or Brown Irish Lords.
There is a covey of Buffalo Sculpins on one reef, and Grunt Sculpins may be
found day or night. The extreme shallows (10-20 fsw) are covered in Hydroids and
Perch are everywhere. Northern Sculpins and Tidepool Sculpins hide in the rocks
along with Longfin Gunnels. Once we found a Bay Pipefish (close relative of
seahorses) in the shallows.

The second dive is recommended for advanced divers only, as it is a deep dive.
From the flagpole, snorkel a goodly distance out directly south. Descend and
find yourself in 60-80 fsw. Continue south at the bottom, and you will find a
steep drop off and wall. There is a shelf at 100 fsw, and another at 130 fsw.
After that, the bottom slopes off steeply to a maximum depth of around 380
fsw...needless to say, too deep for us! As you traverse the plain towards the
wall, you will likely find a Giant Nudibranch or two. Flatfish of all types
abound, and I once saw a Halibut in excess of 100 lbs. here. Keep your eyes open
for Longnose Skate as well. As you come over the wall, look for monstrous
Lingcod, which lay tons of eggs in the springtime. Cabezon live here as well.
Canary Rockfish inhabit the depths along with large Boot Sponges of ancient age
and the odd Cloud Sponge. Galathoid Crabs known as Squat Lobsters hide in
cracks, and Feather Stars can be found here and will crawl right up your arm. A
rare species in these waters, the Long Rayed or Fish Catching Sea Star
(Stylasterias forreri) can sometimes be seen. Keep your eyes peeled at deeper
depths, because this is one of the few places in the world that Six Gill Sharks
have been sighted, and occasionally Blue Sharks are sighted in the surface
waters. Dogfish can be seen on the plain at night, many of the larger size.

Proceed in a north direction along the wall, and then head north-northeast from
the top of the wall to get back to the entry point. Do your safety stop in the
shallows while rooting around for Grunt Sculpins. A fabulous dive.

In the summer months, watch for Cyanea jellyfish (known as Lion's Mane or Sea
Blubber) that can be a problem. Often 2 feet across the bell and having
tentacles up to 70 feet long, these jellys pack an uncomfortable sting. Usually
one is only stung across the face in the unlikely event that you run into one,
but remember to be careful of any leftover stinging cells on your exposure
suit.

To get to Henderson Point, drive out Blanshard St. and it turns into Hwy #17
(Pat Bay). Drive until you come to Mt. Newton X Rd., where there is a Quality
Inn and a MacDonald's. It is the first intersection past the row of billboards.
Turn left onto Mt. Newton X Rd., and follow it past several sets of stop signs.
Keep going straight and eventually you will reach West Saanich Road. Cross West
Saanich onto Senanus Rd. Senanus has a few sharp turns (one left, one right) but
follow it to its terminus where there is a small parking lot. Be sure that your
vehicle is between the signs, as irate residents have been known to call tow
trucks. The path is at the end of the lot, between two stones. On your way back,
consider stopping at the Prarie Inn (along Mt Newton X Rd.) for a meal. The
(in)famous Belly Buster Burger awaits the hearty of appetite, and the Skookum
Burger is a good alternative for those of us with smaller ambitions. Good
vegetarian food as well, and the specials cannot be beat.

There is an excellent map of Henderson Point in Frank White's Scuba Shop behind
the counter. Perusal of this map can help immensely with navigation.

Mckenzie Bight

The following review of MacKenzie Bight was Written by Bryan Crawford

Type:
There are three reasonably accessible, well sheltered dive sites on this stretch of shoreline just south of Brentwood Bay.

Location:
Take Wallace Drive south from West Saanich Road, and turn left onto Willis Point Road. Follow Willis Point Road up through Mount Work Regional Park, and into Willis Point. At the T- intersection, turn left, and follow the road until the pavement ends.

Above Water:
A vehicle with some clearance is required to get into the furthest sites, but, with careful driving, almost any vehicle can make it to the closest site. The sites are unmarked, but obvious trails lead down from the side of the gravel road to the beach.

Underwater:
Theses sites are very similar to Henderson underwater. You can find a large variety of invertebrates, including large sponges down deep. The fish life in the inlet is less dense than at other sites near Victoria, but there is still a good variety. I have encountered sailfin sculpins, saddleback gunnels, ling cod, red Irish lords, starry flounders, and a big skate here. Others have reported encountering some very spectacular marine life at McKenzie Bight, including wolf eels, stellar's sea lions, and orcas.