Victoria is on the southern part of Vancouver Island, famous for outdoor activities, including a high-ranked spot for diving. It is the capital city of British Columbia, and the area is part of Greater Victoria. As a diving zone, you can find several locations for diving, such as Ogden Point, Ten Mile Point, Race Rocks, Saanich Inlet, Octopus Point, North Cod Reef, South Bedford Island, Octopus Island, Graham's Wall, Strongtide Island, and Saxe Point.
A great diversity of marine life, splendid scenery, absorbing and majestic coastlines with various primed diving zones are some of the reasons why all of the tourist guides suggest Victoria diving. Besides the fact that the water around Victoria is sometimes cold and breathtaking, the alien world under Victoria's extended waters is so exotic and exhilarating that anyone may enjoy experiencing diving there.
Lingcod, rockfish, nudibranchs, a spiny crab and anemones, and a wide diversity of wolf eels and octopuses may be witnessed in the area. Some of the visitors may witness glossy white plumose anemones, large lingcod and cabezon swarms. There may be other invertebrates underwater, multiplying the beauty of the area.
Victoria Diving Location
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, sits on the southern end of Vancouver Island. The access to Victoria is through Victoria International Airport, Harbour Air Seaplanes, and Victoria Ferry. You can also get there by car if your departure point is on Vancouver Island.
How to Get to Victoria from Nanaimo by Car
Getting to Victoria from Nanaimo is via Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S. It is 111 km (69 miles) and takes about an hour and a half.
Take Wallace St to Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S for 550 m (1804.4 ft). Follow Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S to Pandora Ave in Victoria and drive 110 km (68.3 miles). Turn right onto Pandora Ave, and after 90 m (295.2 ft), you will reach Victoria.
A fantastic offering for those who would like to dive and learn about the history of marine activities of Vancouver Island is lying on the grounds of Race Rock Lighthouse. The existence of this lighthouse adds up to the exceptionality of this diving adventure. However, you have to look out for the whales living there.
Whether you decide to go diving, you can head to Saanich Inlet and plunge in the waters whenever you desire. However, if you visit this inlet, you may choose to dive from a floating boat. The diverse underwater life you are given a chance to observe is another merit of diving in Saanich Inlet.
Change your life from ordinary to extraordinary, and experience diving in an ideal place. Ogden Point Diving zone has excellent diving opportunities for every skill level, and it is a fantastic place for wildlife admirers to come. Also, to capture every moment you spend in this splendid place, bring your cameras.
Extraordinary opportunities to make your diving experience memorable in the heart of Greater Victoria, including high-ranked spots for diving. These spots provide you with inevitable diving opportunities which allow you to explore the alien underwater world of Victoria's waters saturated with magnificent creatures. Do not miss it for the world.
Even your imagination cannot give a preview of how beautiful Ten Mile Point Diving is. So, if you want to guarantee the immortality of your memories in this spectacular diving zone, do not forget o bring your cameras. The living species under these cold high-wave waters add up to the attractiveness of the diving adventure there.
Sooke is known as the Tall Tree Capital of Canada. The area's popularity is mainly based on tourists visiting the wilderness parks, hiking the West Coast Trail and the extremely popular Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. Sooke is also famous for its beaches and is a destination for cycling and mountain biking. The arts community of Sooke is vibrant and hosts the annual Sooke Fine Arts Festival.
For over 100 years, Shawnigan Lake has been a favorite destination, providing cottages for get-away weekends. Besides tourists, people from both Victoria and Nanaimo can spend quality time with their friends and families, it can somehow be considered as the midpoint of Nanaimo and Victoria.
McNeill Bay has plenty of benches along the seawall to sit and enjoy the landscape of Trial Island, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Olympic Mountain. Do exciting water activities on McNeill Bay Beach and experience its wonderful esplanade and photogenic scenery. It is considered one of the fantastic off-leash dog beaches in Victoria.
Gonzales Bay is a small scenic bay with a crescent-shaped beach. Its sandy beach is often quiet and peaceful. Walking on the Gonzales Bay beach near the ocean can help to release the world's anxiety. Lie on the beach and see the peaks of Olympic Mountain and enjoy the Mediterrane climate. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach from September through May.
Spiral Beach in Victoria is where the blue of the sea and sky and the Olympic Mountains at a distance is situated in a perfect picture. There are hills along the beach to stand on for a wide view. Walk on the sands and pebbles with the driftwoods around on the beach. Listen to the waves, walk on the shoreline, and have the storm watching pleasure in the fall and winter.
Beacon Hill Park, a popular destination among locals and tourists, has spectacular views, charming woodlands, Rose Garden, roaming peacocks, many unique wooden sculptures, and facilities. It has four ponds famous for turtles, swans, ducks, blue herons, and Canada geese. River otters, raccoons, squirrels, and birds live here. A petting zoo, two playgrounds, two spray parks, and tennis courts are available.
Finnerty Gardens is a woodland garden in Victoria. With more than 500 species, it has one of Canada's best and largest collections of rhododendrons. Finnerty Gardens has wide trails with lots of room for everyone, even on busy days. This botanical garden is open year-round, with paths, ponds, and benches but the best time to visit is May or April.
Goldstream Provincial Park is an old-growth temperate rain forest with 600-year-old Douglas fir trees. It has magnificent waterfalls, giant trees, and a winding river, a perfect area for camping. Annual fall salmon that runs in the river and the bald eagles that gather at the park for feeding are some of the most exciting views. With a variety of trails, this park is an excellent place for hiking.
At the northwest shore of West of Shawnigan Lake, there is a dawn to dusk area, with a Douglas fir forest and a delightful beach known as Shawnigan Lake Provincial Park. Being there with your family and friends and spending your time swimming, canoeing, waterskiing, and windsurfing would refresh your body and soul. The park is a habitat for many animals.
Mount Douglas Beach is one of the fantastic beaches that you can visit on Vancouver Island. Go there at sunset for an experience of peace, Mount Douglas is a small beach, but at low tide, the water opens a wide area, and you will able to see Marine life on the beach.
The exotic flora, Japanese Maples, native Garry oaks, splendid rhododendrons of Abkhazi Garden makes it a must to visit when you are in Victoria. Walking and frolicking through this peaceful garden is delightful, especially in the spring and summer, when the flowers are blooming. The pond is full of turtles and Koi, and there is a teahouse perfect for afternoon tea.
Memory Island Provincial Park is one of the smallest parks in British Columbia. Its peaceful and beautiful nature makes it an excellent choice for picnicking. As it is placed in Shawnigan Lake, you can catch some fish like trout. Also, swimming, canoeing, and kayaking are possible. In addition, the park is home to various birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, plants, and fungi.
Miniature World is among the top ten attractions in Victoria. It is the World of Smallness, the World of Story Books, and the World of Fact, Fiction, and Fantasy. It presents villages with different themes such as Camelot or the World's Smallest Operational Sawmill or Space 2201 AD and Avian 1 Spaceship. Miniature World is so unique that you may want to visit it every time you're in Victoria.
A trail leads you to Fisgard Lighthouse NHS, the first lighthouse on the west coast of Canada. This historic lighthouse is still operating, but the entrance is not allowed. The keeper's house is open to the public which comprises wonderful exhibitions. There you can see shipwrecks, far-flung lights, storms, and the working equipment the lightkeepers used about a century ago.
Even your imagination cannot give a preview of how beautiful Ten Mile Point Diving is. So, if you want to guarantee the immortality of your memories in this spectacular diving zone, do not forget o bring your cameras. The living species under these cold high-wave waters add up to the attractiveness of the diving adventure there.
Featuring wildflowers and fantastic sceneries, Creyke Point Trail is a suitable spot for whale watching, bird watching, and nature trips with splendid beaches and forests. So if you are having a great time in Sooke, remember to stop by Creyke Point to have more fun.
As one of the kiteboarding attractions in southern parts of Victoria, this recreational resort is primed with services and equipment for surfing sports and other outdoor activities. Let your spirits free and be feeding on the abundant adventures provided for you in James Bay.
Located in the heart of Victoria and adjacent to many whale watching operators, Victoria Harbour Ferry is a starting point for your whale watching tour. Many visitors come here to watch whales annually; not only whale watching but open waterways of Salish make Victoria Harbour Ferry a remarkable place for anglers, wildlife followers and daily tourists.
Almost 70% of whale-watching adventures take place in the BC capital. So, while you are in Victoria, try to make the most out of your freedom from work and check our incredible whale watching tours provided for you there. A trip to Race Rocks Ecological Reserve may also be available for the admirers of nature.
If you have never been to Cadboro Bay, you must know that this marvellous place offering suitable conditions and facilities is an ideal spot for those in love with windsurfing. The Bay's proximity to Cadboro-Gyro Park is the reason why adventure never dies in that region. While you are enjoying one, many others are awaiting you in the field to be experienced.
You will feel phenomenal when you reach this beautiful beach, particularly when you step into the water. Willows Beach is mainly known for its swimming opportunity, but you are given a chance to surf the surface of the water. It is highly appropriate for young children, and ample amenities are provided for your convenience.
Cattle Point is a part of Uplands Park in Victoria, runs along the coastline of Oak Bay. During falls and winters, especially November through March, the Cattle Point Storm Watching is an exhilarating experience. Watch storms smashing from spectacular vantage points as dark clouds blanket the sky, rains whipping, gusts of winds making barreling high waves.
Beechey Head and its loop are two of the hot spots for whale watching in Sooke. In addition to fantastic opportunities for whale watching, Beechey Head is a hiking and nature trip location that offers you excellent activities, such as birdwatching.
Gain sight for adventure during your stay on the coastline of the Salish sea and embrace the opportunities for whale watching there. In the Salish Sea, a habitat for killer whales, various vessels are provided for Sidney whale watching. These vessels are equipped with hydrophones to listen to the sounds of the whales. Not to mention that you can take out your cameras and capture these gigantic sea creatures.
You would get lost among the reasons why you should visit Sooke. As an ocean-side village, Sooke is full of natural beauties in which you can enjoy several outdoor activities. Waters that feature Sooke are idealistic for paddling enthusiasts to kayak. Most importantly, Sooke is the starting point of the exciting journey of the West Coast Trail.
Wear decent hiking boots for a moderate hiking trail near Sooke. It is not for the faint of heart, but it is an enjoyable trail that leads you to Grass Lake and featuring Monument Mountain makes it possible to have amazing views from the top. Doing the Grass Lake Trail overnight and camping by the lake turns it into a memorable trip. Enjoy the trail in warmer seasons and get a dip into the lake.
Spirit Bay has a rich community offering settlings for whale watching lovers beside incredible wildlife; therefore, it would be an excellent point to start your Sooke Whale Watching. Plus, it has a cute beach. You cannot get over the beauty of it and its scenic views.
If you are looking for a place to make immortal memories of your windsurfing experience, Esquimalt Lagoon would be an ideal place to do so. As one of the seven migratory bird sanctuaries, this lagoon with clear shallow water provides you with ample opportunity for water activities, including windsurfing. Also, beautiful birds travelling between North and South America are observable.
Surrounded by parks and its proximity to a live community is at least two of many reasons why you should come to Shawnigan lake. Not only wakeboarders and water-skiers will benefit from the waters of this lovely lake, but also paddlers are given the best chance to have a great time onboard.