Cates Park

Level: easy

How to get there: Take Hwy #1 to the Second Narrows bridge. Just at the end of the bridge, take the Dollarton Highway exit to your right. Stay right until you get to the sign for Cates Park. Park in parking lot down by the big canoe.

Facilites: Washrooms and changerooms year-round. Seasonal concession stand. Boat launch. Pub just down the road - great place to fill out logbooks. Telephone by east washrooms.

Hazards: Currents and lots of boat traffic. Low vis.

How to dive this site: Cates is a popular site for first open-water certification dives. It's also a great place to try out new gear. The sandy bottom and shallow depths (up to 45 feet if you want to swim) make for controlled conditions. If you swim straight out from the bottom of the steps to a depth of about 30 feet at low tide, you should find several concrete pipes and blocks that shelter life. Or stay shallow and see what hides in among the rocks.

What to see: Lots of crabs of all kinds. Jellyfish, both red and moon. The occasional nudibranch. Sanddabs and flounders. Lots of small sculpins. Out among the cement blocks there are lingcod. Snake pricklebacks and gunnels too, if you look hard. And lots of seacucumbers and anemones in the rocks.

My tally: 24 dives

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