Odgen Point

Level: all

How to get there: Take the ferry from Tsawassen to Sidney. Follow the highway into Victoria and then follow the signs to the US Ferry. Ogden Point is just to the left of the ferry terminal/cruise ship departure bay in Victoria Harbor.

Facilites: Dive shop right on the premises. They have washrooms, changerooms, hot showers ($1), gear rinse, and a place to hang your gear to dry a bit. Airfills and all kinds of gear available there, as well as charters and classes. Above the shop, there's a cafeteria-style restaurant with great ice cream for those hot days.

Hazards: Kelp, fishing line, and some boat traffic. Stay close to the breakwater, and carry a knife or scissors.

How to dive this site: Gear up at your car and either walk along the Breakwater or enter in off the beach. The breakwater is made up of big cement "steps", so if you enter off the breakwater, be VERY CAREFUL! DO NOT do a giant stride as you can seriously hurt yourself on the stones below. There are five underwater plaques identified by a dive flag painted on the Breakwater. Navigating underwater from one to the next is very easy (just keep the breakwater on the respective side!), and should provide a nice tour of the area.

What to see: Wolf-eels are a highlight here - they are around, and they are used to divers, so be prepared to be greeted. There were five in residence on my last dive, ask in the shop, and they will direct you to them. Octopus too, if you look hard. Rockfish - all kinds, black, canary, quillbacks, tigers, the odd China. Lings grow to large proportions, as do the kelp greenlings. Painted greenlings, and maybe a grunt or sailfin sculpin if you're lucky. Lots of perch. Gunnels. Anemones - white, red, green. Seastars and seacucumbers. Shrimp. Chitons. Crabs. Flounders. Huge red urchins. And scallops - swimming scallops everywhere!

My tally: 4 dives

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