Dive-site story
Located in West Vancouver at the opening of Howe Sound, Whytecliff Park is Canada's first designated marine protected area and one of the most frequented shore-entry sites in British Columbia. Divers enter from a pebbled beach into a sheltered cove that transitions quickly to dramatic granite walls, boulder fields, and steep drop-offs. The rich Pacific Northwest currents supply nutrients that support dense colonies of invertebrates and cold-water fishes.
Steep granite walls covered in plumose anemones and encrusting sponges
Sheltered cove ideal for gear checks before heading out to deeper rock ledges
Frequent encounters with resident wolf eels and giant Pacific octopuses inhabiting bedrock crevices
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Winter and spring offer optimal water clarity due to reduced plankton blooms and lower glacial river runoff.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giant Pacific OctopusEnteroctopus dofleini | Common | ||||||||||||
| Wolf EelAnarrhichthys ocellatus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Plumose AnemoneMetridium farcimen | Common | ||||||||||||
| LingcodOphiodon elongatus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Harbour SealPhoca vitulina | Common | ||||||||||||
| Copper RockfishSebastes caurinus | Common |
Marine forecast
