While diving in Port Hardy, say hello to fanatastical wolf eels that could double as extras in a horror movie and watch in wonder as the giant Pacific red octopus shimmies across the barnacled ocean floor.
The local coastline ranks among the world's best cold-water scuba diving spots. "Spectacular beyond words," wrote National Geographic photographer and journalist Paul Nicklen after exploring the blue-green waters of the aptly named God's Pocket Marine Provincial Park north of town.
North Island Dive & Charter's two cabin cruisers take small groups of divers out to Browning Wall, Hunt Rock and other prime dive locations. Markus Kronwitter and his team operate a diveshop at the corner of Market and Hastings streets downtown. Tanks (air and nitrox) can be rented and/or filled. Also available: Regulators, wet and dry suits, and no end of solid advice about diving in these waters. Catala Charters in Port Hardy also embarks on regular dive expeditions.
Diving Resorts
Get close to the action by staying in one of the area's dive-oriented wilderness lodges. God's Pocket Resort on forested Hurst Island features rustic cabins, homecooked meals, and the expertise of hosts Bill Weeks and Annie Ceschi. Travel by boat to Browning Pass (five minutes away) or dive in straight from the resort's dock.
Malei Island Resort is a solar-powered ecolodge with four double guestrooms on a pristine island also in the Hunt Rock/Browning Wall area. Float like a jellyfish in the oceanfront hot tub, then join expeditions out to prime dive spots - among them the wrecks of the Themsis (a freighter that went down in heavy seas in 1906), and the USS Suwanee (an American Civil War-era iron warship that sunk in 1868).
Another neighboring option: the cottages at Browning Pass Hideaway. In addition to multiple daily dive outings, these resorts are prime spots for kayaking, wildlife viewing and whale watching.
Favourite Diving Locations
At Browning Wall, a rainbow selection of corals, anemones, sponges, urchins, and starfish cling to what awestruck divers describe as a classic "deep drop-off wall." Rockfish, king crabs, and the rare octopus also make their homes here. Found in open water and marked by a large green buoy, Hunt Rock lets divers explore two stone pinnacles hidden just below the surface of the waves. Tidal conditions make this a challenging dive, but the rewards include sightings of wolf eels, lingcod, and multiple varieties of rockfish. Right in Port Hardy Harbour and within easy access of town, 5 Fathom Rock is famous for its colorful population of China, tiger and black rockfish - so much so that in 2007 Fisheries and Oceans Canada officially designated it as a Rockfish Conservation Area.
To learn more about diving in the Port Hardy area and pick up some tips on local diving hot spots, stop by the Port Hardy Visitor Centre.
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