Port Hardy

Port Hardy is the mecca of cold water dives. Featured in National Geographic, Discovery Channel and Imax films, diving in Port Hardy can not be beat. Shear walls are covered in a conglomeration of some of the most beautiful invertebrate marine life you will ever see.

Favorite Dive Sites

Browning Wall

Browning Wall is arguably the best wall dive in North America. This underwater cliff drops down from the forested shore to over 80 meters. Beneath a fringe of kelp near the surface, the cliff is covered in masses of colorful soft corals and other invertebrates, and many fish live in its crevices.

7 Tree Island

This site is my personal favorite. On just one dive at 7 Tree Island you can see a wall plastered with invertebrates, giant octopus or sea lion and then finish in a kelp forest out of the current. Each dive on 7 Tree is unique and every time I dive it, I am reminded how lucky we are to be able to go underwater.

Hunt Rock

Hunt Rock is comprised of two pinnacles that rise from depths of over 75 meters to close to the surface. One descends the 7 meters or so to the top of the pinnacle, then follow a "channel" cut through the rock that heads to the west. Life on Hunt Rock is big! Oversized rockfish, wolf eels, octopus and more love the current swept waters surrounding the rock.

The Wreck of the Themis

The Themis was a large ore freighter that hit an offshore reef, Croker Rocks, just after the turn of the century. The wreck lies in about 35 meters on this rocky reef, has completely collapsed, and is impenetrable. Nature has reclaimed this wreck and transformed her into a modern wolf eel and lingcod condo.

Barrie Islet

Topside, Barry Islet appears as nothing more than a desolate, guano-crowned, granite rock. However, underwater it assumes an entirely different character. The subsea terrain is strewn with living tapestries of color and diverse and unusual species of marine life. The kaleidoscopic reeftop quickly drops away to a sheer drop off that plunges to well beyond 30 meters.

Nakwakto Rapids

Most trips, we have the opportunity to journey over to dive Tremble Island, the tiny islet that sits squarely in the middle of the notorious Nakwakto Rapids. With recorded speeds of 22 knots, Nakwakto Rapids is listed in the Guiness Book Of World Records for having the fastest navigable tidal currents in the world. This is one of the few sites in the world you can see Goose Neck Barnacles.

Preferred Dive Operator

God Pocket Resort

Our preferred accommodation in the Port Hardy area is with God Pocket, a land based scuba diving resort. Accessible only by boat, and surrounded by forested islands and the waterways of the Queen Charlotte Strait, a visit to God Pocket provides not only spectacular cold water diving, but also an opportunity for kayaking, swimming with dolphins, and whale watching. Separate cabins are spread between two buildings. There is also a larger common room for reading, hanging out, or watching movies. Meals are held in the common room and are gourmet.

Their boat, nicknamed the Pocket Rocket, is a large aluminum hull with plenty of room for 12 divers. With a large inside area, you are always warm and toast. The huge outer deck provides plenty of room for gearing up. With her large engines, it is easy to explore dive sites up and down the straight and still be back to the lodge for lunch and dinner