SIGN UP TO GET A FREE COPY OF MY ULTIMATE CAMPING CHECKLIST

Freediving and Snorkeling in Victoria and Southern Vancouver Island

Did you know that snorkeling in Victoria is so rich with sea life that Jacques Cousteau once referred to the West Coast of BC as one of his favourite places in the world to dive!

Freediver off the coast of Vancouver Island

All Photos Courtesy of Mark Cantwell@pacificritters

This article may contain an affiliate link. This means that if you follow a link in this post and make a purchase, I may make a commission, at no extra cost to you. I am not sponsored by any of the products I link to, they are just the items I personally use and would recommend. Your support helps make this site possible – thank you!

Just below the surface of Vancouver Island’s coastline is an amazingly diverse world of ocean life that is easily observable by snorkeling. And while snorkeling is an exponentially growing pastime among Island residents, many are also making the plunge to new depths by learning freediving. Freediving is the act of holding one’s breath and submerging rather than using SCUBA gear. Freediving as a sport is enjoying a renaissance as formalized instruction has become much more ubiquitous around the world - including in and around Victoria.

Pretty much all of Vancouver Island offers excellent diving – much better than areas around the lower mainland of Vancouver where beach access can be difficult, far from the city, and does not offer as much sea life to experience.

What to Wear While Freediving and Snorkeling in Victoria

If you are considering freediving and snorkeling in Victoria, the first thing you must know is that local waters are cold - averaging 10C all year round. So unless you practice Wim Hof (another interesting pastime), you will need a hooded wetsuit, booties, gloves, mask, snorkel and fins – all of which you can find online or at local dive shops for purchase or rental.

But if you’re feeling even more adventurous and want to explore the flora and fauna at greater depths or even spearfish your dinner, then a course is highly recommended.

Instruction

Instruction for snorkeling is available through the local dive shops. Freediving courses are offered through these regional freediving instructors:

Jillian Rutledge (Apnea Academy certification)
Roberta Cenedese (AIDA Freediving Master Instructor)
Josef Gumpoldsberger (Molchanov certification)
Chris Adair (Performance Freediving International certification)

Equipment

Frank White’s Dive Store

721 Kings Road, Victoria, BC
250-385-4713
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
Guided Tours: Yes
Sales: Yes

Rockfish Divers

3945 Quadra Street, Victoria, BC
250-516-3483
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
Guided Tours: Yes
Sales: No

Wilson Diving

105-1790 Island Hwy, Victoria BC
250-478-4488
Rentals: Yes
Lessons: Yes
Guided Tours: Yes
Sales: Yes

Mark and his instructor in Bali

Best Spots for Freediving and Snorkeling in Victoria

Clover Point
Cattle Point
Ogden Point
10 Mile Point
Saanich Inlet

Weather and Diving Conditions

Freediving and snorkeling in Victoria are weather dependent. Winds need to be light and waves calm (be sure to check BigWaveDave for local water conditions). Currents also have to be light which is why slack tide is the best time to dive. Finally, there is water visibility. While there is great biodiversity in our local waters, visibility is often very poor compared to the tropics. With ocean temperatures fairly constant all year round, winter generally offers better visibility owing to less organic material in the water column, as well as die-off of kelp and sea grasses that offer hiding places for sea life.

What You Might See While Freediving and Snorkeling in Victoria

There are way too many species to list! But check out Mark Cantwell’s Instagram gallery (pacificritters) for examples of the regional biodiversity.

Mark is based in Victoria British Columbia and was finalist for Underwater Photographer of the Year 2020.

He also administers the largest snorkelling community in Canada on Facebook called Vancouver Island Freediving, Snorkelling, and Spearfishing where you can ask questions about dive conditions, equipment, and local sealife.

If it's a different kind of outdoor water adventure you're looking for, I recommend you check out Get Your Guide to see what's available near Victoria.