Race Rocks Ecological ReserveDIVE SITE DETAILS
The suggested dive site difficulty ranking is based on the extensive experience of the Rockfish Divers Professional Dive Staff and local subject matter experts on the dive site.
Site Description: Race Rocks is one of the most recognized dive sites in BC and is found at the southern part of Vancouver Island very near the US border. Race Rocks is a Provincial Ecological Reserve managed by the staff and students of Pearson College and includes 3 square kilometers of ocean, rocks and reefs providing a home to an exceptional variety of marine life.
"Because of the location in a high current area, there is an exceptional variety of marine life to be found, including marine mammals, seabirds, fish, marine invertebrates, and marine alage and sea grass. It is a haul-out area for California and Northern sea lions and a birthing rookery for Harbour seals. It is also the most northerly birthing colony on the Pacific Coast of North America for Elephant Seals." ~Pearson College UWC website Whether you like macro or mega sized life, you'll find it all at Race! Humpback Whales and and Orcas (Killer Whales, although we like to call them Sea Pandas) are frequent visitors to Race too! There are several potential dive plans for this site, which includes:
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Image credit: www.racerocks.ca
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Dive Site Ranking: Black Diamond to Double Black Diamond
Due to its geographical location and the topography of the area, the water currents surrounding Race Rocks can be very high, including strong up-wellings and down-wellings, and can be dangerous for diving. Race is also a very exposed site and extreme weather can include strong winds making the area unsafe for boating in general, let alone diving. The risk of diving with large sea mammals plays a factor into this ranking too! While the nutrients in the high currents are what "breath life" into the area and truly makes the site worthy of its world class diving label, this is NOT a novice dive site.
Minimum Dive Experience Recommended: For your safety and the comfort of our staff, charters to Race Rocks will only be offered under the following conditions:
Due to its geographical location and the topography of the area, the water currents surrounding Race Rocks can be very high, including strong up-wellings and down-wellings, and can be dangerous for diving. Race is also a very exposed site and extreme weather can include strong winds making the area unsafe for boating in general, let alone diving. The risk of diving with large sea mammals plays a factor into this ranking too! While the nutrients in the high currents are what "breath life" into the area and truly makes the site worthy of its world class diving label, this is NOT a novice dive site.
Minimum Dive Experience Recommended: For your safety and the comfort of our staff, charters to Race Rocks will only be offered under the following conditions:
- You must be an advanced diver (minimum)
- You must have a minimum of 25 logged dives, with at least 4 dives in the last 2 months.
- You must have experience diving in current.
- Drysuit divers must have a min. of 10 drysuit dives in the last 6 months
- Safety equipment, including GPS Diver Marine Radio, Surface Marker Buoy and Dive Alert audible surface and sub-surface noise maker), provided by Rockfish Divers, must be used on all dives.
