Rivtow Lion
Conditions & tides
Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model
Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
The Rivtow Lion is a 40-metre-plus North Sea rescue tug that was deliberately sunk on 6 February 2005 in Departure Bay, near Nanaimo, British Columbia. The Nanaimo Dive Association acquired the vessel in 2002 and spent several years preparing and cleaning her before the sinking, creating an artificial reef in one of Nanaimo's most accessible dive zones.
The wreck sits bow-down on a sandy bottom. Visibility at the site is normally excellent, and the dive is accessible year-round with no significant current.
Marine life has established itself across the hull, and the interior of the wreck offers photogenic scenes for underwater photographers.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
Ochre Sea StarPisaster ochraceusReported here · unconfirmed
Leather StarDermasterias imbricataReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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