Dodd Narrows
Conditions & tides
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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
Dodd Narrows is a narrow tidal waterway located south of Nanaimo near Cedar, British Columbia, in the Central Island area (49°08'08.2"N 123°49'03.2"W). The channel measures only 55 m (180 ft) across at its narrowest point and is regarded as one of British Columbia's top dive sites for advanced divers.
The terrain features sheer vertical walls, particularly on the Mudge Island side of the narrows, dropping to a maximum depth of 27 m (90 ft). These walls are densely covered in colourful anemones and marine invertebrates, and the strong tidal flow through the constricted channel sustains an exceptionally rich community of life throughout the water column.
Marine life at Dodd Narrows includes large schools of rockfish, sea stars, mosshead warbonnets, and abundant colourful invertebrates coating the walls. During winter months, California and Steller sea lions appear in the narrows, hunting salmon in the swift current.
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The site is accessible by boat only, with live boat drops being the standard entry method — there is no shore access, parking, or on-site facilities. The dive is run as a drift dive, with divers riding the tidal current through the narrows and timing the dive to the current direction. Currents can reach 9 knots, making timing and planning critical; boat traffic through the channel adds a further hazard, along with kelp and the occasional presence of orca.
Visibility is generally good but can be variable. Due to the strength of the current and the potentially dangerous conditions, this site is suited to advanced divers with drift-diving experience; it is not appropriate for beginners or those unfamiliar with strong-current diving.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
North Pacific Spiny DogfishSqualus suckleyiReported here · unconfirmed
Harbor SealPhoca vitulinaReported 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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