HMCS Cape Breton
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
HMCS Cape Breton is a diver-prepared artificial reef wreck site located in the waters near Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The former vessel was deliberately sunk and is recognised as Canada's largest artificial reef and the second largest artificial reef wreck in the world. The ship settled almost perfectly upright on the bottom, with only a slight list to starboard.
The wreck's interior offers penetration diving, with many rooms accessible to divers including the engine room, which features an open space with pipes and catwalks throughout. Given the nature of penetration diving and the scale of the wreck, the site is suited to experienced divers with the appropriate training.
Access to the site is by boat only. The wreck hosts diverse marine life, and the area around the hull serves as an artificial reef habitat.
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
Dock ShrimpPandalus danaeReported here · unconfirmed
Dungeness CrabMetacarcinus magisterReported here · unconfirmed
Ochre Sea StarPisaster ochraceusReported 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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