Orlebar Point

Orlebar Point is a shore-entry deep wall dive off Gabriola Island, British Columbia, located along Berry Point Road and reached via a 15-minute ferry ride from downtown Nanaimo followed by a five-minute drive from the ferry terminal. Parking is limited to a few vehicles and there are no facilities at the site itself. Entrance Island Lighthouse, visible directly ahead from shore, serves as the primary navigation reference for the swim out.

The entry is from a sandstone beach shelf, and after a five-minute swim out and slightly left toward Entrance Island, divers pass over a series of shallow ledges before reaching the drop-off at around 45–55 feet (14–17 metres). From there the wall descends sharply to around 200 feet (61 metres), and divers typically follow the contour left as it steepens to a dramatic jutting point. The wall face is densely covered throughout, with the most concentrated growth as the wall deepens and around the point itself.

The wall is populated with cascading plumose anemones, bright crimson anemones, large boot sponges along the mid-wall, and expansive cloud sponges at depth. Giant Pacific octopus are occasionally encountered, and sea lions make frequent close passes. Visibility is best in fall and winter; spring and summer can bring variability due to plankton bloom.