British Columbia
Canada · Pacific
British Columbia's cold, nutrient-rich Pacific waters host some of the world's densest concentrations of giant Pacific octopus alongside wolf eels, Steller sea lions, and orcas. From the sheltered passages of the Inside Passage to the exposed rocky reefs of Race Rocks, BC delivers a cold-water spectacle unmatched on the continent.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live science signals for this reef are still being gathered.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is fairly quiet.
Sources · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
39 species across the dive sites here
Ochre Sea Star
Seen 20 days ago
at Barkley Sound
Purple Shore Crab
Seen 20 days ago
at Barkley Sound
Black Tegula
Seen 21 days ago
at Barkley Sound
Canada Goose
Seen 21 days ago
at Race Rocks
Least concern
Lingcod
Seen 21 days ago
at Porteau Cove
Spotted Towhee
Seen 21 days ago
at Dodd Narrows
Least concern
American Robin
Seen 21 days ago
at Dodd Narrows
Least concern
Mallard
Seen 21 days ago
at Race Rocks
Least concern
Black Oystercatcher
Seen 22 days ago
at Race Rocks
Aggregating Anemone
Seen 22 days ago
at Race Rocks
Anna'S Hummingbird
Seen 23 days ago
at Dodd Narrows
Least concern
Giant Green Anemone
Seen 23 days ago
at Barkley Sound
Red-Breasted Sapsucker
Seen 23 days ago
at Porteau Cove
Least concern
Common Raven
Seen 24 days ago
at Porteau Cove
Least concern
Pacific Banana Slug
Seen 24 days ago
at Porteau Cove
American Crow
Seen 24 days ago
at Race Rocks
Least concern
Bat Star
Seen 25 days ago
at Barkley Sound
Copper Rockfish
Seen 25 days ago
at Porteau Cove
Near threatened
Leather Star
Seen 25 days ago
at Barkley Sound
Dark-Eyed Junco
Seen 28 days ago
at Dodd Narrows
Least concern
Mossy Chiton
Seen 28 days ago
at Barkley Sound
Orca
Seen 28 days ago
at Race Rocks
Steller Sea Lion
Seen 1 month ago
at Race Rocks
Near threatened
Red Irish Lord
Seen 1 month ago
at Browning Pass
Least concern
Orange Sea Cucumber
Seen 1 month ago
at Browning Pass
Giant Pacific Octopus
Seen 1 month ago
at Race Rocks
Least concern
Wolf Eel
Seen 1 month ago
at Browning Pass
Least concern
Noble Dorid
Seen 1 month ago
at Browning Pass
Nudibranch
Seen 2 months ago
at Porteau Cove
Hooded Nudibranch
Seen 3 months ago
at Dodd Narrows
Black Slug
Seen 3 months ago
at Bowie Seamount
Least concern
Painted Anemone
Seen 3 months ago
at Bowie Seamount
Robust Lancetooth Snail
Seen 3 months ago
at Bowie Seamount
Sunflower Sea Star
Seen 4 months ago
at Dodd Narrows
Critically endangered
Plumose Anemone
Seen 11 months ago
at Browning Pass
Pacific Sideband
Seen Jun 2025
at Bowie Seamount
Arctic Green Sea Urchin
Seasonal visitor
at Bowie Seamount
Chinook Salmon
Rare sighting
at Bowie Seamount
Least concern
Thatched Barnacle
Rare sighting
at Bowie Seamount
Dive sites
Browning Pass
giant pacific octopus · wolf eel · lingcod · plumose anemone
Race Rocks
steller sea lion · giant pacific octopus · orca · aggregating anemone
Porteau Cove
lingcod · nudibranch · copper rockfish · pacific banana slug
Dodd Narrows
giant pacific octopus · sunflower sea star · hooded nudibranch · american robin
Bowie Seamount
pacific banana slug · painted anemone · robust lancetooth snail · arctic green sea urchin
Barkley Sound
ochre sea star · giant green anemone · leather star · black tegula