Race Rocks
British Columbia · Canada
Race Rocks is a protected ecological reserve at the southern tip of Vancouver Island where fierce tidal currents create a mixing zone of extraordinary productivity, drawing Steller sea lions, harbour seals, orcas, and enormous schools of rockfish year-round. The lighthouse islets are haul-out sites for hundreds of Steller sea lions, and divers entering the water are immediately surrounded by curious juveniles performing acrobatic spirals within touching distance. Below the surface, the rocks are plastered with anemones, urchins, and nudibranchs, and the visibility in outgoing current can exceed 20 metres.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 30 m
Open water and up
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
12 to 22 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
7 to 15°C
drysuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Vis (m) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Current | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Strong | Strong | Strong |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Steller Sea Lion
Last confirmed Jun 26, 2026 · 162 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Canada Goose
Last confirmed Jul 7, 2026 · 928 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Orca
Last confirmed Jun 30, 2026 · 133 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Mallard
Last confirmed Jul 7, 2026 · 1554 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Black Oystercatcher
Last confirmed Jul 6, 2026 · 846 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Giant Pacific Octopus
Last confirmed May 31, 2026 · 37 records
Very likely
Most dives
Aggregating Anemone
Last confirmed Jul 6, 2026 · 1381 records
Very likely
Most dives
American Crow
Last confirmed Jul 4, 2026 · 1417 records
Very likely
Most dives
Gear