Race Rocks Ecological Reserve
Vancouver Island / Victoria · Canada
Race Rocks is a protected ecological reserve 20 km southwest of Victoria where tidal currents through the Strait of Juan de Fuca create one of the most productive cold-water ecosystems on the BC coast. Steller sea lions haul out on the rocks by the hundreds and dive with boats in the water. Harbour seals, California sea lions, and river otters share the reserve with enormous lingcod, cabezon, and the occasional Pacific white-sided dolphin. The rocky pinnacles and boulders drop to 25 m and are encrusted with strawberry anemones and purple sea urchins.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 25 m
Open water and up
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
6 to 10 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
7 to 13°C
drysuit required
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Vis (m) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Current | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Steller Sea Lion
Last confirmed Jun 26, 2026 · 162 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Harbour Seal
Last confirmed Jun 20, 2026 · 665 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Purple Sea Urchin
Last confirmed Jul 4, 2026 · 399 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Lingcod
Last confirmed May 20, 2026 · 55 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Cabezon
Last confirmed May 8, 2026 · 21 records
Very likely
Most dives
Wolf Eel
Last confirmed May 19, 2026 · 7 records
Very likely
Most dives
Giant Pacific Octopus
Last confirmed May 31, 2026 · 37 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Strawberry Anemone
Last confirmed Aug 3, 2024 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Gear