Britannia Beach
Nudibranch on Wall
Britannia Beach dive site offers two very different dives at basically the same location. The north dive site offers three wrecks all in close proximity and relatively shallow. The south dive site offers Britannia Wall, a large wood and steel wall teaming with nudibranchs and decorator crabs. The wall is actually the remains of a barge that was purposely sank in an attempt to protect the foreshore so in a way it is a wreck too.
The north dive site is directly across the Hwy from the Galileo Coffee Company which is located in Britannia Beach on the east side of the Sea to Sky Hwy. Gear up in the coffee company parking lot and scoot across the hwy and over the train tracks. There is a small trail on your left with multiple water access points. The first access point is a bit steep and rocky with beached logs to step, climb or fall over. The second access point on the trail is perhaps the best option as it has a few less rocks and logs but is a bit further to walk. When facing the water you will see some old pilings to your left. The first wreck, the Ready, lies at the base of these pilings in 30" to 50' of water. Descend at the beach and swim to the pilings keeping the shore on your left or surface swim to the piling and descend directly onto the Ready. Once you have explored a bit directly below the Ready lies the second unidentified wreck. If after exploring these two wreck if you still have air continue to swim keeping the shore on you left you will find a third wreck, Cape Swain. Three wrecks in one dive, lots of bang for your buck here. There is also a fare amount of sea life to observe in an around the wrecks. Most of your typical Howe sound inhabitants can be seen as well as a an octo or two.
The Britannia Wall dive site is a few hundred feet further north. Park in the Art Gallery / Marina parking lot that can be found kitty corner to the Britannia Mine Museum. Gear up and enter the bay on your left. There is an abandoned boat ramp that makes for easy access. Descend to around 30' and swim the bottom keeping the shore on your left and you will hit the wall in 5 to 10 mins depending on your pace. Alternately surface swim to one of the two mooring buoys in the bay and descend directly to the wall. The wall and bottom is silty so watch you buoyancy to keep the visibility decent. The wall is covered with red dendronotid nudibranchs, decorator crabs and shrimps. Great picture taking opportunities when the visibility is good. The wall descends to over 100' but we have found the times we have dove there that the life at 30' - 50' is pretty much the same as 50' - 100' feet with the visibility being better in the shallows.
The Shipwreck Exploration and Conservation Society (SECS) has a nice write up their website with details, pictures and videos of the Britannia Beach wrecks and wall.
How to get there:
The Britannia Beach dive site is in the small town of Britannia Beach a community on the eastern side of Howe sound about 12 kms before Squamish on the Sea to Sky Hwy. From Horseshoe Bay it is about 33 kms or 25 min drive. When you see the Galileo Coffee Company on your right you've found your destination.
Skill Level:
Beginners, Intermediate, Expert
Tide/Currents:Best to dive on the high tide at slack for easiest access. Current can be a factor as can wind making for a choppy surface swim. Use Squamish tide charts.
Type of Dive:
Shore
Max Depth:
100 + feet
Surface Swim:
Short/Medium
Staging Area:
For the wreck dive site there is a sizeable gravel area at the Galileo Coffee Company for parking and gearing up from your vehicle. No tables are available.
For the wall dive site there are a few parking spots in the art gallery / small marina located across the hwy from the Britannia Mine Museum. No tables are available.
Known Hazards:
Boat traffic especially in the summer, debris rigging and snags from the wrecks.
Dive Description:
This site is characterized by two distinctly different dives. A three wreck dive that involves swimming to see all three. A wall dive with lots of life surrounded by not much life. The bottom at both sites is silty and susceptible to poor visibility especially in the summer and large tidal exchanges.
Sea life:
Crabs, lingcod, flatfish, rockfish, perch, starfish, nudibranchs, jelly fish, sea cucumbers, tubeworms, plumose anemones, shrimps, and the occasional octopus.
Parking:
There is ample parking at the Galileo Coffee Company gravel lot and limited parking at the art gallery. When parking at either be respectful of the patrons priority of use of the available spots especially in the summer.
Facilities:
Washrooms are available at the Galileo Coffee Company (for customers). No know facilities at the art gallery / marina. Squamish and Porteau Cove are a short drive away if need be.
The north dive site is directly across the Hwy from the Galileo Coffee Company which is located in Britannia Beach on the east side of the Sea to Sky Hwy. Gear up in the coffee company parking lot and scoot across the hwy and over the train tracks. There is a small trail on your left with multiple water access points. The first access point is a bit steep and rocky with beached logs to step, climb or fall over. The second access point on the trail is perhaps the best option as it has a few less rocks and logs but is a bit further to walk. When facing the water you will see some old pilings to your left. The first wreck, the Ready, lies at the base of these pilings in 30" to 50' of water. Descend at the beach and swim to the pilings keeping the shore on your left or surface swim to the piling and descend directly onto the Ready. Once you have explored a bit directly below the Ready lies the second unidentified wreck. If after exploring these two wreck if you still have air continue to swim keeping the shore on you left you will find a third wreck, Cape Swain. Three wrecks in one dive, lots of bang for your buck here. There is also a fare amount of sea life to observe in an around the wrecks. Most of your typical Howe sound inhabitants can be seen as well as a an octo or two.
The Britannia Wall dive site is a few hundred feet further north. Park in the Art Gallery / Marina parking lot that can be found kitty corner to the Britannia Mine Museum. Gear up and enter the bay on your left. There is an abandoned boat ramp that makes for easy access. Descend to around 30' and swim the bottom keeping the shore on your left and you will hit the wall in 5 to 10 mins depending on your pace. Alternately surface swim to one of the two mooring buoys in the bay and descend directly to the wall. The wall and bottom is silty so watch you buoyancy to keep the visibility decent. The wall is covered with red dendronotid nudibranchs, decorator crabs and shrimps. Great picture taking opportunities when the visibility is good. The wall descends to over 100' but we have found the times we have dove there that the life at 30' - 50' is pretty much the same as 50' - 100' feet with the visibility being better in the shallows.
The Shipwreck Exploration and Conservation Society (SECS) has a nice write up their website with details, pictures and videos of the Britannia Beach wrecks and wall.
How to get there:
The Britannia Beach dive site is in the small town of Britannia Beach a community on the eastern side of Howe sound about 12 kms before Squamish on the Sea to Sky Hwy. From Horseshoe Bay it is about 33 kms or 25 min drive. When you see the Galileo Coffee Company on your right you've found your destination.
Skill Level:
Beginners, Intermediate, Expert
Tide/Currents:Best to dive on the high tide at slack for easiest access. Current can be a factor as can wind making for a choppy surface swim. Use Squamish tide charts.
Type of Dive:
Shore
Max Depth:
100 + feet
Surface Swim:
Short/Medium
Staging Area:
For the wreck dive site there is a sizeable gravel area at the Galileo Coffee Company for parking and gearing up from your vehicle. No tables are available.
For the wall dive site there are a few parking spots in the art gallery / small marina located across the hwy from the Britannia Mine Museum. No tables are available.
Known Hazards:
Boat traffic especially in the summer, debris rigging and snags from the wrecks.
Dive Description:
This site is characterized by two distinctly different dives. A three wreck dive that involves swimming to see all three. A wall dive with lots of life surrounded by not much life. The bottom at both sites is silty and susceptible to poor visibility especially in the summer and large tidal exchanges.
Sea life:
Crabs, lingcod, flatfish, rockfish, perch, starfish, nudibranchs, jelly fish, sea cucumbers, tubeworms, plumose anemones, shrimps, and the occasional octopus.
Parking:
There is ample parking at the Galileo Coffee Company gravel lot and limited parking at the art gallery. When parking at either be respectful of the patrons priority of use of the available spots especially in the summer.
Facilities:
Washrooms are available at the Galileo Coffee Company (for customers). No know facilities at the art gallery / marina. Squamish and Porteau Cove are a short drive away if need be.
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