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 When
Jacques Cousteau proclaimed that the spectacular coastal
waters of British Columbia, Vancouver Island and Nanaimo are 'the
best temperate water diving in the world and second only to the
Red Sea', you know you'll be diving one of the world's top dive
destinations.
British
Columbia has consistently been ranked as 'the' best place to dive in North America and offers spectacular
diving and excellent value.
Sport
Diver Magazine author, Ty Sawyer commends Nanaimo as "...one
of the most hardcore and enthusiastic dive communities in the world!"
Marilyn Griffiths of Scuba Press writes ... " Wolf eels, giant Pacific octopus, anemones, nudibranchs
and sponges, harbour seals and Stellar sea lions are just part of
a regular dive day off Nanaimo ... that is unless you add to the
wildlife experience by choosing to explore one of Nanaimo's famed
artificial reefs that are being colonized by marine life."
If it's breath-taking marine life you want to encounter then scuba diving Nanaimo and Vancouver Island the place to come to! How about
Giant Pacific Octopus and magnificent Six-Gill Sharks.
Or frolic with resident Wolf Eels and hundreds of playful
Harbour Seals. Drift through stunning gardens of colourful
Kelp, Anemones and Sponges. Descend along some
amazing Walls! All this just minutes by boat from The Buccaneer
Inn.
 Artificial
reefs your passion? Nanaimo, Vancouver Island is home to the best
of British Columbia's world famous artificial reefs! Explore The
Saskatchewan, B.C.'s most popular reef, with over 75,000
dives. Want to Watch A Video
of The Saskatchewan
Sink on June 14, 1997? You'll need the Quick Time plug in to view his thrilling spectacle! The Saskatchewan
is now teeming with life as marine life is has begun to colonize
it's many nooks and crannies. In a few years, The Saskatchewan will
be completely covered! Come back every year to document the ever
increasing growth of life on this historic ship.
The Cape
Breton, a 442' former World War II Victory class ship,
was sunk over a decade ago on October 20, 2001! The Cape
Breton is the World's Second Largest Diver-Prepared Artificial
Reef! She sank in 3 minutes and 37 seconds and sits perfectly
upright with a bottom depth of 142 feet and a top of 35 feet. Go
to our Cape Breton page for more details.
Our newest addition to Nanaimo's underwater fleet is the RivTow
Lion. This is a perfect novice wreck dive and is conveniently
located just across the street from The Buccaneer Inn! The RivTow sits at about
70 feet. The main deck is at 45', the top of the funnel at 36'.
Visibility is about 40' to 45'.
 Nanaimo
and The Buccaneer Inn are central to all of Vancouver Island and
are conveniently reached by many different transportation options.
Two B.C. Ferry
Terminals serve Nanaimo. The Buccaneer Inn is the closest accommodation
to Departure
Bay Ferry and only 20 minutes from Duke Point Terminal. Seair Airplanes offers convenient service between Vancouver International
Airport and Nanaimo and lands in the Channel just in front of The
Buccaneer!
 Westjet
has a direct flight from Calgary and Edmonton International Airports to Comox
Airport, which is a short hour drive from The Buccaneer Inn! Our
guests who can fly from, or connect through Calgary Airport, are
able to enjoy daily non-stop service.
Diving in Port Hardy, Barkley Sound or another Vancouver Island
destination? Why not spend a night before or after your dive adventure
and see what Nanaimo has to offer!
Looking for great shore dives? Need to do your open
water check-out dive? Want to combine a boat charter with some shore
diving? We're the right place for you. Nanaimo has an amazing selection
of shore diving opportunities, from Wolf Eels at Neck Point to Giant
Pacific Octopus at Madrona Point.
 Dave
and Marlene are proud that for over a decade, The Buccaneer Inn has been Vancouver
Island's #1 Dive Hotel. Our friendly, personal service and great
value added amenities, have made us the most requested accommodation
for divers visiting Vancouver Island. We proudly feature a package
of dedicated dive amenities that no other hotel in Nanaimo offers including
gear storage, rinse station, free dryers and an after-checkout shower
room so you can clean off before you drive home. "Dave
and Marlene always offer a comfortable, easy overnight stay with
no hassles. And at a great price!" says Craig at Silent World in Seattle!
Going to Port Hardy or one of the other dive spots on Vancouver
Island? Spend a night with us at the beginning or end of your
trip! Click here for Reservations
.
 RATHER
SNORKEL WITH THE SEALS?
Spend a few hours snorkeling with the 250 resident seals at Snake
Island! This is a great YEAR-ROUND ADVENTURE FOR ALL THE
FAMILY and is sure to be the highlight of your Vancouver Island
experience! Be prepared for a good frolic with the seals and some
close encounters! These happy characters are as curious about you
as you are about them.
Marlene has snorkeled with the dolphins in Florida and finds snorkeling
with the seals here a much more exciting, natural experience and
certainly a lot more affordable! Visit our Diving
and Snorkeling Adventures pages
for complete details.
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