Diving in New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy
Why dive here
New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy offers some of Canada's richest diving, with 142+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, blue whales, dolphins, dwarf minke whales and great white sharks.
Diving the Bay of Fundy isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s an adventure we always talk about after a few beers. The tides here are truly immense, pushing vast amounts of water and nutrients, which in turn brings in some serious pelagic action. Think about the incredible feeling of being in the water, knowing whales are moving through those same currents around you; we've even heard them singing on deeper dives. What you'll actually see can be genuinely surprising. We love the drift dives past walls covered in colourful anemones and sponges, feeling that powerful current move you along. Keep an eye out for the more unusual bottom dwellers like lumpsuckers clinging to rocks or the strangely beautiful Northern Wolffish lurking in crevices. Wreck diving here is fantastic too, often shrouded in that green, silty light, which adds a real sense of history to exploring a sunken vessel. Our favourite spots are often dictated by the tides; slack water is your friend, letting you really appreciate the smaller critters like the Punctate Blade Shrimp without fighting the flow. It’s challenging, no doubt, but the sheer raw power of the ocean here, and the life it supports, makes it absolutely worth the effort.
New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy
New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy Dive Sites
35 dive sites in New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy
Baie de la Vieille
Baie de la Vieille offers a chance to explore the cooler waters of the Bay of Fundy. We've found the visibility here can vary, but when it’s good, you’ll likely spot common local species like sculpins, anemones, and maybe some small lobsters tucked into the rocks. It’s a good spot for divers looking for a quieter, less-trafficked site, especially those keen on macro life in a temperate environment. We'd suggest checking local conditions before heading out.
Barge
The Barge in New Brunswick offers a different kind of wreck dive. It’s not some grand ocean liner, but a working vessel now resting on the seabed, providing a cool look at a simpler kind of wreck. We found the stern section especially interesting, with its exposed machinery and framework. You’ll spot the usual suspects here, lobsters tucked into every crevice, sculpins hugging the metal, and often schools of pollock circling above. It’s a good spot for divers looking for a relaxed wreck exploration rather than a deep penetration challenge. We'd suggest checking the tides; conditions can vary.
Bergeronne Trader
The Bergeronne Trader is one of those wrecks that really grabs you, a proper historical piece sitting quietly on the seabed. She’s a tugboat, and you can still make out the wheelhouse, the galley area, even a few tools scattered around if you look closely enough. We love how the Fundy currents have stripped her bare in places, revealing the ribs of the hull, but also how much has survived – a testament to solid construction. Visibility here can be a bit variable, typical for the Bay of Fundy, but when it’s good, it’s really good, letting you appreciate the scale of the wreck. Lobsters are everywhere, tucked into every crevice, and we’ve seen some surprisingly large cod cruising around the deeper sections. Our favourite part has to be the stern, where the prop is still mostly intact and home to some impressive anemone blooms. This isn't a site for beginners, we’d suggest some solid cold-water experience, but for wreck lovers, it’s a tangible piece of maritime history, and that’s a special feeling.
Bilbo
Diving Bilbo in the Bay of Fundy means contending with the legendary tides. We usually find it’s a drift, the current pulling us past kelp forests and rocky outcrops. Look for sculpins tucked into crevices and, if you’re lucky, a curious harbour seal might zip by. This spot is best for experienced divers comfortable with surge and colder water.
Blehem
Blehem is a shore dive in the Bay of Fundy, typically accessed at high slack tide to avoid strong currents. Visibility here can vary a lot, often dropping to just a few metres, but it's a good spot for finding nudibranchs and various crustaceans amongst the kelp. It’s definitely a dive for local divers, or those looking for an unusual cold water experience rather than big fish. We’d suggest checking local tide charts carefully and talking to nearby dive shops before heading out.
Brise Lame
The Brise Lame offers a chance to explore the Bay of Fundy's colder waters. You'll likely encounter common local species, perhaps some crabs scuttling over the bottom, or an occasional flounder tucked into the sand. Visibility here can be a bit challenging, often dropping, so it’s best suited for divers comfortable in murkier conditions who want to tick off a New Brunswick dive.
CARABOBO
The *Carabobo* wreck in New Brunswick is just a fantastic little dive. We love this site because it’s so accessible, sitting in a shallow 4 meters, making it perfect for a long bottom time or even a leisurely snorkel. You're diving on the remains of a 91-meter steamship, a freighter that sank way back in 1923 after hitting a rock. What you'll find today is a remarkably intact bow section, resting on its starboard side. You can swim right into the bow’s interior, exploring the small compartments, which is always our favourite part. The light filters in, illuminating the structure. It’s tight but really cool. Crabs are everywhere, scuttling over the metal, and the hold is often full of small, silvery fish. Visibility can swing, but on a good day, the wreck stands out sharply against the sandy bottom. Go at slack tide, obviously, to avoid the Bay of Fundy’s famous currents. It’s an easy, rewarding dive for anyone who enjoys history and exploring a proper wreck without the deep-water challenge.
Cayes Noires
Cayes Noires isn't your typical tropical coral reef, so ditch those expectations before you jump in. What you *do* get here is a fascinating look at how hardy life thrives in cooler waters. Think anemones in vibrant oranges and purples clinging to rock walls, their tentacles swaying gently with the surge. We often spot sculpin tucked into crevices, perfectly camouflaged, and if you’re lucky, a curious harbour seal might pop by to say hello. It's a dive for those who appreciate the subtle beauty of temperate reefs and enjoy a bit of an exploration challenge.
Empress of Ireland
Diving the Empress of Ireland is a serious undertaking, not a casual dip. Lying at 30-45m in the St. Lawrence, conditions can be challenging with cold water and often limited visibility, so experience with deep, cold-water wrecks is essential. What you’ll find is an immense liner, remarkably preserved given its age, with her stern deck still recognisable and cargo holds accessible for those properly trained and equipped. Giant plumose anemones coat every surface, and we’ve often seen wolf eels peering from crevices, alongside substantial cod and ling. It’s a dive for history buffs and experienced wreck divers who appreciate the solemn grandeur of a true maritime legend.
Epave
The Epave wreck, off the New Brunswick coast, is a solid choice for divers keen on exploring history with a little less fuss. We’ve found her to be a relatively intact steel hull, not too deep, making for some comfortable bottom times. You’ll usually spot flounders hunkered down in the sand around the wreck, and schools of pollock often mill about in the structure. It’s a good spot for newer wreck divers looking to get some experience or for anyone who appreciates the quiet solitude of an older vessel reclaimed by the Bay. Just keep an eye on the local tides; Fundy can certainly move some water around.
Escoumins
Escoumins offers a cool, clear dive in the Bay of Fundy. We've found the wall drops off fairly steeply, holding plenty of anemones and some decent crab action in the cracks. It's a solid choice for temperate water divers looking for a straightforward shore dive. Visibility can swing, but when it's good, it’s a refreshing change from the usual tropical scene.
Germanicus
The Germanicus, a wooden schooner wreck, lies in the chilly waters of the Bay of Fundy. Expect a silty bottom and typically low visibility, often less than five meters. It's a dive for those keen on maritime history and the challenge of low-light conditions, rather than vibrant marine life. This site is best suited for experienced cold-water divers comfortable with limited visibility.
New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy Dive Centres
4 dive shops and operators in New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy
Ocean Wildlife in New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy
142 species recorded in New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy
New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
05:32
Sunset
19:27
Daylight
13h 54m
Golden Hour
18:44
First light (dawn) at 04:59 · Last light (dusk) at 20:00
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 08:16 | 16:56 | 8h 40m |
| Feb | 07:37 | 17:45 | 10h 8m |
| Mar | 06:43 | 18:30 | 11h 47m |
| Apr | 05:38 | 19:16 | 13h 38m |
| May | 04:47 | 20:00 | 15h 13m |
| JunLongest | 04:23 | 20:31 | 16h 8m |
| Jul | 04:38 | 20:27 | 15h 49m |
| AugNow | 05:18 | 19:45 | 14h 27m |
| Sep | 06:02 | 18:43 | 12h 41m |
| Oct | 06:45 | 17:40 | 10h 55m |
| Nov | 07:34 | 16:49 | 9h 14m |
| DecShortest | 08:13 | 16:30 | 8h 18m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy.
Where to Stay near New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy
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Marine Protected Areas near New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy
257 protected areas near New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy - please respect local regulations when diving
Sector of Haute-Côte-Nord Territorial reserve for protected area purposes
Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area
Proposed Banc-des-Américains Aquatic Reserve
Proposed Manicouagan Aquatic Reserve
Parent Bank Sponge Conservation Area
Parent Bank Territorial reserve for protected area purposes
Western Honguedo Strait Coral Conservation Area
Honguedo-West Territorial reserve for protected area purposes
Scallop Buffer Zone (SFA 21)
Sector of Matane-Les Méchins Territorial reserve for protected area purposes
Archipel-de-Sept-Îles Land set aside
Pointe aux Ivrognes, Baie du Petit Makasti Water Fowl Gathering Area
Showing 12 largest of 257
Getting to New Brunswick & Bay of Fundy
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