VASCO D'OREY - Newfoundland

Vasco d'Orey isn't your typical pretty reef dive. This is Newfoundland, after all, and we come here for rugged beauty and a touch of history. Sunk in 1977 after a fire, the bones of this 77-meter fishing trawler lie right near the surface, mostly burnt out, as the official records state. That’s actually a huge part of its charm. At just 5 meters, it’s a brilliant shallow wreck, perfect for divers who want to spend ages poking around without rushing their no-decompression limits. We love how accessible it is; you can often see parts of the superstructure breaking the surface, a good reference point for the dive. The water, predictably, is bracing, but visibility can be surprisingly good on a calm day. We’ve finned through schools of capelin here, silver flashes against the rusty hull, and the kelp forests growing on the wreck itself are dense with life. Look closely within the collapsed sections and you’ll find sculpin tucked into crevices, maybe even a curious lumpfish observing you from the shadows. Our favourite part? The sheer scale of it, even in its reduced state. It's a proper wreck, not just scattered debris, and you get to really absorb the story of it without feeling rushed.

Location
Newfoundland, Canada, North America
Coordinates
47.544445, -52.670834
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
5m

Marine Protected Area: Witless Bay Ecological Reserve

Best Time to Dive in Newfoundland

The warmest water temperatures in Newfoundland occur in August, averaging 15.9°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 0.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 2.3°C
  • February: 1.1°C
  • March: 0.3°C
  • April: 1.3°C
  • May: 3.9°C
  • June: 7.3°C
  • July: 12.4°C
  • August: 15.9°C
  • September: 14.6°C
  • October: 11.9°C
  • November: 8.0°C
  • December: 4.6°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Newfoundland

Nearest Dive Centres to VASCO D'OREY

Marine Life in Newfoundland

Home to 72 recorded species including 35 reef fish, 13 whales & dolphins, 7 sharks & rays, 5 seagrass & algae, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 soft corals.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for VASCO D'OREY

Based on average water temperature of 7.0°C, currents 2 cm/s.

  • Drysuit - water at 7°C demands a drysuit with thermal undergarments
  • Hood & Gloves (7mm+) - critical to prevent heat loss
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories