Centre de Plongée du Bas St-Laurent - Nova Scotia
Okay, so Centre de Plongée du Bas St-Laurent. You’ll find them in Rimouski, a little further afield than what most divers think of as "Nova Scotia diving," but trust us, it’s worth the drive. These guys are your go-to for really getting into the colder water here. We especially love their focus on local sites, it’s not just about getting wet, it’s about understanding the St. Lawrence. The team at Centre de Plongée du Bas St-Laurent are just solid. They’re no-nonsense, friendly, and genuinely excited about the diving that’s right on their doorstep. You’ll be suited up for some serious chill, but once you’re under, the environment has this stark beauty. Think kelp forests swaying in the current, maybe a curious seal peeking from the gloom, and the wreck of the *Empress of Ireland* if you’re up for it and properly trained. We’d suggest chatting with them about their local knowledge; they’ll point you to some less-frequented spots where the nudibranchs are surprisingly colourful against the grey rock. It’s a different kind of diving, less about big pelagics and more about the quiet resilience of a northern ecosystem. Expect strong currents sometimes, so listen to their advice on timing your dives, particularly for slack tide.
- Location
- Nova Scotia, Canada, North America
- Coordinates
- 48.458565, -68.517920
- Phone
- +1-418-722-6232
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://centredeplongeebsl.com
- Courses
- yes
- Equipment Rental
- yes
- Air Fills
- yes
- Address
- 292, Rue Saint-Germain Est, Rimouski, G5L 1B9
- Languages
- French, English
Dive Sites Near Centre de Plongée du Bas St-Laurent
Centre de Plongée du Bas St-Laurent provides access to 15 dive sites in Nova Scotia.
- Africville Park
- Anemones Alley
- Arctic Trader shipwreck (wreck)
- Avondale Reef (reef)
- BALEINE - 18m (wreck)
- Bayswater
- Big Duck Island
- Birchy Head
- Black Reef (reef)
- Black Rock Beach
- Blueberry Bay Reef (reef)
- Boutiliers Point
- Boyds Reef (reef)
- Broad Bank (reef)
- Bull Reef (reef)
Other Dive Centres in Nova Scotia
Best Time to Dive in Nova Scotia
The warmest water temperatures in Nova Scotia occur in August, averaging 17.1°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 1.3°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 3.3°C
- February: 1.6°C
- March: 1.3°C
- April: 3.0°C
- May: 6.6°C
- June: 11.0°C
- July: 15.9°C
- August: 17.1°C
- September: 16.0°C
- October: 13.9°C
- November: 10.4°C
- December: 6.5°C
Marine Life in Nova Scotia
Home to 80 recorded species including 48 reef fish, 9 sharks & rays, 5 crabs & lobsters, 5 whales & dolphins, 4 other, 2 starfish.
Notable Marine Life
- American Lobster (Homarus americanus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) - Reef Fish
- Whiting (Merluccius bilinearis) - Reef Fish
- Split (Scomber scombrus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Cape Shark (Squalus acanthias) - Sharks & Rays
- saithe (Pollachius virens) - Reef Fish
- American eel (Anguilla rostrata) - Reef Fish
- Protestant (Clupea harengus) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Nova Scotia
Based on average water temperature of 8.9°C, currents 2 cm/s.
- Drysuit - water at 9°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