Hawkin Reef
Protected Area
Musquodoboit Harbour
Why dive here
With 77+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and jellyfish lake - Hawkin Reef offers some of Nova Scotia's richest reef diving. Water ranges 1-17°C, warmest August, September, October.
Hawkin Reef offers a solid Nova Scotia dive, not one for the record books but definitely worth a tank. You'll find yourself drifting over an interesting coral reef structure, a nice change from some of the rockier sites around here. We’ve spotted everything from the tiny Nine-spined Stickleback darting between fronds to larger Redfish hanging out in deeper sections. Keep an eye out for Forbes sea stars clinging to the rocks, and if you’re lucky, an American Lobster might peek out from a crevice. It’s a good spot for a relaxed dive, suitable for most experience levels when conditions are calm.
Typical Hawkin Reef Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Cold water this month (avg 15°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Hawkin Reef
Hawkin Reef Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Hawkin Reef, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (44.6, -63.5) (0km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
15°C
58°F · Range: 8.7–17.2°C
Current Speed
1 cm/s
Direction: N (0°)
Salinity
30.56 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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