Canoe Rock

Best months: Sep–Jan

Protected Area

Kellett Bluff Voluntary No-take

Why dive here

With 35+ marine species recorded in the area - including humpback whales, orcas and seals & sea lions - Canoe Rock offers some of Pacific Northwest's richest pinnacle diving. Water ranges 7-17°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeSep–Jan

WetsuitA drysuit

Marine lifeHumpback Whales, Orcas and Seals & Sea Lions · 35+ species recorded

Water7-17°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterPinnacle dive

StandoutDramatic pinnacle topography

Canoe Rock is one of those places that reminds you why we dive the Pacific Northwest. Forget the usual suspects; here, the current often rips, and that’s precisely what makes it good. We've seen schools of herring so dense they blot out the sun, a shimmering, living curtain that pulses with every passing spiny dogfish. It's not a gentle drift, but rather a proper adventure, the kind where you brace against the flow and feel the sheer power of the ocean. We love dropping in just as the current starts to pick up, letting it carry us along the rock face, keeping an eye out for the resident plainfin midshipmen tucked into crevices. Keep your eyes peeled for enormous sunflower stars clinging to the rocks, their arms stretching out like neon fireworks. This is a site for divers who appreciate a bit of a challenge, who want to witness the raw energy of a healthy, productive ecosystem. You’ll leave feeling invigorated, and probably a little humbled.