Nuchatlitz Reef - Pacific Northwest
Nuchatlitz Reef, tucked away on Vancouver Island's west coast, offers a genuine taste of Pacific Northwest diving. This isn't a site for warm water coral fanatics; instead, we're talking about a cool, nutrient-rich environment where macro life truly shines. We've often found impressive numbers of Sunflower stars here, their multiple arms slowly crawling over the rocky substrate, along with various shrimp species like the Horned and Ocean Shrimp tucked into crevices. Keep an eye out for Big Skates, too, sometimes resting on the sandy patches between the reef sections. It’s a site that rewards slow, careful observation, perfect for divers who appreciate the subtle beauty of a temperate ecosystem.
- Location
- Pacific Northwest, United States, North America
- Coordinates
- 49.772620, -126.990620
- Type
- reef
Best Time to Dive in Pacific Northwest
The warmest water temperatures in Pacific Northwest occur in August, averaging 16.5°C (up to 15.6°C). The coolest conditions are in February at 6.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 7.1°C (air: 6.3°C)
- February: 6.9°C (air: 4.5°C)
- March: 7.7°C (air: 6.6°C)
- April: 9.5°C (air: 8.7°C)
- May: 12.0°C (air: 11.7°C)
- June: 14.0°C (air: 13.7°C)
- July: 15.7°C (air: 14.9°C)
- August: 16.5°C (air: 15.7°C)
- September: 14.3°C (air: 14.0°C)
- October: 11.4°C (air: 10.5°C)
- November: 8.8°C (air: 7.4°C)
- December: 7.7°C (air: 5.5°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Pacific Northwest
- 100 Foot Rock
- Alki Beach Park
- Alki beach Seattle ferry north
- Am/Pm Beach - 13m (shore)
- Ansell Point Dive Site - 5-20m (shore)
- Arachne Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Arachne Reef (reef)
- Arbutus Island - 10-30m (shore)
- Arbutus Point - 23m
- Atkins Reef (reef)
- Atrevida Reef (reef)
- Barnard Castle - 15-35m (pinnacle)
- Bell Island
- Blake Island Reef (reef)
- Blind Reef (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Nuchatlitz Reef
Marine Life in Pacific Northwest
Home to 38 recorded species including 18 reef fish, 7 crabs & lobsters, 3 whales & dolphins, 2 sharks & rays, 2 clams & mussels, 2 sea urchins.
Notable Species
- Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) - Reef Fish
- coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) - Reef Fish
- Spiny Dogfish (Squalus suckleyi) - Sharks & Rays
- Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) - Reef Fish
- Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Common shore crab (Carcinus maenas) - Crabs & Lobsters
- red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) - Reef Fish
- California Spot Prawn (Pandalus platyceros) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Slender Crab (Metacarcinus gracilis) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) - Reef Fish
- Whiting (Merluccius productus) - Reef Fish
- Pacific krill (Euphausia pacifica) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) - Whales & Dolphins
- Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) - Reef Fish
- Red Rock Crab (Cancer productus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Spotted Ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei)
- Calico salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) - Reef Fish
- Slender Sole (Lyopsetta exilis) - Reef Fish
- Pacific Geoduck (Panopea generosa) - Clams & Mussels
- Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) - Clams & Mussels
Recommended Packing List for Nuchatlitz Reef
Based on average water temperature of 11.0°C, currents 7 cm/s.
- Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 11°C water
- Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
- 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