Patey 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 - Patey 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

Patey Rock is one of those spots that really reminds you why we dive the PNW. It’s a pinnacle, a big ol' rock rising from the deep, and the current can really whip around it. We’d suggest hitting it on a slack tide if you can manage the timing. Dive it right, and you're surrounded by schools of Pacific herring so dense they shimmer, twisting and turning like a liquid wall. Chinook salmon often cruise through, sleek and powerful, alongside the occasional spiny dogfish. Our favourite part has to be looking for the smaller stuff tucked into the cracks and crevices. You’ll find patches of star ascidians, like tiny, glowing jewels, and if you’re patient, a giant octopus might just be peeking out from its lair. Keep an eye out for sunflower stars making their way across the rock face, their many arms gently pulling them along. The eelgrass beds around the base are home to dungeness crabs scuttling past. It’s a site that rewards slow, careful observation, perfect for divers who appreciate the subtle beauty of temperate waters and don't mind a bit of a current challenge.