Rubly Island

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 - Rubly Island offers some of Pacific Northwest's richest reef 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

CharacterReef dive · max 10-30m

Rubly Island, for us, is a dive that always feels like coming home. It’s got that classic Pacific Northwest vibe without being too moody. We’ve had dives there where the visibility was a glorious 15 metres, sun filtering down through the kelp, making everything glow a soft emerald. But even on a darker day, it holds a quiet charm. Drop in and you’re immediately enveloped by the swaying kelp forest. Keep an eye out for the Plainfin Midshipman, they’re quirky little bottom dwellers. Our favourite find, though, is always the giant octopus tucked into a crevice – look for the tell-tale pile of crab shells outside their den. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the impressive Red Salmon runs depending on the season, a truly spectacular sight. It’s not a drift dive, which we appreciate, giving you time to really poke around. We'd suggest going on a slack tide, gives you more time to hunt for those Humpy Shrimp and Green Sea Urchins without fighting a current. It’s a great spot for newer cold-water divers to get comfortable, but offers enough quiet corners to keep experienced eyes busy too.