South Cod Reef

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 - South Cod Reef 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 10-25m

South Cod Reef has a surprising amount of action for a site we’ve always considered a little out of the way. Drop down and it’s a rocky, crevice-filled world. We love nosing into those nooks and crannies to find a giant octopus peering out, or the iridescent shimmer of a Roughpatch Shrimp. It’s the kind of place where you’ll spot a Snake Prickleback slithering along the rocks, looking for its next meal. Visibility here can swing wildly depending on the season and recent rainfall, but on a good day, it's a deep emerald green, with sunlight filtering through the kelp. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff; Four-Spined Squat Lobsters are often tucked away in the shadows, and you’ll see plenty of Green Shore Crabs scuttling about. Surface interval often brings the best wildlife, with Double-crested Cormorants diving for fish and the occasional Gray Whale spouting offshore. Dive this one in the late morning when the sun is higher; it really helps brighten up the reef. This site is great for macro enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a good treasure hunt among the rocks.