The west coast of Canada offers some awesome diving. Some of the best can be found around Vancouver Island.

A big tidal range and constricted water ways leads to some of the fastest ocean currents in the world. Water can flow at speeds up to 17 knots, so much of the diving is done at slack water, although there are also a lot of places you can dive at any stage of the tide.

The water is full of nutrients. Combined with the high water movement, thiscreates a fantastic environment for filter feeding animals such as sponges and other invertebrate animals.

Rocky reefs are crammed with life, especially in high current areas, and most seems oversized. Giant nudibranchs, plumose anemones and other invertebrates stand out.

Diving Canada's cool waters is a brilliant experience, even if the water temperatures mean that a drysuit is needed most of the time.

Some great operators to dive with on Vancouver Island include Rendezvous Dive Ventures in Barkely Sound on the west coast of the island, Divers Choice in Nanaimo, Rockfish Charters in the south and God's Pocket Resort off the north coast.

Barkely Sound offers many sites where currents are relatively gentle. The water often seems to have a layer of poorer visibility overlying clear sea water The clumps of plumose anemones on reef outcrops, sand channels with giant seapens and big lingcod are a feature and between dives you might see a black bear or two on the beach from the boat. The Rendezvous Dive Ventures lodge and boat are an excellent base for diving.

There are some good shore dives around Nanaimo, but there are some spectacular boat dives at Snake Island Wall (for the wall and seals around the island) and Dodd Narrows and Gabriola Passage (for the marine life). Divers Choice has a roomy dive boat and goes out with just two divers and a very experienced skipper.

There are many great boat and shore dives around Victoria and the southern part of Vancouver Island. Race Rocks and Ogden Point are brilliant dives. During my last trip to the island I managed to dive some new places in Saanich Inlet. The lack of strong tidal currents at most of the sites together with the distinctive marine life communities gives most dives in Saanich Inlet a different feel to other areas around Vancouver Island. It is a great experience to glide down to huge cloud sponges on the sheer wall at McCurdy Point or on the rolling stark reef at Senanaus Island. Rockfish Charters is an excellent operator and runs a unique dive boat that is perfect for the inlet.

God's Pocket Resort provides easy access to nearby Browning Wall, arguably the best wall dive in North America. This underwater cliff drops down from the forested shore to over 80 metres. Beneath a fringe of kelp near the surface, the cliff is covered in masses of colorful soft corals and other invertebrates, and many fish live in its crevices. Many other dives are also excellent. For example, on just one dive at 7 Tree Island you can see a wall plastered with invertebrates, see a giant octopus or sea lion then finish in a kelp forest out of the current. Most in this part of the world dives are done at slack water due to very strong tidal currents, but with a skilled operator it is still easy to do wonderful dives. The facilities at God's Pocket make diving here are fantastic, and Bill and Annie run a world class dive operation. So far I have stayed at God's Pocket three times and we are planning on going again.