Kelvin Grove, Lions Bay freediving

You can reach Kelvin Grove from the Sea to Sky highway that runs between Squamish and Vancouver. It is a favorite with scuba divers and freedivers, but the parking situation keeps the number of divers low. After you get off the highway, get down to tidewater way and look for the parking lot on your left. There is a sign saying ‘no changing’ in the parking lot, so keep it discreet. Because the locals don’t like the activity there are only a few parking spots available for non-residents and they are normally taken during prime hours. Go early on the weekends, or in the evening during the week and you’ll be fine. If yuo can’t find parking you can go to Ansell Place or one of the dives at Whytecliffe.

The best time to dive is at slack, as the current can be strong and will carry you around the point. Within the little bay the current is commonly no problem but it is also fairly shallow (10-15 m). Around the point is a wall with some ledges, I am not sure how deep it goes but well below 20 meters from what I can tell. If you go around the point you can go as deep as you like. The bay is unprotected against fall and winter SW winds, so in heavy winds there will be a ton of wave action making it hard to dive. Visibility, as usual, is a hit or miss. I’ve seen it less than 1 meter up to 15 meters.

You can expect greenling, rockfish, anemones, perch, sea pens, lingcod and crab, octopus if you’re lucky and dive deep.

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Have any photos of Kelvin Grove? Please e-mail them to info@freedivewire.com. Have any additional info? Please add it in the comments.

Jaap

Jaap is a geologist by trade and a freediver by passion. Jaap wrote the book Longer and Deeper in 2018. His book teaches how to train for freediving and spearfishing on land.

This Post Has One Comment

  1. luca-malaguti

    You arrive to the waterfront and you’d think you were at a Carribean beach because of how clear the water can be. Tricky parking situation however, only 5 spots and for a maximum of 3 hours each. This has recently changed (I think) because of good behaviour by all divers (scuba especially). They restricted access because people were changing in front of the houses. So please change down by the water front. Great entry point just behind the bathroom hut, follow path through the woods and you’ll find a patch of grass, the kind you want to have a picnic after diving (hint hint).
    Protected from currents this place is a dream to dive since the water is usually very calm (at least the times I’ve been). What a wall and always a friendly seal (funky grey guy with black patches and a mohawk – no kidding anyone know this type of seal?) visitng us.

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