Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
son (mid-Apr. to Oct.), along with sea lions, porpoises, and seals. Trips last 2-3 hours, are
generally made in sturdy inflatable boats with an onboard naturalist, and cost $90-110 per
person. Recommended operators departing from the Inner Harbour include
Orca Spirit
Adventures
(250/383-8411 or 888/672-6722),
Great Pacific Adventures
(250/386-2277
or 877/733-6722), and
Prince of Whales
(250/383-4884 or 888/383-4884).
With a waterfront location within easy walking distance of downtown,
Ocean River
Sports
(1824 Store St., 250/381-4233 or 800/909-4233,
www.oceanriver.com
) is the most
convenient place to head for all your kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) needs.
Single kayaks, SUPs, and canoes cost $40 to rent for two hours or $60 for a full day.
Double kayaks are $60 and $90 respectively. Throughout summer, Ocean River offers a
variety of guided paddles, including a relaxing 2.5-hour evening tour for $65 per person.
For those looking to be more adventurous, consider the 6.5-hour Discovery Island Tour,
which begins with a short boat ride out to the island from Oak Bay for $159 per person
including lunch.
ClosetodowntownVictorialieseveralgooddivesites,notably
Ogden Point Breakwater,
which since its construction in 1916 has become a haven for marine life, including oc-
topuses, eels, anemones, starfish, and schools of rock fish. The breakwater is home base
for
Ogden Point Dive Centre
(199 Dallas Rd., 250/380-9119,
www.divevictoria.com
,
9am-6pm daily), which offers rentals, instruction, and a guided shore dives ($99, or $129
with a drysuit). Other amenities include lockers and showers.
To access the great diving in the Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca, you'll need to
charter a boat. One particularly interesting site is
Race Rocks,
a 25-minute boat ride from
Victoria. Because of strong tides, this site is for experienced divers only, but those that do
venture out have the chance of seeing sea lions, abalones, giant sea urchins, king crabs,
and an abundance of fish species. Farther north, off the Saanich Peninsula's north end,
the 110-meter (360-foot)
HMCS
Mackenzie
destroyer escort was scuttled especially for
divers. Ogden Point Dive Centre charges from $160 per person for guided dives requiring
boat access.
