Finn Beach & Neck Point Park – Dive Site Overview
Finn Beach and the broader Neck Point Park area are among Nanaimo’s most popular shore diving sites, especially for beginners, open-water students, and divers who enjoy relaxed profiles with lots of macro life.
The site offers easy access, good facilities, and several distinct dive routes, making it a reliable go-to for both day and night diving.
With shallow bays, rubble slopes, reef patches, and the well-known “sewer pipes” dive, this area provides a surprising amount of variety in a compact footprint.
Videos including Finn Beach and Neck Point Park
What to expect on your dive
Most divers enter at Finn Beach, just a short walk from the main parking area. The entry is simple and suitable for new divers, and the protected bay makes it a great place to refine skills or enjoy unhurried exploration.
Underwater, you’ll find:
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- A gently sloping rubble zone on the left side of the bay
- Small rocky reef structures toward the deeper sections
- Sheltered conditions suitable for training and night dives
- A wide range of macro subjects and seasonal visitors
Common marine life includes:
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- Pacific spiny lumpsuckers (December–February)
- Stubby squid
- Ruby octopus
- Various species of sculpins
- Rockfish and perch
- The occasional wolf eel
- Nudibranchs and other macro invertebrates
Neck Point is also an excellent night-diving location, offering easy navigation and reliable critter encounters.
The Sewer Pipes
The “sewer pipes” are one of the most unique features of Neck Point. They are two large outflow pipes that extend far offshore into deeper water, and they make for an iconic local dive.
To reach them:
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- Enter at Finn Beach
- Swim on a bearing of roughly 160°
- Expect a 10–12 minute swim to reach the first (newer) pipe
- Continue about 10 meters farther to reach the older pipe
Underwater highlights include:
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- Schools of rockfish and perch
- Plumose anemones attached to the older pipe
- Octopus hiding under pipe sections
- Small invertebrates along the rubble
The pipes are long, straight, and easy to navigate, making them a favorite for divers who enjoy structured routes.
Neck Point Dive (The Point)
Diving off the actual point at Neck Point Park is far less common due to the long walk with gear. The terrain is beautiful but requires more effort to access unless you plan ahead and secure vehicle access to the gated service road.
This area offers:
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- Steep rocky slopes and small walls
- Excellent visibility on many winter days
- Octopus, wolf eels, rockfish, and schooling fish
- The occasional sea lion encounter
Once a year, local dive shops gather for a New Year’s Day dive at the point—one of the few times the area sees regular traffic.
Recommended Certifications & Experience
Suitable for:
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- Open Water divers
- Students in training
- Beginner-friendly night dives
The deeper sections at the point and along the pipes can benefit from Nitrox, but the site is easily diveable on air.
No current issues typically affect Finn Beach, but divers should be mindful of conditions when venturing toward deeper terrain or offshore routes.
Finn Beach Dive Site Location
Facilities & Access
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- Large parking lot at Finn Beach
- Bathroom facilities onsite
- Short, easy walk to the water
- Benches and flat areas to stage gear
For Neck Point proper, access to the point is limited and involves a longer hike.
