Charlaine Boat Ramp - One Of Nanaimo's Best Muck Dives
Charlaine Boat Ramp is a simple, beginner-friendly shore dive located about 15 minutes from Nanaimo Dive Outfitters. With easy access, shallow depths, and an ever-changing mix of macro life, it’s a great evening or after-work dive, especially during fall and winter when seasonal critters move into the area and visibility is the best.
This is an active boat launch, so divers should use caution during summer months and always monitor for boat traffic before surfacing.
Videos from Charlaine Boat Ramp
Recommended certifications and experience
Charlaine Boat Ramp is an ideal site for beginners, refresher dives, or anyone building confidence with shore entries and low-stress conditions. It is suitable for:
-
- Open Water Divers
- Divers practicing buoyancy, trim, and finning in a calm environment
- Macro photographers
Air is perfectly suitable, and the shallow profile keeps NDLs generous.
HMCS Saskatchewan Dive profile overview
Charlaine Boat Ramp is a short, straightforward shore entry with only a few steps from your car to the water. The site is best dived on a higher tide, which provides more depth and easier access over the rocks near the end of the ramp.
Once you enter the water, swim straight out and slightly left. Depth will range from 10 to 30 feet depending on tide, keeping your entire dive within a comfortable, shallow profile.
The bottom is a mix of sand, small rocky patches, and scattered man-made structures, including:
-
- Mooring blocks
- Old anchors
- Concrete debris
- Small reef-like clusters of stone
These features act as micro-habitats for a surprising amount of marine life and make this a fun site for slow, deliberate exploration.
Marine Life Highlights
Charlaine is one of the better macro and critter-spotting sites in the area, especially during cooler months. Divers often encounter:
-
- Hooded nudibranchs (common in October and late fall)
- Ruby octopus
- Stubby squid
- Pacific spiny lumpsuckers (seasonal, typically December through February)
- Various nudibranch species
- Schools of baitfish and perch
- Hermit crabs, sculpins, and juvenile rockfish
The shallow depth and sandy substrate make it especially good for photography and night diving.
Charlaine Boat Ramp Location
Depth: 10–30 ft depending on tide
Entry: Easy shore entry from a concrete boat ramp
Navigation: Simple—swim out and left from entry
Bottom: Sand with scattered structure
Best time: Evenings and higher tides
Hazards:
Active boat traffic in summer
- Low tide makes the entry rocky and awkward
- Slow swimming and close bottom inspection will reveal most of the macro life.
- Night dives can be extremely productive for spotting squid, octopus, and active nudibranchs.
