The Rivtow Lion – An Excellent Wreck For New Divers
The Rivtow Lion is one of Nanaimo’s most accessible and rewarding artificial reefs, offering a mix of history, marine life, and sheltered conditions that make it a favorite for both recreational and training dives. This 150-foot (47 m) World War II tugboat served the British during WWII as it was built for towing torpedo-damaged ships back to safety.
After decades of service, the vessel was prepared and intentionally sunk in 2005 by the Nanaimo Dive Association, creating a diver-friendly artificial reef just inside Departure Bay.
Resting in calm, protected water, the Rivtow Lion is an ideal dive even when wind and swell make other sites on the Strait of Georgia challenging. Its modest depth, compact layout, and strong historical background make it perfect for divers who want a relaxed but engaging wreck experience.
Photos of the Rivtow Lion
Recommended certifications and experience
The Rivtow Lion is one of Nanaimo’s most accessible wreck dives. Its depth, location, and overall layout make it suitable for a wide range of certified divers, including those gaining experience with deeper or more advanced profiles.
Most divers will be comfortable with the following:
Open Water Diver (minimum): The Rivtow Lion rests in recreational depths and is manageable for newer divers who are gaining confidence with buoyancy, descents, and wreck awareness.
Recent cold-water experience: The site is sheltered, but temperatures, visibility, and surface conditions change through the year. A few recent dives in local conditions help ensure comfort.
Nitrox certification (recommended): The wreck is fully diveable on air, but diving Nitrox allows longer bottom times and shorter surface intervals, especially if you plan a two-wreck day.
Optional but beneficial:
Advanced Open Water: Not required, but helpful if you want to explore the deeper areas of the wreck more comfortably.
Wreck Diver training: Useful for learning about safe approaches, entanglement awareness, and how to navigate external structures without disturbing silt or marine growth.
Solid buoyancy and trim: The wreck has tight areas, marine life growth, and silt pockets, so stable positioning protects both you and the site.
These guidelines help divers get the most out of the Rivtow Lion while keeping the experience safe, relaxed, and enjoyable.
The Rivtow Lion dive profile overview
A shallow, easy wreck dive with lots of structure, marine life, and simple navigation. The Rivtow Lion sits upright in roughly 80ish feet of water (depth varies with tide), with most dives starting at either the bow or stern mooring line.
Key highlights include:
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- The propeller and rudder, both covered in plumose anemones and home to decorated warbonnets, shrimp, and the occasional octopus tucked under the keel
- The bridge, deck structures, and railing lines that make for clear paths around the wreck
- A short swim-through down the smokestack
- The rubber bumper strip wrapped around the hull, packed with small critters including crabs, shrimp, sculpins, and juvenile rockfish
- Optional penetration into the engine room for wreck-certified divers
Visibility notes: The Rivtow sits in sheltered water inside Departure Bay, so conditions are often calm even when the Strait is rough. Visibility ranges widely through the year but is generally consistent enough to make this an excellent second dive or relaxed exploration site.
Seasonal highlight: Each year divers gather for the Halloween Haunted Wreck Night Dive, a fun community event hosted on the Rivtow. Inquire at the shop for dates and details.
What to expect on your Rivtow Lion charter
The Rivtow Lion is one of Nanaimo’s most convenient and weather-friendly wreck dives, sitting just 5 minutes from the Brechin Boat Launch. It’s often the second dive after visiting a deeper site, but it also becomes the primary destination when the Strait is too rough for offshore wrecks.
Your trip runs aboard The Shepherd, our comfortable 35-foot dive vessel set up for smooth and easy entry and exit:
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- Seating for up to eight divers
- A solid, easy-to-climb ladder for re-boarding
- Overhead netting for dry storage and gear crates under the benches
- A marine head (washroom) onboard
- Experienced captains who know the wreck, conditions, and where find all the cool critters
Because the Rivtow is so close, these dives are relaxed and efficient. After gearing up, we typically drop directly onto one of the mooring lines, spend a full dive exploring the wreck, and return to the boat with plenty of time left in the day. Whether it's a calm-weather second dive or a reliable go-to when the wind picks up, the Rivtow Lion is always a solid and enjoyable choice.
Rivtow Lion Charter Meeting Location
Charters for the Rivtow Lion depart from the Brechin Boat Launch in Nanaimo.
At the launch you’ll find:
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- Pay parking
- Public washrooms
- Easy access to the loading area
If you park along the right hand side (when looking at the ramp) you'll have a short walk to the boat with your gear.
Plan to arrive a few minutes early so you can park, gear up, and get settled before boarding.
Start Your Adventure
Are you interested in diving the Rivtow Lion? Reach out and we'll secure your charter date!
