Snake Wall – An Amazing Deep Wall Dive
Snake Wall is one of Nanaimo’s most dramatic natural dives, known for its steep drop-offs, deep-water plumose gardens, and breathtaking topography. Located just minutes from the HMCS Saskatchewan and Cape Breton, it is a popular second dive on charter days and a favourite among rebreather and technical divers due to its extreme depth. The wall itself descends well past recreational limits, dropping into more than 500 feet of open water.
This is a site built for divers who enjoy depth, vertical structure, and the feeling of floating over the edge of an underwater cliff. With healthy plumose anemones, large lingcod, Puget Sound king crabs, and the occasional octopus tucked into the rock, Snake Wall delivers one of the most iconic cold-water wall dives on Vancouver Island.
Videos of Snake Wall
Recommended certifications and experience
Snake Wall is suitable only for divers who are completely comfortable at depth and managing uplift, buoyancy changes, and gas planning.
Most divers should be:
Advanced Open Water Diver or higher: The typical dive path runs 80–110 feet, and many divers choose to explore deeper.
Experienced with deep profiles (recent dives to 100+ ft): The wall drops steeply, so depth discipline is essential.
Nitrox certified (strongly recommended): Air is not advised for this site. Most divers use 28–32% for safer profiles and longer bottom time.
Ideal for:
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- Technical divers, trimix divers, and rebreather divers
- Experienced recreational divers looking for a deep, scenic wall
Good buoyancy and gas awareness are important, as the site has few visual “stop points” once you start descending the wall.
Snake Wall Dive profile overview
Most dives begin at the mooring buoy, typically set in 25–35 feet depending on the tide. You’ll descend the line to a large concrete block before following a guide rope outward toward the wall's edge.
From there, the dive transitions to a standout feature of the site:
The Sand Chute Launch Point
A sloping sand chute leads you toward the edge of the drop-off, where the bottom suddenly falls away into the dark blue. This is the start of Snake Wall.
The Wall
The wall is steep, dramatic, and covered in:
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- Plumose anemones cascading into the depths below as far as you can see
- Large lingcod and rockfish hanging out on the ledges
- Puget Sound king crabs tucked along deeper sections
- Giant Pacific octopus found in cracks and recesses
Visibility is often very good here, especially in fall and winter, giving divers a sense of immense vertical space.
The Overhang (approx. 120 ft)
To the left side of the wall, a large overhang forms a sheltering pocket at around 120 feet. Advanced divers enjoy sweeping beneath it for the spectacular silhouette and the density of anemone growth.
Depth & navigation
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- Top of site: ~30 ft
- Main recreational zone: 80–110 ft
- Overhang: ~120 ft
- Technical zone: 150–500+ ft
The site is easy to navigate: follow the rope out to the wall, descend to your planned max depth, explore along the face, then return upslope to complete a controlled ascent.
What to expect on your Snake Wall charter
Snake Wall is only 5 minutes from both the Saskatchewan and Cape Breton, making it one of the most common second dives on wreck days.
Your trip runs aboard The Shepherd, our 35-foot dive vessel equipped with:
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- Seating for 8 divers
- A sturdy dive ladder
- Gear storage and overhead netting
- Marine head (washroom)
- Local captains who know the current windows and the safest approaches to the mooring
Because Snake Wall is deep and visually stunning, many divers use this site for skill progression, photography, or as a warm-up for future technical courses.
Is Snake Wall right for you?
Snake Wall is ideal for divers who love vertical terrain, deeper profiles, and big, open-water scenery. It’s a deep, rewarding, and unforgettable dive, one of Nanaimo’s most impressive natural features, but it requires good comfort, discipline, and experience at depth.
Snake Wall Charter Meeting Location
Charters for Snake Wall 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
Would you like to explore the depths of Snake Wall? Reach out and we'll secure your charter date!
