Tyee Cove – one of Nanoose Bay’s best shore dives
Tyee Cove is a classic Vancouver Island shore dive and a favorite among both local divers and visiting instructors. Located in Nanoose Bay, just north of Nanaimo, it offers easy access, great facilities, and surprisingly diverse underwater terrain for a beach entry.
Because of its forgiving entry, interesting walls, and varied depths, Tyee Cove is regularly used for open water training, club dives, and relaxed fun dives alike. It is also one of those sites that keeps experienced divers coming back, with enough structure and life to explore dive after dive.
Shore access and facilities
Tyee Cove is one of the more comfortable shore diving locations in the area.
At the site you’ll find:
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- Ample parking close to the beach
- Picnic tables for gearing up
- A washroom and small changing facility
- A short, straightforward walk to the water
The easiest entry is on the right-hand side of the beach, where kayakers have created a well-worn path into the water. This makes for a clean, simple shore entry even when fully geared up.
Videos of Tyee Cove
Recommended certifications and experience
This site works well for a wide range of divers.
Newer divers benefit from:
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- Easy entries and exits
- Clear navigation references
- Gradual depth options
- Interesting terrain without immediate deep exposure
More experienced divers enjoy:
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- Steeper walls and deeper profiles
- Longer swims and navigation challenges
- Night dives and photography opportunities
- Connecting dives toward Dolphin Beach
Because of this flexibility, many local dive shops regularly run open water courses and training dives at Tyee Cove.
Planning your dive
As with all shore dives in the area, conditions matter. Visibility, currents, and surface conditions can change, and planning around tides is important for the best experience.
If you’re new to the site, diving with a local guide, joining a club dive, or getting a site briefing beforehand can make a big difference.
Tyee Cove is a reminder of why Nanoose Bay is such a great place to dive. Easy access, solid infrastructure, and rich underwater terrain come together to make this a site that works for almost everyone, from brand-new divers to seasoned locals.
Tyee Cove dive site and profile overview
From the beach entry, divers swim out into a small bay framed by rocky underwater formations. Navigation is relatively intuitive, which is one reason this site works so well for newer divers.
As you move out from shore, you’ll encounter a sandy chute running north–south. This chute acts as a natural divider between the left and right sides of the dive site and is a key navigation reference.
Right side of the chute
Turning right at the sandy chute brings you along a rubble slope and rocky terrain filled with cracks, ledges, and small formations. This area is loaded with life and makes for a relaxed, exploratory dive.
Depth here reaches roughly 80 feet, with a much deeper wall dropping beyond that point. As the wall curves back toward shore, you can cross the sandy chute again at around 65 feet and arrive at a series of shelves. These shelves are a common place to spot octopus, rockfish, and other structure-loving species.
Farther to the right, additional rock formations rise out of the sand, offering more places to explore and excellent photo opportunities.
Left side of the chute
Heading left from the chute brings you to a steeper, more dramatic wall. This side feels more vertical and imposing, with strong relief and a sense of depth even at moderate dive profiles.
The wall eventually turns back toward shore. A short swim, roughly three minutes across the chute, leads to another set of rocky reefs and walls. Continuing farther brings you toward Dolphin Beach, making the Dolphin Beach to Tyee Cove route a popular option for experienced divers comfortable with navigation and distance.
Marine life highlights
Tyee Cove is known for its variety of marine life and frequent surprises.
Common sightings include:
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- Sea lions
- Nudibranchs in many species
- Giant Pacific octopus
- Schools of herring
- Schools of perch
- Puget Sound king crab
- Rockfish and other reef species
There is also a well-known local rumor of a very large wolf eel affectionately called “Grandpa,” who divers often hope to visit. Like all wolf eels, sightings depend on luck, timing, and respectful diving.
Tyee Dive Site Location in Nanoose
Tyee Cove is a shore dive with easy access and good on-site facilities, making it a straightforward place to plan a relaxed dive day.
At the site you’ll find:
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- Ample parking close to the beach
- Public washrooms and a small changing area
- Picnic tables for gearing up and staging equipment
The easiest and most commonly used entry is on the right-hand side of the beach, where a well-established kayak path leads directly into the water. This provides a smooth, low-stress entry and exit, even when diving in full gear.
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