Night Muck Diving at Porteau Cove, BC

Lee Newman · Issue 74, Sep/Oct 2013 · pp. 36–41

Products mentioned: Canon 30D, Canon 7D, Aquatica A7D, 17-40/4, 100/2.8 macro, 50/1.4, Ikelite DS-160 strobes

There are places in the world, Lembeh Strait in Indonesia for example, that are absolutely famous for muck diving - exploring soft- bottom habitats home to some of the most bizarre and fascinating animals on the planet. While these famous muck diving sites tend to be located in the tropics, and are sometimes difficult to get to, there’s one, albeit maybe not so famous, just a short 40-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. Porteau Cove Provincial Park, located on the eastern shore of Howe Sound between Lion’s Bay and Squamish, is a popular local dive site for both beginners and the more experienced. While the main attractions are the artificial reef structures that have been placed in the shallow bay directly beside the highway, there ‘s also a great muck dive just a few fin-kicks from the concrete stairs that lead into the water. To the uninitiated, the term muck diving…