When I saw an article called What Sea Turtles Live in Canada, my mind read the title as, “What?! Sea Turtles Live in Canada?!” If you think the marine life in Canada is limited to a few fish and the occasional crab, think again. Spoiler alert: your bucket list of marine animals to dive with is about to get a lot longer.
The Most Popular Marine Life in Canada
This article is just the tip of the iceberg (yet another thing you can see in Canada). The marine life in Canada is abundant and diverse.
Consider that coastal Canada includes three oceans:
- The Atlantic
- The Pacific
- The Arctic
There are also thousands of lakes — including the Great ones — and the massive St. Lawrence River. Here are a few of the creatures you might see exploring Canada’s mighty waterways.
Orcas, Beluga and Other Cetaceans
More than 33 cetaceans (dolphins and whales) can be seen in Canada. In British Columbia, you have a 95%+ chance of seeing orcas, grey whales or humpbacks, seasonally. Beluga whales are reliably seen in Manitoba and certain areas of the St. Lawrence River.
NOTE: Canada’s Species at Risk Act prohibits diving and swimming with whales. If you’d like to see whales up close, a kayak tour is a good way to go.
Sea Turtles
Of the seven species of sea turtle, four cruise through Canada, including:
- Green Sea Turtles
- Kemp’s Ridley Sea turtles
- Leatherback Sea Turtles (Atlantic and Pacific Populations)
- Loggerhead Sea Turtles
Seals and Sea Lions
Canada is one of the best places to dive with seals and sea lions. Playful harbour seals live on both coasts, generally in shallow bays. There’s also an endemic freshwater seal in Québec.
Stellar Sea Lions are common around Vancouver Island, British Columbia. At the right time of year, it’s possible to dive with 100+ of them at once.
Other Ocean Critters
A few of the fish you can see scuba diving in coastal Canada include:
- Sea Ravens and Sculpins
- Flounder and Halibut
- Dogfish
- Ratfish
- Lingcod
- Herring
- Salmon (also found in lakes)
Other marine life you can see in Canada include crabs, tunicates (sea squirts), sea urchins, anemones, nudibranchs and jellyfish.
The Most Incredible Marine Life on Canada’s Pacific Coast
Canada’s rugged, beautiful Pacific coast is home to the Giant Pacific Octopus (GPO). This massive, intelligent and possibly alien creature has inspired numerous books and documentaries.
In addition, two of my favorite so-weird-they’re-adorable marine critters live in Canada: the wolf eel and spiny Pacific lumpsuckers. If, like me, you’re a fan of underwater oddballs these guys are fist-clenchingly cute.
Sixgill sharks typically live in deep water, far below recreational limits. But in August and September, it’s possible to see juvenile sixgills on night dives. These mysterious creatures eventually grow up to 5.5m/18 feet long.
Freshwater Marine Life and the Marine Life of the St. Lawrence River
The freshwater marine life across Canada’s freshwater lakes and rivers is as diverse as the scenery that surrounds it. In places like Lake Minnewanka in Alberta, divers can watch schools of trout cruising over historic dam structures or through the submerged ghost town.
In Ontario’s interior waterways, divers can expect to see bass, perch, pike, pumpkinseed fish and walleye darting among aquatic vegetation. In deeper dive spots, like Tobermory on Lake Huron, dinosaur-esque lake sturgeon can be found amongst perch and bass.
British Columbia has a resident mermaid in the Powell River. The Cousteau family and British royalty have paid their respects to this great lady, and she’s the sister of the mermaid at Sunset House in Grand Cayman.
Where freshwater mixes with saltwater in the St. Lawrence River, divers can see crabs, sea cucumbers, anemones and a variety of marine mammals. Depending on the time of year, several whale species can be seen topside. (Remember, it is not legal to dive or swim with whales in Canada.)
Dive Into Canada
Curious about diving in Canada but not ready to take the plunge? Try virtual reality (VR) scuba diving in British Columbia or the Great Lakes.
- Diving Freshwater Lakes, Vancouver Island
- Dive with Octopuses and Eels in 360 3D
- Shipwreck Alley Lake Huron (video courtesy NOAA)
