Forillon National Park offers a cold-water diving and snorkelling experience defined by kelp forests, natural reefs, and artificial reef structures. Harbor Seal and Gray Seal are regularly encountered, while Basking Shark is a signature draw across much of the park. Sites range from shallow shoreline reefs to deeper artificial structures at Grande Grave. Water is cold year-round, warming to its peak in late summer, when visibility and wildlife activity are at their best.
Monthly water temperature across Forillon National Park's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures sit near freezing through winter and early spring before climbing through summer to a peak in August. The warmest and most productive diving window runs from late spring through early autumn, when marine life activity peaks. Exposure and cold demand appropriate thermal protection even at the height of summer.
4 operators
15 more sites to explore
Water temperature around Forillon National Park ranges from about -1°C in February to 16°C in August, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 16°C) a 7mm or semi-dry suit is comfortable in Forillon National Park; in the coldest months (about -1°C) step up to a drysuit.
Fin maps 18 sites in Forillon National Park (14 scuba diving sites and 8 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Across Forillon National Park's dive sites, June, July, August and September are most often reported as the best months to visit.
Harbor Seal and Gray Seal are very commonly observed across the park's sites. Basking Shark is a notable signature species, recorded across the majority of sites. Common Lobster, Atlantic Rock Crab, Plumose Anemone, and Cod are also regularly encountered, with occasional sightings of Humpback Whale and Lumpfish adding further interest.
Most sites in the park are accessible directly from shore, including Grande Grave and the main park reef and kelp forest areas. Grande Ile is an exception, requiring boat access. Several local operators, including Plongée Forillon and Cap Aventure, can assist with boat-access dives.
Grande Grave is rated for beginners and offers both natural and artificial reef structures from a shore entry. Other sites in the park are rated intermediate, partly due to cold-water conditions that require good buoyancy control and appropriate exposure protection. Newer divers are well served by the local operators who know these conditions.
The main park reef offers shallow kelp forest diving, ideal for wildlife observation at easy depths. Grande Grave goes considerably deeper and includes artificial reef structures alongside natural reef, giving it more variety. Grande Ile is a very shallow boat-access reef with cold, exposed conditions typical of the area.
