British Columbia turns out to be a top diving destination

Quoting VancouverIsland.com, "the Strait of Georgia's cold, clean waters provide the greatest diversity of Marine life in North America - 'second only to the Red Sea', according Jacques Cousteau."

Apparently the waters off Vancouver Island are home to the giant Pacific Octopus, "which grows to be the largest in the world in these waters, weighing as much as 60 kgs with tentacles stretching to over seven metres!"

Another site lists BC as a top ten diving destination in the world. The low temperatures they mention, equivalent to 5 Celsius, must be in Vancouver Island, probably on the side that faces the Pacific, because the water in Vancouver proper is around 17-19 Celsius:

"Once you brave the mid-40 degree water you’ll agree that this is one of the most incredible dive destinations in the world. Dry suits are a must in order to stay in the water long enough (more than 2 minutes) to see pods of Orca whales, sea lions, and white-sided dolphins.

Here, you’ll find some of the strongest tidal currents in the world, which sweep into the straits and sounds that surround Vancouver Island. Dives begin at slack tide, featuring sheer rock walls below the surface that are packed with bizarre marine life, including nudibranchs, white ghost anemones, wolf eels and giant Pacific octopi. The water isn’t warm and the currents aren’t gentle, but the experience of diving in British Columbia is something you can’t miss." from this site.