Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Herring Cove

On April 28, 1967 the COSTA RICAN TRADER ran aground just north of the small Halibut Bay at the entrance to Halifax Harbour. COSTA RICAN TRADER lost the ability to steer on her way out of the harbour while in heavy seas. She grounded near enough to shore that the crew was able to walk off the vessel. Looters necessitated the posting of RCMP officers. The Foundation tugs VALIANT & VIGILANT attempted to pull her off without success and the vessel lay on the rocks until her remains were eventually scattered by wave action. She was partially shalvaged, but the entire intact bow section slide off a white, granite "dome-like" rock, sledded down the boulder and cobble slope to lie on her port side in 90' (30m) of water. Today she is still mostly intact and offers a rich "artificial reef" for clouds of the common Cunner, perch-like fish, sponges, tunicates and passing Pollock, Mackerel and other fish that attract divers and rod & reel fisherman alike to the ship. It is often marked by a float by dive and fish charter groups. But it this isn't the case, she is directly out from the bald granite dome, about 50-70m off the shore, in 80-90' of water, and a depth sounder can't miss her bulk as she sticks up to 45' below the waves. This is a boat dive, and best dived in light winds from any westerly direction, as she is wide open to the east. The NS Museum "On the Rocks" website gives this location for her - Lat. 44 33`05N, Long. 63 33`05W, Halibut Bay, Halifax...But the zoom in map should place the flag where I've dived her repeatedly. Currents are slight tidal ones, as the tidal range is only 6' (2m). This just helps keep the site clear of particulate matter stirred up by divers. Some divers have penetrated into the cargo areas of the bow, and there is one back corner room with an exit hole cut away in the upper deck and a door out the ripped off back - but penetration should only be done by those with the gear and the experience. She is a pretty basic wreck for this, and is sometimes used for training dives. I enjoy the wealth of marine life on her, and the fact that she is mostly in one, large, intact piece! Halibut Bay close to Halifax Harbour, 1 mile south of Tribune Head. The main intact bow piece rises from 90' of water to about 50' from the surface, directly off a large whitish granite dome of a rock on shore.

This is a memorial park for sailors lost at sea on the Heberidean. Summertime it is a popular fishing location and the narrows for a quite acttive small harbour. Therefore, we usually restrict our diving here to the fall, winter and spring with rare summer visits. At high tide one can jump off the left corner of the wharf into 5 m of water on a slope which drops quickly to 8 m deep. Low tide, you can pick your way down the rocky shoreline to the left of th breakwater and enter a little covelette. The left side of the mouth of the cove is a boulder slope covered in a rich kelp bed dropping down to 10 m deep onto a sandy plain that makes up the rest of the cove. The nicest dive is along the sand edge going out on the left; then go up 3-4 m shallower and return back through the kelp forest; using the sand plain as a landmark going and coming. The far point at the mouth of the cove is about 300 m away and is Tribune Head, named for the French Frigate captured and recommissioned by the British, La Tribune that sank in front of it in 1797. Ballast, ribs, a few spikes and one cannon can be found off here in about 18 m of water. Access is through the community of Herring Cove. Cross the small bridge at the head of the cove, and turn immediately right and drive slowly to the end of the road at the breakwater, which is Hebridean Park. Herring Cove - Hebridean Park is also known as Herring Cove Hebridean Park.

The site is a rocky open coast and faces east so can't be divine in NE east or SE winds as the waves and swell can build up very high. NW winds or due west winds are the preferred direction. SW is okay. It is called Hayes Gardens because it is a rock garden of large boulders just under the surface, which fishermen avoid. This makes for interesting terrain to explore. It has a rich kelp forest and abundant fish life during the summer. Parking is in the gravel open area just off the sharp turn giving wonderful views of the sea and harbour approaches to Halifax. Thee is a path down from the parking area onto the shelving granite bedrock of the shoreline.