Most divers head abroad to find some impeccable scuba diving but what some don’t realize is that with 243 797 kilometers of coastline and the largest collection of freshwater lakes in the world, there are great diving locations right here in our home country.

While Canada is primarily well known for its love for hockey and maple syrup, those up to the challenge of scuba diving in this northern country will find some pretty incredible finds under the waves. 

Scuba Diving Across Canada

From east to west, to be a diver in Canada is to don a hearty amount of gear and embrace cold water. As cold water divers through and through Joey and Ali Postma have risen to the occasion through Canadian Splash. 

Whether you’re hanging out in the high Arctic or sinking into the depths of the Great Lakes, there is something magical about seeing Canada through the eyes of a scuba diver.

Canadian Splash is a 13-part project where the husband and wife team will gear up and dive every province and territory in Canada. Their adventure will showcase the beauty, wonder, and fragility hidden below the waterline of our red and white country. 

If their journey doesn’t inspire you to want to see the world through a scuba mask, take a look at some of the pictures from the east coast locations they have visited this far:

The Ocean Playground of Nova Scotia

The Tides of New Brunswick

The Shipwrecks of Newfoundland

Follow the Canadian Splash Project

If you are a fan is fishies or if you are just intrigued about what’s hidden below Canadian waters, follow Ali and Joey as they explore the underwater world one province and territory at a time.

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From high to low

If you are looking to spend five days or so on an adventure holiday in the Bay of Fundy area you are in for a real treat. The unique land and seascape lends itself to a host of activities some of which are just unequalled anywhere else in the world. On day one you have to try out tidal bore rafting and there is nothing boring about it: twice a day that phenomenal tide causes a standing wave of sea water up to a metre high to rush into the rivers at 10mph. The Bay of Fundy is the only place in the world you can go white water rafting on a tidal bore. After the excitement of riding the bore, try some sea kayaking and explore the wild and unspoilt coastline.

On the rocks and in the ocean

If you have ever been to one of the Austria ski resorts off season, you might have tried rappelling. On day two you can take this experience to a new and scarily high, level on Cape Enrage where a sheer rock face and astonishing views out over the bay result in the most high octane rappelling to be found in the region. After all that excitement and exertion on days one and two, try a different sort of adventure on day three with a day of whale watching in the bay. If you have some time left over, consider some scuba diving. The Bay of Fundy has spectacular sea life and offers challenging diving conditions. Try visiting Deer Island for some of the best scuba diving in the area.

Into the earth and onto the hills

Those amazing tides have carved many astonishing caves into the rocks which would put those found in the mountains of the Austria ski resorts to shame. Exploring these caves is an adrenaline rush with an added danger; the incoming tide will soon swallow you up if you are not careful. On day four then go exploring deep into the earth in the caves around the bay but do make sure you take an experienced guide from one of the local companies who know the tides and caves very well. You should not leave the Bay of Fundy without ensuring you get a complete appreciation of its beauty so on day five go for a day’s hiking and take in all the beauty of the bay.

Time to go

There are many travel destinations for adventure holidays which claim to be unique but the Bay of Fundy truly is. You will find an incredible landscape which creates diverse environments for a huge range of activities, some of which are not possible anywhere else. The only question is when you will return.

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Bar Harbor has a rich and intricate history as evidenced by the Native American encampments that have been found. However, it was in 1604 that the explorer Samuel de Champlain, one of the first European settlers, named the area Isle des Monts Deserts, Island of Barren Mountains. When word of the island’s beauty and appeal became more widely known, the area quickly became an absolute retreat that lured the more well-to-do Americans to the area and they decorated the landscape with extravagant and fantastic estates.

The eastern side of Mount Desert Island was given the name “Eden.” Although the name may seem poetic, it was given in recognition of an English Statesman, Sir Richard Eden. Little did the early settlers realize, though, how appropriate the name really was! Many view the area as a paradise and even though the name changed to Bar Harbor in 1918, the area is still considered ‘heavenly.’

A trip to the downtown area on Mount Desert Street showcases the fine homes that made the area the “Queen of the East Coast” and although some have remained private homes, others have become welcoming historical inns. Due to the vast number and exquisite beauty of these period homes, this area has been deemed a National Historic District. It is in this area that you will also find a trail of exquisite restaurants and pubs with menus to satisfy all tastes.

In addition to the outstanding scenery and landscape, many enjoy Bar Harbor’s historical attractions. The Bar Harbor Inn is a definite testament to the area’s rich and fascinating past. Originally the headquarters of the Oasis Club in 1887, the building has changed hands many times. It was purchased in 1987 and renamed the Bar Harbor Inn. Today the Inn has 153 guest rooms and is truly considered one of Maine’s finest oceanfront properties.

A trip to the area would not be complete without visiting Acadia National Park, which surrounds Bar Harbor on three sides. The majesty of the mountains and granite cliffs combined with the cobblestone beaches and comforting presence of the ocean make this park incredibly memorable. Park rangers, outfitters, instructors, and guides are on hand to assist you in exploring the park (walking, hiking, rock climbing or on horseback) as well as answer any questions you may have. With two life-guarded beaches, campgrounds and park museums, Acadia National Park is a stop worth making. With the closeness of the Atlantic Ocean, many take advantage of the opportunity to test their aquatic skills in kayaking, sailing or canoeing – either solo or with the help of an expert. During the winter months many winter sports enthusiasts enjoy the ski slopes found at the park.

You may also choose to go whale watching, nature- and lighthouse-seeing or take in a lobster and seal watch trip. These activities are offered by a number of companies, using fleets of boats ready to take you on the trip of your choice. Cruising past incredible scenery you will view the rugged landscape that has been etched by glaciers as well as catch glimpses of seals and porpoises that pop up for food or haul up onto ledges.

For the museum lover, Bar Harbor has one for every taste. The Isleford Historical Museum is a destination for many tourists as visitors can relive the history of life on the Cranberry Islands from the 1800s onward, detailing shipbuilding, woodworking and fishing items. The Robert Abbe Museum has a wonderful display of Native American Culture of the region. The Nature Center features the diversity of Acadia in terms of its natural resources – the study of resources and how they are being protected.

With something to offer all year round, Bar Harbor is a vacationer’s delight. Uncompromising hospitality combined with a wealth of attractions and magnificent scenery, diverse activities, fine lodging and dining, Bar Harbor and the surrounding area have been welcoming visitors for over one hundred years. Whether it’s for a weekend, a week, or even longer, a trip to Bar Harbor is truly an opportunity to experience your own little piece of paradise.

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St Stephen

The first stop just before the Fundy coast at the west edge is St Stephen. A small town, with not a whole lot of draw, unless you love chocolate. And really, who doesn’t? St Stephen is the home of Ganong Chocolate.

Home of Ganong Chocolates

There is a chocolate museum housed in the old factory. The new, much bigger, much fancier factory is still located in the town as well. The museum does an excellent job of showing the history of the company and what set them apart, like hand-dipped chocolates. And of course, many many free samples throughout.

At the Ganong Chocolate store you can purchase any of the delicious items the company makes, and it is the only place to buy hand-dipped chocolates, which just happen to have 3 times as much chocolate. Mmm…

St Martins and the Fundy Trail

The harbour at St Martins is one place to witness the crazy tides in action. At high tide, it looks like any other small town harbour. At low tide, all the boats are sitting in the mudflats, with the water nowhere to be seen. At the edge of the town are red sea caves, carved out by the ridiculously high tides of Fundy Bay.

Flowerpot Rock.. and fog!

You can wander down into these caves at low tide, so try to time your visit accordingly. The real draw here though is the proximity to the Fundy Trail. The Fundy Trail is composed of a scenic drive, and a hiking/biking trail along the coast. If you’re not up for hiking, there’s plenty of viewpoints you can drive right to. And I imagine they’re quite spectacular if you happen to hit it on a day that isn’t foggy!!

The flowerpot rock is a short hike down, but is pretty interesting. There’s a visitor centre, a suspension bridge and endless lookouts. The whole trail is only 16km at the moment, but they’re looking to extend it all the way to the national park. So, spend the day, hike, bike, drive, and see the Fundy coast!

Fundy National Park

As with every national park in this country, tons of hiking opportunities abound in Fundy National Park. There are of course the longer, overnight backpacking trails for the more experienced or those with the time.

Shiphaven Trail

I tried out a few of the trails in the area. The first was Laverty Falls. A 5km or so hike ever so slightly downhill to a waterfall, and ever so slightly uphill on the return. The most popular, Dickson Falls is a short 1.5km loop hike, on a boardwalk with stairs here and there. There are signs describing the unique eco-system of the area.

The Shiphaven trail along the coast provides amazing views of what used to be a popular port for lumber. The Herring Cove beach is well worth a stop, where at low tide, you’re actually walking on the ocean floor. You can tell since all the rocks are covered in coral. There’s a few small sea caves here as well.

Cape Enrage

A small detour off the Fundy Coastal Drive will get you to Cape Enrage. Restoration and preservation of the lighthouse and area was taken on by a local school teacher and his wife. Now, instead of being left to deteriorate, the area is a draw for tourists.

Cape Enrage Lighthouse

The views from the point are quite spectacular, you can see across to Nova Scotia on a clear day. There’s a beach you can access at low tide, a restaurant, a gift shop, and a few adventure activities – like rappelling down a cliff, or soon – a zipline. Well worth a stop between the national park and Hopewell Rocks.

Hopewell Rocks

You can – and should – spend at least the day at Hopewell Rocks. Then you can see the area at both high and low tides. At high tide, you can check out all the viewpoints, and see these rock formations sticking up out of the water. High tide is a good time to head down the trail the other direction and check out Demoiselle beach as well. Then, at low tide (well, actually, 3 hours before and after), you can walk on the ocean floor. You can walk pretty well all the way down the beach to the point, amongst crazy rock formations – flowerpots, and arches mostly.

Hopewell Rocks at low-ish tide

When you first go down the stairs to the beach, the most photographed arch and flowerpot stand there. Well they are definitely interesting, and there will be all kinds of people in your photos giving scale, there are many other just as interesting places down the beach.

Make sure to give yourself enough time to check out everything. The highest tides in the world create some pretty spectacular scenery.

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People walking on the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick. Photo: New Brunswick Tourism and Parks

We have mentioned that extraordinary vertical variance of the Bay of Fundy’s great tides in many of our reasons to visit Fundy. Near the head of the Bay, towering sea cliffs and sea stacks are exposed at low tide with a vertical variance that can exceed 50 feet or 15 metres.

The horizontal variance between low and high tide is equally astonishing – up to 3 miles or 5 kilometers. You do, however, have to be careful when you explore the exposed ocean floor because the water can rush back in at over 10 meters per minute! As a general rule, the ocean floor is accessible for exploring three hours before and three hours after low tide.

Therefore during Fundy’s low tide cycle you are literally able to walk, and explore, the ocean floor.

Ground covered only a few short hours earlier is revealed and the potential for finding newly exposed treasures, such as fossils, sea glass and semi-precious stones, make it easy to spend hours combing the shores.

This was the 52nd (and last) article in our “52 Reasons to visit the Bay of Fundy” series. Click here to check out the full list of reasons to visit the Bay of Fundy!

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Escape the hectic, urban lifestyle and the humdrum of daily routine to the solitude of the Bay of Fundy. Relax and enjoy the serene ambiance and breathtaking vistas to feel refreshed and alive.

The Bay of Fundy’s coastline is sculpted daily by the washing of the world’s highest tides, creating some of the country’s most magnificent scenes and stunning panoramas. Images of quaint fishing villages, historic streetscapes, weathered lighthouses, luscious wilderness and the deep-blue waters – all framed by an ever-changing landscape – will remain with you for many years to come.

Adding to the already stunning and varied scenery found along the Bay of Fundy shores and communities are the pictures that are painted in the sky every morning and evening. Fundy’s sunrises and sunsets are often awe-inspiring.

This was the 51st article in our “52 Reasons to visit the Bay of Fundy” series. Family Fun was last week’s reason to visit the Bay of Fundy. Don’t forget to mark your calendar or use our RSS feed so you won’t miss next week’s final reason to visit the Bay of Fundy!

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Magic Mountain Water Park

The Bay of Fundy is a great family vacation destination. An abundance of national and provincial parks for camping, hiking and picnics, an array of outdoor adventures including whale watching and tidal bore rafting, quirky attractions like Moncton’s Magnetic Hill or Saint John’s Reversing Rapids. Find plenty of opportunities to teach your children about Loyalist, Acadian and Mi’kmaq heritage and to instil in them an appreciation of nature and its wonders.

Traditional family attractions, such as those listed below, can also be found around the Bay of Fundy.

Crystal Palace – Moncton, NB

The Crystal Palace entertainment complex features an indoor roller coaster as well as dozens of rides and games. An great family alternative on a rainy day.

Fundy Discovery Aquarium. – St. Andrews, NB

The newly renovated Fundy Discovery Aquarium provides its visitors with an excellent opportunity to learn about the diverse life forms found in and around the Gulf of Maine and the Bay of Fundy Coastal region. Find fascinating displays of aquatic and marine life including an invertebrate touch pools, aquarium displays of freshwater and marine fish, terrariums of amphibians and reptiles and two harbour seals – Loki and Snorkel.

Just Play & Played Out Fun Centres – Saint John, NB

Saint John is home to two indoor play centres, excellent entertainment on rainy days and during the off-season for children 12 and under.

Magic Mountain – Moncton, NB

“Wet, wild and wonderful”, Magic Mountain is home to eight acres of attractions including a wave pool, lazy river and water slides including the Torpedo and the Kamikaze, a splash pad, mini golf and an arcade.

Magnetic Hill Zoo – Moncton, NB

Dedicated to raising public awareness of endangered species, the Magnetic Hill Zoo is a great place to visit with your family.  Appreciate over 400 animals, including over 100 indigenous and exotic species, as you stroll through the 40 acres that make up the Magnetic Hill Zoo.

Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park – Shubenacadie, NS

Comprised of over 40-hectares of natural woodlands, Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park provides its visitors with the opportunity to stroll tree-shaded paths and view a variety of native birds and mammals as well as large picnic and playground facilities.

The Chocolate Museum – St. Stephen, NB

Located in what was once Ganong’s original candy factory just blocks from United States border in St. Stephen, NB – Canada’s Chocolate Town – is the Chocolate Museum. Learn the history of the Ganong family and experience the hands-on chocolate dipping exhibits, interactive computer displays and antique candy-making equipment.

Upper Clements Park – Annapolis Royal, NS

Spend some family time at Upper Clements Park in Annapolis Royal, NS.  Great fun for the entire family.  Over twenty rides and attractions, including such favorites as the Tree Topper Roller Coaster, Flume rides and the Fundy Splash Waterslide and live entertainment of musicians, dancers, buskers and magicians.

This was the 50th article in our “52 Reasons to visit the Bay of Fundy” series. Quaint Artisan Studios & Galleries were last week’s reason to visit the Bay of Fundy. Don’t forget to mark your calendar or use our RSS feed so you won’t miss the next reason to visit the Bay of Fundy!

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If art is a must-see on your getaway, be sure to include the City of Saint John on your Fundy itinerary. Home to a warm and vibrant art community, Uptown Saint John boasts over ten galleries with its small, walkable city core.

Handworks Gallery on King Street showcases works of art from over 80 New Brunswick artists in a variety of mediums. The Peter Buckland Gallery exhibits everything from traditional to contemporary art and New Brunswick features features New Brunswick, Canadian and International art. The John Hooper sculptures located throughout the city centre are also very popular with tourists and locals and make for interesting photo souvenirs.

Gallery hops are hosted several times throughout the year… perhaps one will coincide with your visit!

In smaller towns and communities surrounding the Bay of Fundy, such as Annapolis Royal, Hillsborough and St. Andrews, stumble upon a plentitude of local talent. Pottery, metal sculptures, fabric art, stained glass, watercolour, photography, handmade soaps, locally-crafted jewellery and more.

You never know what treasures you may find!

This was the 49th article in our “52 Reasons to visit the Bay of Fundy” series.The Diverse Coastline was the previous reason to visit the Bay of Fundy. Don’t forget to mark your calendar or use our RSS feed so you won’t miss the next reason to visit the Bay of Fundy!

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Southwest Head, Grand Manan (Photo by Alison Cornford-Matheson)

Nowhere but the Bay of Fundy can combine the strength of the highest, most powerful tides in the world with the natural beauty of a diverse, unspoiled shoreline. Discover rich eco-systems of bogs and marshes (Reason #32), towering sea stacks and cliffs (Reason #24) and both sand and rock beaches (Reason #13). In addition to the natural diversity of the coast, you will find the region as a whole equally varied and intriguing.

Examples of the diversity in coastline to be found along the shores of the Bay of Fundy:

Bogs & Marshes:

• Quoddy Head State Park – Lubec, ME
• Muquash Estuary – near Saint John, NB
• Tantramar Marshes – near Sackville, NB/Amherst, NS

Sea Stacks:

• St. Martins, NB
• Hopewell Rocks, NB

Sea Cliffs:

• Grand Manan, NB
• Cape Enrage, NB
• Joggins Fossil Cliffs – Joggins, NS
• Cape Chignecto Provincial Park – Cape Chignecto, NS
• Blomidon Provincial Park – Blomidon, NS

Beaches:

• New River Beach Provincial Park – New River, NB (sand)
• Mac’s Beach – St. Martins, NB (rock)
• Mavillette Beach – Mavillette, NS (sand)

Other unique features:

• Thunder Hole – Acadia National Park, ME
• Split Rock – Duck Pond, NB
• Hole-in-the-Wall – Grand Manan, NB
• Cape Split, NS
• Balancing Rock – Tiverton, NS

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Twin Bridges in St. Martins

Less than an hour east of Saint John, on New Brunswick’s Fundy Coastal Drive, explore the charming, fishing village of St. Martins.

Set on the Bay of Fundy, St. Martins was settled in 1783 and was originally the site of shipbuilding and shipping. Visitors to St. Martins love combing the miles of unspoiled beaches, learning about both the fresh and salt water fishing industries.

Favourite photo opportunities in St. Martins include the active harbour with its twin covered bridges – at both low and high tide – as well as the sea caves. Inaccessible at high tide, as they are filled with water, the sea caves are a popular attraction to explore at low tide.

View from the Fundy Trail Parkway

While in St. Martins exploring the Fundy Trail is also a must! Allowing visitors to discover previously unreachable coastal areas, the Fundy Trail teaches is visitors about the community’s rich past in logging, fishing and shipbuilding, to identify plant, marine and wildlife in their natural habitats and showcases the ebb and flow of world’s highest tides surrounded by absolutely striking scenery.

The Fundy Trail offers paved auto parkways, hiking and biking trails and stairways to unspoiled beaches. Discovers outlooks and observations decks, cross the suspension bridge and photograph waterfalls. In the winter, snowshoeing or cross country skiing are great alternative for exploring the Fundy Trail.

This was the 47th article in our “52 Reasons to visit the Bay of Fundy” series. Camping was last week’s reason to visit the Bay of Fundy. Don’t forget to mark your calendar or use our RSS feed so you won’t miss the 48th reason next week!

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