Mermaid Cove, Saltery Bay, British Columbia

The cove is named for the 9-foot bronze mermaid that resides in 60 feet of water. From the wheelchair ramp, swim out to the buoy and descend. The mermaid should be visible from the blocks to which the buoy is attached. Though she was a traditional raving beauty when first installed, the decades have been unkind. She's covered in anemones, tunicates and rockfish, giving her an ocean patina. Your dive merely begins here, however. Explore the rock wall peppered with anemones and chimney sponges, or, deeper, cloud sponges. Large lingcod will watch you warily. Try to keep track of how many rockfish you see - species, that is, because you won't be able to count how many individuals. Keep an eye out for octopus in the cracks or under boulders.