
Diving base Les Escoumins is currently closed
Réouverture pour le week-end du 7-8-9 octobre 2023

Presentation of Les Escoumins diving base
An underwater universe of enchanting colors, inhabited by an abundance of flora and fauna, the Escoumins site is, with good reason, one of the best destinations for saltwater diving in Quebec.
Facile d’accès, situé sur la Côte-Nord, à proximité du fjord du Saguenay, le Centre de Découverte du Milieu Marin constitue le pôle d’attraction principal en matière de plongée dans la région. Il est également un centre d’interprétation de la faune et de la flore du parc marin du Saguenay – Saint-Laurent permettant de découvrir l’écosystème sous-marin subarctique et d’entendre les plongeurs-biologistes leur décrire ses particularités.
Enjoy your visit, good diving and good discoveries!

In preparation for your visit
This season, come and immerse yourself in this section of the estuary of our majestic St. Lawrence River and discover one of the most prized places in the Quebec diving community. You will understand why divers return year after year to explore this unique environment. You will see that these colorful sea beds, densely covered with anemones, sponges, algae and sea urchins, are of an unsuspected richness and have nothing to envy to those of tropical destinations. However, there is one condition: you must be willing to brave the icy waters!
Why dive at the base of Les Escoumins?
Underwater universe with enchanting colors, inhabited by one of the most abundant fauna and flora, is, with good reason, one of the best destinations for saltwater diving in Quebec.
Easy access, situé sur la Côte-Nord, à proximité du fjord du Saguenay, le CDMM (Centre de Découverte du Milieu Marin) constitue le pôle d’attraction principal en matière de plongée dans la région.
It also attracts many non-divers, thanks to its subarctic underwater ecosystem and its many experts present on site.
Which sites are accessible?
In order to allow the discovery of this exceptional environment, you can find three different diving sites:
- La Baie des anémones
- La Crique Est
- La Crique Ouest
Une série de passerelles et d’escaliers en ciment facilitent la mise à l’eau par le rivage, this is an exception for this region whose coastline is mostly rocky and steep.
What services are offered?
Services offered to divers :
- Diving shop avec service de location de matériel et remplissage d’air.
- experience guides are available to accompany you during your first dives and allow you to familiarize yourself with this type of diving from the shore.
À votre sortie de l’eau, il vous est possible de profiter des douches et des salles d’habillage chauffées, spécialement conçues pour les plongeurs.
Comme l’accès vers le rivage est en pente, le CDMM prête des brouettes pour transporter l’équipement de plongée jusqu’à la mise à l’eau.
Why is everyone talking about it?
Come and immerse yourself in this section of the estuary of our majestic St. Lawrence River to discover one of the most prized places by the diving community in Quebec. You will understand why divers return year after year to explore this unique environment.
You will see these colorful sea beds, densely covered with anemones, sponges, seaweed and sea urchins, are of an unsuspected richness and have nothing to envy to those of the tropical destinations.
There is one condition, however: you must be willing to brave the icy waters!
Are the sites in the database accessible to all levels? Are there any prerequisites?
All sites are accessible to all. However, it is recommended not to dive there without a guide for a beginner with few dives in natural environment and cold water.
Prerequisites are :
- for dry rental, a dry certification is mandatory as well as for nitrox filling.
- for a guided dive, the government recreational scuba diving certificate is required
- Certificat de qualification en plongée subaquatique récréative OBLIGATOIRE
J’ai tout mon équipement et mes cylindres sont pleins, est-ce qu’il y a des frais d’accès pour plonger sur les sites de la base ?
The site belongs to Parc Canada, so there is an access fee to be paid on site at the parking lot or at the counter of the diving base. See the website for rates, which change every year.
J’entends dire que l’entrée à l’eau est plutôt difficile… Quels sont les difficultés pour une mise à l’eau ? Des conseils ?
The entrance to the sites is from the shore, it is a rocky cape, which makes it slippery with water.
It is advised to go down quietly, without fins on your feet and to put on the fins and the mask only when your two feet are in the water.
Est-ce qu’il faut tenir compte des marées pour la mise à l’eau ?
If you go freediving, you have to take into account the tides.
If not, you can get in the water at any time during the opening hours.
What are the recommended accessories and equipment to make a memorable dive? Is it possible to buy or rent them on site?
S’organiser pour ne pas avoir froid c’est important !
All the essential equipment and accessories for cold water diving are available for rent at the dive base.
Est-il possible d’accéder à la base en VR ou avec une roulotte ? Est-il possible d’y passer la nuit ?
No, the site is only open during the day, see the schedule on our information page
Can we dive there at any time, even if the base is closed?
No, when the base is closed the site is inaccessible.
What amenities and services are available at the base?
Different amenities are present on our site to allow you a great experience !
You have at your disposal :
- picnic tables
- showers,
- locker rooms,
- cleaning basins equipment,
- equipment rental,
- guide services.
Do you offer NITROX cylinder filling?
Yes with presentation of a recognized NITROX certification