Coastal Currents
Average and Peak Tidal Current Speeds Around Vancouver Island
This map grew out of firsthand experience diving around Vancouver Island, where tidal currents can determine whether a dive is safe, enjoyable, or even possible at all. It was also informed by coursework in coastal navigation, where understanding how and where currents concentrate becomes essential.
Drawing on multiple tidal current datasets, the map visualizes average and peak current speeds around the island’s coastline. What stands out immediately is how uneven these currents are: some areas experience relatively mild flow, while others funnel enormous volumes of water through narrow passages. In places like Johnstone Strait, there is no alternate route - you don’t avoid the current, you plan around it.
The map is designed for an interested but non-technical audience. A restrained colour palette and selective labeling keep the focus on broad patterns rather than overwhelming detail, making complex tidal information legible at a glance. It is intended for exploration, communication, and situational understanding - not for navigation or prediction.
Some well-known features, such as Nakwakto Rapids, are absent from the average-speed dataset despite being widely recognized as some of the fastest tidal rapids in the world. That omission highlights both the limitations of available data and the importance of clearly communicating what a map does - and does not - show.
2025-10-23