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Photo: VIU-CSR from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A working research station operated by Vancouver Island University. There are exhibits on marine conservation issues and local marine life, including touch tanks and a whale skeleton. Guided tours are available as well as self-guided information sheets. The deck looks out over the Baynes Sound and provides some nice views.
The Deep Bay Marine Field Station is a marine science research and education facility operated by Vancouver Island University. It is located at Deep Bay, British Columbia on Vancouver Island, off the waters of Baynes Sound, 78 kilometres (48 mi) north-west of the main university campus at Nanaimo, British Columbia. The building received the first LEED platinum rating among Canadian universities and a 2011 National Green Buildings Award and opened in 2011.
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The harbour, framed by the marina and Coast Mountains, is a beautiful spot to stop at for a few minutes or a few hours. There’s a small gift shop and restaurant (Ship & Shore) by the boat ramp with a small but tasty selection of ice cream.
Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park
A provincial park with a number of caves and a 3 km hiking trail interpretive trail that explains the caves and geology of the area. The Outdoor Centre offers a number of guided tours to the caves, ranging from 60 minute family-friendly excursions to 5 hr adventures that mix caving and rappelling. Visitors are allowed to explore some caves on their own, but it is limited to the entrance area of the Main Cave, the Lower Cave and Andre’s Annex — a tour is required to see the other caves. A helmet and lights are recommended if you explore the caves on your own (there's no light inside them) and can be rented from the park Visitor Center. The Visitor Center also includes a small gift shop and the Cave Theatre. The caves are cold — about 8°C — and wet, so dress accordingly.