This is general information for scuba diving in Waterton Lakes National Park.
This video does not contain all the info about a dive in Waterton, seek out a local orientation, stick to your training and have fun!
Waterton National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park is located in the southwestern region of Alberta, Canada, and shares a border with Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. Established in 1895 as the Kootenay Lakes Forest Reserve, it became Canada’s fourth national park. The park gets its name from Waterton Lake, which was named in honor of Charles Waterton, a Victorian-era naturalist and conservationist. Nestled between the Rocky Mountains and the Prairies, the park spans 505 square kilometers (195 square miles) of rugged terrain and untouched wilderness. It is known for its rich and varied ecosystem.
Managed by Parks Canada, Waterton Lakes National Park remains open throughout the year, although the peak visitor season falls in July and August. The park’s only commercial amenities are found in the Waterton Park townsite. Elevation within the park varies significantly, from 1,290 meters (4,232 feet) at the townsite to 2,910 meters (9,547 feet) at the summit of Mount Blakiston. The park features numerous picturesque hiking routes, with the Crypt Lake trail being one of the most popular. During the 2012–2013 period, the park welcomed 402,542 visitors.
In September 2017, a major wildfire swept through Waterton Lakes National Park, prompting the evacuation of both the park and the Waterton Park townsite. The blaze scorched approximately 200 square kilometers, destroying the visitor centre, stables, and several other structures. Around 80% of the park’s hiking trails were impacted, with many remaining closed into the 2018 season. The fire caused significant ecological damage, affecting roughly 30% of the entire park and decimating up to 70% of its forested areas. Despite the widespread destruction, the Waterton Park townsite and the historic Prince of Wales Hotel remained untouched.
Waterton Lakes National Park, together with Glacier National Park in the United States, forms the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. In 1995, this unique cross-border park was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its exceptional climate, geographical features, the meeting point of mountains and prairies, and its rare tri-ocean hydrological divide. The area is renowned for its striking natural beauty and its rich variety of plant and animal life.
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