Denny Island is wonderfully remote and peaceful, yet easily accessible by boat, ferry, or plane. The Island has its ferry dock and a 3000’ paved airstrip.
The Shearwater Resort & Marina offers a number of amenities including a grocery store, liquor store, post office, cappuccino bar & art gallery, restaurant, and pub. Denny Island is just a short distance by water taxi from Bella Bella (known as Waglisla by First Nations) on the west coast of British Columbia.
From August through to September, the spawning salmon attract eagles, bears, and wolves to local streams and rivers. Wildlife viewing Eco-Tours and fishing guides are available from various operators, just ask at any establishment for information. Denny Island is a perfect place to put in a sea kayak and head out to see the area. Awesome for those who want to adventure into the magnificent old-growth coastal temperate rainforest. The surrounding area features hidden coves, numerous islands, miles of magnificent coastline, and sandy beaches.
Wildlife viewing is very popular, you can go on tours to see grizzly bears, black bears, spirit bears, wolves, whales, seals, sea lions, otters, and bald eagles. The area is teeming with birdlife making it perfect for the birders out there.
The Royal Canadian Air Force chose the Shearwater site on Denny Island as a reconnaissance base during World War II. The base was built to accommodate over 2,000 military personnel, although there were never more than 1,000 stationed there at any one time. There used to be a great tribute to this, it was a silver Grumman Goose on a high pedestal, it was a tribute to the men and women who were stationed here. I have heard that this plane was taken down due to deterioration. It was a pretty awesome sight.
This was just one of the military bases that were located along the coast of BC during the war years. There were many more.