I have been diving in Powell River and along the Sunshine Coast, including the Chaudiere and Skookumchuk Narrows. It's okay, but I was not impressed. If you are coming up here, go to Vancouver Island, and dive around Campbell River/Quadra Island. It's about the same amount of travel time as the Sunshine Coast. And the weather is better on the east coast of the island. There is no comparison between the diving on the Sunshine Coast and Campbell River area.
My experience with the boat dive out of Egmont on the Sunshine Coast was terrible. The boat operator was so obnoxious that I actually started to cry! How embarrassing. For the "drift dive", he put us in the water, and instructed us to swim one direction until we hit 1500 psi, then swim back! What kind of a drift dive is that? What's the point of having a live boat, if I have to swim back to it? And there wasn't much life. It was a huge disappointment. I can let you know the operator's name if you PM me. There's basically no life on the Chaudiere, and it's the same type of ship as the Columbia, which you can dive out of Campbell River.
So don't waste your time going up the Sunshine Coast. It's good for us locals who have the time to do it all, but if you want the best, go to Campbell River/Quadra. Dive with Abyssal. Earl, the owner, is an excellent fellow. He'll take out as few as two people at a time. When I opted to abort the second dive due to nausea, Earl dove with my husband while I drove the boat! He's great. In fact, I'm going back to stay at his lodge next weekend, and I am so excited. The diving is superb. You won't see anything like it anywhere else, except around that area (Campbell River to Port Hardy). But you have to be comfortable in current. For more info, here's his web address:
www.abyssal.com
Enjoy your trip!