Daykins Bay is located on the southeastern shore of Nitinat Lake, approximately 7 miles (11 km) northeast of the outlet at Whyac and 6 miles (10 km) southwest of the Ditidaht First Nation village of Malachan, British Columbia. The lake is tidal and the bay was the site of the Malloch and Moseley logging camp, which is marked as Malex Camp on some maps. This area is now used as a fishing camp and boat launch.
The site was historically used by the Ditidaht First Nation and designated as a reserve for fishing. In 1893, when the 13-acre (5 ha) reserve was first surveyed, there was one house on the site. This place was called “Doo-bah” or “Duba,” meaning “taboo place,” where the Ditidaht people caught and smoked dog or chum salmon and collected red cedar for canoes and house planks. Recent treaty negotiations have resulted in the transfer of 350 acres (142 ha) of land from the province to the Ditidaht, and an economic development plan has been completed. The plan recommends developing a campground at Doobah to promote tourism. Nitinat Lake and the surrounding region are important parts of the Vancouver Island economy. The lake is an internationally known destination for windsurfing and kiteboarding due to the strong, regular winds along its axis, as well as being renowned for recreational fishing.
The Pacific Coast of British Columbia features numerous unusual coastal lakes with significant marine influences. Nitinat Lake is an example of a long, narrow, and strongly salt-stratified fjord lake. Situated at sea level, it connects to the Pacific Ocean via a natural channel only 8 feet (2.5 m) deep at low tide, limiting water exchange between the lake and the ocean. The lake receives saltwater at high tides and freshwater from its terrestrial watershed, creating an unusual stratification. A thin freshwater layer overlays the predominantly seawater body. Below 60-100 feet (20-30 m), the water is permanently anoxic and contains high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, which may surface under certain conditions. Read more here and here. Explore more of Daykins Bay here: