The strait is considered the most important natural passage for vessels' entering or leaving the Salish Sea from the north.

The strait was named by Captain Vancouver in 1792 after his ship, HMS Discovery.

Most of the eastern shoreline of the passage is Quadra Island, with Sonora Island forming the shoreline at the northern end where Discovery Passage meets Johnstone Strait.

The southern end of Discovery Passage enters the Strait of Georgia, the northern arm of the Salish Sea.

This article about a location on the South Coast of British Columbia, Canada is a stub.