Cloud Sponges of Nootka Sound

[Curt Bowen]

http://www.advanceddivermagazine.com/ar ... cloud.html

Cloud Sponges of Nootka Sound
Text and photography by ADM Photojournalist John Rawlings

Cloud sponges can be found from the Bering Sea southward to Mexico, usually in extremely deep water. In the waters of British Columbia, however, they can frequently be found at shallower depths, beginning at some sites around 80 FSW and appearing in denser numbers as the diver goes deeper.

[no excuses]

great pics and article

[Tom Nic]

Ah the memories....

I never get tired of looking at those gorgeous images or remembering Nootka Sound...

[John Rawlings]

I never get tired of looking at those gorgeous images or remembering Nootka Sound...

I'm glad that you like the pics! I also never tire of dreaming of Nootka Sound and will go back there as often as I can!

I'm looking at returning there in September....

- John

[Tom Nic]

I'm looking at returning there in September....

- John

[John Rawlings]

A bouncing smilie....I take it that means you might be interested?

[LCF]

I got my tech cert specifically to be able to go down and spend enough time to really enjoy these creatures in Saanich Inlet, and it was worth it. They are truly amazing, and the spectrum of inhabitants is fantastic, too. Although you don't mention the tiny, bright green shrimp that we encountered in tremendous numbers in Saanich Inlet -- I wonder if they aren't found in Nootka Sound?

[John Rawlings]

Although you don't mention the tiny, bright green shrimp that we encountered in tremendous numbers in Saanich Inlet -- I wonder if they aren't found in Nootka Sound?

Hmmmm....I've dived on the Cloud Sponges in Saanich Inlet, too, but I've not seen "bright green shrimp in tremendous numbers". I wonder if they are a seasonal phenomenon?

For my Saanich Inlet Cloud Sponge article, see this link: http://john-rawlings.newsvine.com/_news ... the-clouds

[LCF]

Well, I had enough helium in my mix to be pretty sure I didn't hallucinate them I'll have to go through and see if Peter got any good pictures of them. I was very struck by the color.

[John Rawlings]

I certainly don't think that you imagined them....I'm just jealous that I didn't get a chance to see them!

What time of year were you there?

[LCF]

January. This was another of my frozen Canada trips -- we had to chop ice with shovels to get the boat out of the harbor!

[Scott]

I'm glad that you like the pics! I also never tire of dreaming of Nootka Sound and will go back there as often as I can!

I'm looking at returning there in September....

- John

John, we're trying to find out when the fish run is hot & heavy in the Zeballos River so you can snorkel nose to nose with the bears but our main contact in Zeballos won't be back in phone range until tomorrow. Send you more info then.

[John Rawlings]

John, we're trying to find out when the fish run is hot & heavy in the Zeballos River so you can snorkel nose to nose with the bears....

"Nose to nose with the bears???? Now THAT deserves a WOOOOOT!!!!!!

I'm going to have to dig around to find a snorkel, though!

- John

[Scott]

...I'm going to have to dig around to find a snorkel, though!

I think I could find one to knock the dust off of.

[Tom Nic]

A bouncing smilie....I take it that means you might be interested?

Might be?

I'm trying to clear as much of August and September for diving as a can anyway, and a jaunt up to Nootka in that September timeframe would be fantabulous!

[John Rawlings]

It's looking now like it will be the 1st or 2nd week in October for the height of the Salmon run and Bear follies!

The "regular" diving will be just as fantastic in early October as it is in September!

- John

[Scott]

Maybe we can do Thanksgiving dinner at the same time

[John Rawlings]

Maybe we can do Thanksgiving dinner at the same time

That sounds absolutely GREAT....but I tremble with fear at the thought of the border crossings around Canadian Thanksgiving....

[Curt Bowen]

Maybe we can do Thanksgiving dinner at the same time

That sounds absolutely GREAT....but I tremble with fear at the thought of the border crossings around Canadian Thanksgiving....

I did not see an invitation for a warm water Florida redneck diver. I swim lots with alligators, but never with bears.
I think I trust the gators more?

Snorkel, whats that?

[Scott]

That sounds absolutely GREAT....but I tremble with fear at the thought of the border crossings around Canadian Thanksgiving....

I didn't think anything scared you rebreather divers :hello2:

[Scott]

I did not see an invitation for a warm water Florida redneck diver. I swim lots with alligators, but never with bears.
I think I trust the gators more?

Snorkel, whats that?

Hey, Of course you're invited, in fact it's mandatory, ... someone has to look after Mr. Rawlings. And no worries about the bears, at that time of year they're off white meat!