Hey all,
Have 10 paid boat dives (2x tanks each) with Sea Dragon Charters I need to plan out. Minus the wrecks, what are some must do dive sites up north?
Have done many shore dives around the Nanaimo (and Victoria) area, but no boat dives. Any sites worth doing or is going out on Howe Sound have better diving? I can use them at either of SDC locations.
Open to suggestions.
Howe Sound / Nanaimo Boat Dive Sites
Howe Sound / Nanaimo Boat Dive Sites
The ocean is a lousy teacher. First you get a test, then the lesson.
Re: Howe Sound / Nanaimo Boat Dive Sites
Ooh, you're going to have fun!
My favorite dive at nanaimo is snake island wall. Very sheer wall, with cool underhangs.
Clark rock is another one I've done a bunch -- woolies, octos
Gabriela passage is utterly cool if they'll take you that far. Lots of colors and cloud sponges.
I hear Dodd's narrows is awesome, but it is very current sensitive and I haven't gotten to do it yet.
There's probably enough fun to do 10 at nanaimo!
My favorite dive at nanaimo is snake island wall. Very sheer wall, with cool underhangs.
Clark rock is another one I've done a bunch -- woolies, octos
Gabriela passage is utterly cool if they'll take you that far. Lots of colors and cloud sponges.
I hear Dodd's narrows is awesome, but it is very current sensitive and I haven't gotten to do it yet.
There's probably enough fun to do 10 at nanaimo!
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Howe Sound / Nanaimo Boat Dive Sites
I don't have my log book with me, but I remember some of the places that YellowEye mentioned, Snake Is wall and Clark rock in particular. I also recall one or two sites just outside of Dodd's Narrows. (And the narrows itself is an awesome drift dive when the timing is right.)
The Sea Dragon crew will be able to recommend sites based on your preferences. They worked well with a group I was with back in September.
The Sea Dragon crew will be able to recommend sites based on your preferences. They worked well with a group I was with back in September.
Re: Howe Sound / Nanaimo Boat Dive Sites
Pulling from Sea Dragon Dive Charter's web site, looks like they go to these places. Will do a little more diving and book reading to find other sites.
What is the wrech that is slated to be brought up to this area? Timeline? Remember reading about it, as San Diego was also a location that was considered.
Topline based in Howe Sound, near Vancouver.
THE CANYONS (Boyer Island South)
PAM ROCKS
CHRISTIE ISLET
THE PINNACLE
BIRD ISLET
PASSAGE ISLAND REEF
Sea Dragon based in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island
Clarke Rock
Dodd Narrows
Gabriola Bluffs
Gabriola Passage (extra option)
HMCS Saskatchewan (artificial reef / wreck)
HMCS Cape Breton (artificial reef / wreck)
Jessie Island
Orlebar Point
Rivetow Lion (artificial reef / wreck)
Snake Island (wall and seal dives)
What is the wrech that is slated to be brought up to this area? Timeline? Remember reading about it, as San Diego was also a location that was considered.
Topline based in Howe Sound, near Vancouver.
THE CANYONS (Boyer Island South)
PAM ROCKS
CHRISTIE ISLET
THE PINNACLE
BIRD ISLET
PASSAGE ISLAND REEF
Sea Dragon based in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island
Clarke Rock
Dodd Narrows
Gabriola Bluffs
Gabriola Passage (extra option)
HMCS Saskatchewan (artificial reef / wreck)
HMCS Cape Breton (artificial reef / wreck)
Jessie Island
Orlebar Point
Rivetow Lion (artificial reef / wreck)
Snake Island (wall and seal dives)
The ocean is a lousy teacher. First you get a test, then the lesson.
Re: Howe Sound / Nanaimo Boat Dive Sites
You are thinking of the Annapolis, scheduled to be sunk in Howe Sound sometime between now and the second coming of the Kraken. Don't plan your trip around that its subject to a bankruptcy and endless litigation. Who's know when it'll actually sink and even once it is sunk it'll be boring as all hell for a couple years.KneeDeep wrote:
What is the wrech that is slated to be brought up to this area? Timeline? Remember reading about it, as San Diego was also a location that was considered.
Sounder wrote:Under normal circumstances, I would never tell another man how to shave his balls... but this device should not be kept secret.
Re: Howe Sound / Nanaimo Boat Dive Sites
I'm not sure what you are trying to plan out? Are you hiring the whole boat and getting to pick the locations? Or are you trying to plan out 10 individual trips on open boats?KneeDeep wrote:
Topline based in Howe Sound, near Vancouver.
THE CANYONS (Boyer Island South)
PAM ROCKS
CHRISTIE ISLET
THE PINNACLE
BIRD ISLET
PASSAGE ISLAND REEF
Sea Dragon based in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island
Clarke Rock
Dodd Narrows
Gabriola Bluffs
Gabriola Passage (extra option)
HMCS Saskatchewan (artificial reef / wreck)
HMCS Cape Breton (artificial reef / wreck)
Jessie Island
Orlebar Point
Rivetow Lion (artificial reef / wreck)
Snake Island (wall and seal dives)
By and large they don't set the locations in stone ahead of time and go to the better sites if the weather permits. The Rivetow (for instance) is not really a destination dive, more like a backup site when the weather is bad. Likewise a trip to the Cape Breton and Saskatchewan might just end up doing 2 dives on the Cape Breton if that's what the group aboard decides at the time. Finding 10 open boat days might be a challenge, that's a lot of trips with them.
Sounder wrote:Under normal circumstances, I would never tell another man how to shave his balls... but this device should not be kept secret.
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Re: Howe Sound / Nanaimo Boat Dive Sites
Nanaimo boat dives I'v'e done ... in order of my favorites ...
Saskatchewan/Cape Breton - you can spend two or three dives on each wreck and not cover the whole ship
Snake Island Wall - can go deep or shallow ... the deep dive has an interesting overhang ... in the shallows, going inside to swim with the harbor seals is a treat
Dodd's Narrows - not doable except on low exchanges and with real good timing
Jesse Island - interesting structure, tons of huge dendronitis nudibranchs
Clarke Rock - not very interesting, but it does have wolf eels
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Saskatchewan/Cape Breton - you can spend two or three dives on each wreck and not cover the whole ship
Snake Island Wall - can go deep or shallow ... the deep dive has an interesting overhang ... in the shallows, going inside to swim with the harbor seals is a treat
Dodd's Narrows - not doable except on low exchanges and with real good timing
Jesse Island - interesting structure, tons of huge dendronitis nudibranchs
Clarke Rock - not very interesting, but it does have wolf eels
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Threats and ultimatums are never the best answer. Public humiliation via Photoshop is always better - airsix
Come visit me at http://www.nwgratefuldiver.com/
Come visit me at http://www.nwgratefuldiver.com/