What a week in Nootka Sound!

[Sounder]

Lessons, and a practical exam?!

[Tangfish]

There goes the thread.

[Tom Nic]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write reports and post photos. It's easy to keep all that within your dive buddies circles. I totally appreciate the effort and time it took to get all that together. More of us should make the time to share our diving adventures... myself included.

-Eric

Thanks for noticing Eric... and much appreciated. And you are exactly right. Not taking shots, but I'm guessing there's a TON of very cool diving that's kept inside "your dive buddies circle". That of course is someone's right, but I think sharing the diving adventures really enriches the entire dive community and does move some folks to get out and dive!

-Tom

[spatman]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write reports and post photos. It's easy to keep all that within your dive buddies circles. I totally appreciate the effort and time it took to get all that together. More of us should make the time to share our diving adventures... myself included.

-Eric

Thanks for noticing Eric... and much appreciated. And you are exactly right. Not taking shots, but I'm guessing there's a TON of very cool diving that's kept inside "your dive buddies circle". That of course is someone's right, but I think sharing the diving adventures really enriches the entire dive community and does move some folks to get out and dive!

-Tom

well said, tom. not only the diving itself, but i also feel that Scott and Jude really deserve a good write-up for all of the hospitality and warmth they showed us. i hope to do whatever i can to help them to continue offering their services to divers.

[Scott]

Why aren't there any embarrassing topside photos of anyone?

What happens in Nootka Sound stays in Nootka Sound

[Scott]

well said, tom. not only the diving itself, but i also feel that Scott and Jude really deserve a good write-up for all of the hospitality and warmth they showed us. i hope to do whatever i can to help them to continue offering their services to divers.

Hey Folks when you get a group as laid back as these folks were it's easy

[Scott]

Calvin & John,

I finally got a chance to sit and look at the pictures of the corals. All I can say is, AMAZING. This is the first time we've had anyone concentrate on the deep corals that are beyond recreational depths. Once again, thanks for the photos- a real treat.

Scott & jude

[LCF]

What a wonderful set of beautifully written reports!

Cloud sponges and red gorgonians were the reason I got my tech cert. I have seen the former, but not the latter. Clearly, Nootka Sound needs to be on our list of "West Coast" destinations for next year. Scott, when is the best time to head up there? Clearly the fall was great this year!

What is the situation on fills, and what gases are available? Since I don't fly a 'breather, these are issues.

[Scott]

Good morning,

February is usually a good month as we usually get some clear and sunny days during the latter part of the month. March can be a bit rainy and occassionally some snow and then from April thru until the early part of July are excellent. During the summer months we get a thin surface bloom which can cut down on the light at depth but the viz below that is quite good.

Right now we are doing Nitrox and can arrange for Trimix if given a bit of notice. We have wanted to get into blending Trimix but to date the demand hasn't justified the expense to get set up for it. I wish it did, then I'd have a good excuse to get into some tech stuff:-)

Another good reason to come up from Setember thru June is the cost and availability of accommodations. During the summer months the sport fishing folks have most of the rentals pretty well sewn up.

If you have anymore questions let us know.

Cheers,

Scott & Jude

[John Rawlings]

Well, hopefully by now we've managed to get all of you dreaming about Nootka Sound!

As I've been going through my pics I've found a few macro and close-up shots that I like, so I thought that I'd post a few to share with all of you to intice you guys up there just a bit more!

As before, click on the images to expand them.

And then one more Gorgonian shot...just cuz I like them!

[spatman]

great pics, john. i really like the warbonnets in the sponges.




here's a little video i threw together. not the greatest footage, but i hope it gets some of the feeling of diving there across.


[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/7339831[/vimeo]

[April]

cool footage... was that a fur seal or a sea lion? the rear flippers look pretty long

[spatman]

cool footage... was that a fur seal or a sea lion? the rear flippers look pretty long

those were female stellar sea lions. the big one that came close was probably 8-9 feet long.

[Tom Nic]

Fantastic!

Loved the macro shots - especially the Warbonnet.

And the video was great Matt. Good job everyone!

[sheahanmcculla]

great pics, john. i really like the warbonnets in the sponges.




here's a little video i threw together. not the greatest footage, but i hope it gets some of the feeling of diving there across.

Holy cow! I can not even believe that viz. I bet it was even better in person. The shot of the 2 divers in the distance was amazing! I can't wait to see a PS King crab they look really cool. Thanks for sharing Spatman.

Awesome Pictures Calvin and John. You guys should post pictures and reports more often.

[Scott]

Hello Tom Nic,

The lat & long for the Nudi Kungfu site are 49d 46.5s N\ 126d 39.0s W. Got any photos from there?

Scott

[spatman]

Hello Tom Nic,

The lat & long for the Nudi Kungfu site are 49d 46.5s N\ 126d 39.0s W. Got any photos from there?

Scott

hey scott

the best shots i have from that site start at this one, and go to the end of that album:

http://spatman.com/gallery/index.php?al ... MG5915.jpg

[Scott]

Hello Tom Nic,

The lat & long for the Nudi Kungfu site are 49d 46.5s N\ 126d 39.0s W. Got any photos from there?

Scott

hey scott

the best shots i have from that site start at this one, and go to the end of that album:

http://spatman.com/gallery/index.php?al ... MG5915.jpg

Pretty cool shot of the nudi!

[John Rawlings]

I cannot BELIEVE how many photos I took of NWDC's "fearless leader" last week!!!! Here's some more shots that I particularly like of Calvin underwater:

[John Rawlings]

Since Calvin and I were on our CCRs we didn't have a lot of opportunities to dive closely with the other members of our team, so unfortunately I don't have any underwater shots of Tom, Matt, Vel and Chuck.....but I do have some topside photos that I took on the one day that I stayed out of the water nursing a bad cold.

Here's all the members of our team:

Matt (Spatman) grinning from ear to ear!

Tom (Tom Nic) comtemplating nature's wonder before descending.

Calvin (Tangfish) moments before descending.

Vel Wilson, from Courtenay, BC, who first guided us to the deep corals.

Chuck....Vel's dive buddy from Campbell River, BC.

Our friends and hosts, Scott and Jude Schooner of Tahtsa Dive Charters.

The light at Mozino Point, one of many dive sites that we enjoyed.

[spatman]

great shots, john!

Matt (Spatman) grinning from ear to ear!

this obviously wasn't the dive where i jumped in with my drysuit zipper open...

[John Rawlings]

great shots, john!

Matt (Spatman) grinning from ear to ear!

this obviously wasn't the dive where i jumped in with my drysuit zipper open...

Ha! I had completely forgotten about that! Thanks for reminding me!

[spatman]

Darth Calvin and the Depth Star

Theme song:

[John Rawlings]

Is it just me, or does Calvin look pissed off in those underwater pics? :angry:

It almost looks like I was taking shots of Flash Gordon's nemesis, "Ming the Merciless"!

- John

[Scott]

All week long he kept complaining bout your lack of skills as a model. So it is probably po'ed.