Darnold9999
Contributor
WOW
This was the best local trip I have done so far. The weather cooperated, the views and life above and below were amazing.
Ferry across to Naniamo and a check out/get aquainted dive at Madrona. Went swimming out looking for the "wall". Never did find it, but did find a field of Nudibranchs - literally millions of them, one every few inches on the sand/silt/mud. All small all about the same size. Got the weighting down with the new steel tank and pony, found a rock wall in the shallows that had lots to see. All in all a good shore dive.
Drove to Port Alberni stopping at Cathedral Grove for a walk. A lot of the really large trees have blown down, but it is still a special place. 800 year old giant Douglas Firs.
On to Port Albernie to stop for dinner before boarding the Boat to Rendezvous. Friday afternoon, 3:00 a beer on the deck overlooking the water in the sunshine. Does it get any better?
2 Hour boat ride down the inlet - mountians on either side - sun setting in front, eagles, herons, seagulls and sea lions were spotted on this leg of the trip. Great start to the weekend.
No need to get up early to make slack, the tides on the outer coast are not like some of the spots on the Gulf Islands. Left for the first dive of the day after breakfast. A group of sea lions is gathered a couple of hundred yards off the dock just hanging out. The sea is like glass so Peter decides to take us out to the edge of the sound. The first dive is the Vanlene a 1972 wreck of a freighter that missed the entrance to the sound.
We decide to hang back and let others gear up as the deck is a bit crowded with 11 divers. Glad we do, just about to jump in when a humpback whale surfaces a 100 yards or so away. Small whale about 20 feet long, that spends the rest of the weekend in and about the sound.
We jump in and it is just amazing. Life everywhere. Rockfish of every size and type, nudi's, my personal favorite Purple Ring Top snails, huge anenome's of every colour you can imagine. The visability was great 30 to 60 feet pretty much the whole weekend.
This is the first dive site - next land Japan
http://www.daconsulting.bc.ca/Dive/BarkleyFirstDive.JPG
My first rockfish photo of the weekend. China Rockfish.
http://www.daconsulting.bc.ca/Dive/BarkleyChinaRockFish.JPG
My first of many Purple Ring Top Snail's
http://www.daconsulting.bc.ca/Dive/BarkleyTopSnail.JPG
This was the best local trip I have done so far. The weather cooperated, the views and life above and below were amazing.
Ferry across to Naniamo and a check out/get aquainted dive at Madrona. Went swimming out looking for the "wall". Never did find it, but did find a field of Nudibranchs - literally millions of them, one every few inches on the sand/silt/mud. All small all about the same size. Got the weighting down with the new steel tank and pony, found a rock wall in the shallows that had lots to see. All in all a good shore dive.
Drove to Port Alberni stopping at Cathedral Grove for a walk. A lot of the really large trees have blown down, but it is still a special place. 800 year old giant Douglas Firs.
On to Port Albernie to stop for dinner before boarding the Boat to Rendezvous. Friday afternoon, 3:00 a beer on the deck overlooking the water in the sunshine. Does it get any better?
2 Hour boat ride down the inlet - mountians on either side - sun setting in front, eagles, herons, seagulls and sea lions were spotted on this leg of the trip. Great start to the weekend.
No need to get up early to make slack, the tides on the outer coast are not like some of the spots on the Gulf Islands. Left for the first dive of the day after breakfast. A group of sea lions is gathered a couple of hundred yards off the dock just hanging out. The sea is like glass so Peter decides to take us out to the edge of the sound. The first dive is the Vanlene a 1972 wreck of a freighter that missed the entrance to the sound.
We decide to hang back and let others gear up as the deck is a bit crowded with 11 divers. Glad we do, just about to jump in when a humpback whale surfaces a 100 yards or so away. Small whale about 20 feet long, that spends the rest of the weekend in and about the sound.
We jump in and it is just amazing. Life everywhere. Rockfish of every size and type, nudi's, my personal favorite Purple Ring Top snails, huge anenome's of every colour you can imagine. The visability was great 30 to 60 feet pretty much the whole weekend.
This is the first dive site - next land Japan
http://www.daconsulting.bc.ca/Dive/BarkleyFirstDive.JPG
My first rockfish photo of the weekend. China Rockfish.
http://www.daconsulting.bc.ca/Dive/BarkleyChinaRockFish.JPG
My first of many Purple Ring Top Snail's
http://www.daconsulting.bc.ca/Dive/BarkleyTopSnail.JPG