Cold water diving outside the PNW

[TSandM]

After six years at this sport, I've come to the conclusion that the best diving I ever do is generally in cold water. And some of the most spectacular is in my back yard, in the Pacific Northwest. I'm not alone in that opinion, as I understand it was shared by Cousteau.

But the PNW is not the only place in the world with cold water. Looking at the world map, there are a lot of places with roughly equivalent latitude, and I know from personal experience that the climate in Northern Europe can be quite similar. But with the exception of the fellow who posts the beautiful seal videos from England, I rarely see anything about critter-oriented diving from other cold-water places. I read lots of reports of wreck diving off England and points north, and some cave diving reports from Norway, and I've seen lots of wreck reports from Melbourne and southern Australia in general. Are there no kelp beds? No anemones or rockfish or anything of biological interest in those places?

I'd love to hear some critter-diving stories from other parts of the cold water world.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

From what I've been told by people who have been to those locations is that they do not have the diverse and abundant life like what you have up there.
I think you are in the mecca of cold water diving

 

[RJP]

The only critters here off NJ worth mentioning are those that end up on the dinner table.

 

[gcbryan]

I think the difference here in the PNW is that a lot of our diving is inland and has rocky structure. On the east coast for instance it's generally not rocky and the continental shelf is way out there and its mainly just sand unless there is an artificial structure.

The marine life is also different. Sea Stars are common here as are marine mammals which is not so much the case there.

It's an interesting topic however. Maybe there is some good cold water diving elsewhere but I've never heard of it either.

 

[Scuba_Noob]

Wow, I'm glad I moved here!

 

[cloudflint]

Ive only ever dived in Scotland myself which is all cold water. We have a pretty good variety of life and sites about though it varies a bit depending on the weather Im not much of a wreck person preferring to dive reefs with lots of life and I can generally find enough to keep me happy. Ive found around here a site can often look barren at first glance but if you stop and look close its teaming with life.

 

[j yaeger]

sometimes,there just ain't no critters...go for unique...or endemic!!!!!!!!

i saw a small "char" diving in iceland and thought it was like seeing a whale shark in utila for the 1st time!!!!!!
i was suprised by the life where there was supposed to be none (and none showed up in bob ballards shots........)
every dive is unique-every thing in this world is-thanks for keeping it that way!
have fun
yaeg

 

[MaxBottomtime]

 

[lowviz]

...//... Sea Stars are common here as are marine mammals which is not so much the case there. ...//....

Nah, lil' buggers are here too...View attachment 123428

 

[RonFrank]

The only cold water ocean diving I have done is CA and you have been there. Great diving and different than the North. I've had more than a few dives with 60'+ vis on San Clemente in particular (live aboard).

One day I will visit your neck of the woods. Tom and I have talked about doing a BC live aboard as we know how good the diving is but have never been that far North.

Did not know MaxBT had dove Europe....Cool!