God's pocket.... ?

[Rhone Man]

I was recently given one of those "500 places to visit before you die" books, and interestingly it sub-divided its entries lots of different ways, including by activity. Only one scuba diving related entry made it into the author's list of 500, and that was.... God's Pocket.

I had never heard of God's Pocket before turning to that particular page, and was more than a little suprised to discover that it is off Vancouver Island (not a cold water snob at all, but still just a bit surprised). The literature proudly declares that this was Jacque Cousteau's 3rd favourite diving area in the world (although, frankly, quite a lot of places claim that). Frustratingly, I visited Vancouver Island last year, blissfully unaware of this hidden gem nearby.

Has anyone dived God's Pocket? Is it really that good?

Afterthough: I bet they have really cool T-shirts up there. "I dived in God's Pocket".

 

[robint]

I have not, but I have several diving friends here on SB who live there and dive often.

Check out Mike Meagher's videos: YouTube - wolfeeldiver's Channel

robin

 

[DeputyDan]

Linky on the general area:


http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/western-canada/368718-little-travel-advice.html

 

[TSandM]

I haven't stayed at the God's Pocket resort (going this October!) but I have dived the Browning Pass area, and yes, it is that good. Tremendous, sheer walls, so densely coated with invertebrate life that things are growing on top of one another -- and all of it in spectacular, intense colors. Sponges in vivid orange and day-glo yellow, as well as creams and greys. Nudibranchs in bright orange with white frills. China rockfish in deep indigo and bright yellow. Puget Sound King Crabs in oranges, reds, and neon blue. And of course, in the shallower water, big banks of white metridium anemones, magenta coralline algae coating the rocks, and schools of various rockfish. The shallower boulder walls are topped with kelp stands, and the sunlight streams down between the stalks, making the water glow a cool, mint green. Visibility can be amazing. And surface time is enlivened by dolphins, rafts of sea otters, bald eages, and sea lions.

I spent a week up there in some of the foulest weather I've ever dived in, and I had such a wonderful time that we are organizing a trip for 12 to head back up there this fall. This time, we ARE going to stay at God's Pocket, which has a lovely reputation for being very comfortable and rich with amenities.

Edited to add: HERE is a link to an article and a bunch of photographs from our trip last March.

 

[WetLens]

My first trip to Port Hardy was in the early 90's. We were on a week-long liveaboard trip in mid-October, diving Browning Wall, Hunt Rock, etc. During the 7 nights on the boat, we had 4 nights where wind speeds exceeded 70 mph. We had days where the water ran off us sideways when we exited the water. Like TSandM, we had the worst weather I have ever dove in, but it was the best week of diving I had ever done - and still stands in the top diving experiences I've had. We spent 3 nights and 2 full days holed up in God's Pocket (the bay) as the weather was too bad to get out. Photos taken over those 2 days remain amongst the best nudibranch pics I've ever taken.

Fast-forward to 2006 and my 6th trip to British Columbia and we stayed at God's Pocket Resort. We had a fantastic time, much better weather, good food, and the typical great diving. It is not a luxury resort - more along the lines of a rustic camp. Comfortable cabins, really good dive boat and great staff. They made us feel like home. Highly recommend and would easily make my top 10 list, let alone a top 500 list.

A few photos: British Columbia 2006 - wetlens' Photos

 

[Bogie]

Thanks WetLens for the nice pictures. I see quite a few of those nudibranchs in Monterey.

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

God's Pocket is AWESOME! And that is coming from a Florida warm water wimp like me. Here's an article I wrote on my trip there last fall:

God's Pocket • ADVANCED DIVER MAGAZINE • by DR. Doug Ebersole

Doug

 

[StuartT]

Browning pass diving is among the best I've ever done in my short 3 year diving career. One of the operators in the area claims the diving to be "the best temperate diving in the known universe" Which is hard to disagree with. A few ways to dive the area are either one of 2 all inclusive "resorts" God's pocket or Browning pass hideaway. Mamro liveaboard also does 7 day (I think) charters to the area and there is a land based boat charter out of Port Mcneil called Sun fun divers who also offer some basic accommodations. I've only been to the hideaway twice. Very basic accommodations but great food and 4 dives a day if you want. I'd say go for it however you decide to go.

 

[Darnold9999]

Echo what everyone else says about it.

Here are a few of my pics from there. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=128111&id=678276016&l=ff9c0548c0

Have done it twice and have paid for another trip that got cancelled for bad weather. It REALLY has to be bad to be cancelled up there. They are used to diving in serious winds. We just couldn't get from Port Hardy to the resort the waves were too high.

This is the best diving on Vancouver Island, the best diving I have done in BC, and I would guess the best cold/temperate water diving you can do on the planet. The life is amazing, vivid colours, creatures that grow larger here than most other places. Topside life that is an added bonus. The last trip included bald eagles, sea otters, Humpback whales, dolphins and sea lions both on the surface and at depth. The vis can get to 100 feet (it can also go down to 10 feet). Probably the best dive trip I have ever done and that includes two trips to Raj Ampat.

The down sides - the water is damn cold and the weather can get nasty quickly. I mean really nasty. Winds of 60 mph plus are to be expected at certain times of the year.