GB Church wreck

[H20doctor]

Just watched a National Geo show on GPO's and they dove on this wreck .. Any one from the Board dive this wreck ?

[John Rawlings]

You'd love it, Doc! It isn't really a "wreck", per se, it was deliberately sunk by the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia. In fact, it was their first one! It's a very nice dive, with lots of life and some of the largest Rockfish you're ever going to see hanging around it. Pretty overgrown with anemones, too - parts of it look like clouds because of all of the plumose. We've always found lots of GPOs on her, too, usually in dens under the hull.

Here are a few old (film) photos that I took years ago on a dive on the GB Church:

I urge as many NWDC members that can to get your butts up to BC and dive some of these artificial reefs - they can be absolutely wondrous!

- John

[mancub]

I enjoyed diving the GB Church as much or even more than the Saskatchewan merely because I got to spend more time on it. I am not a tech diver and the max depth is significantly less. Also, it happened to be windy so the boat ride was much more enjoyable, as it sits in a protected area. Big octo under the hull!
I definitely will go back to Nanaimo soon. Some great diving, even some shore dives with tons of life.

*edit*
was thinking of the Rivtow Lion, sorry!

[CaptnJack]

Its nice on the outside, pretty nasty rusty on the inside.
http://vimeo.com/931382

I have no idea why vimeo won't embed.

[H20doctor]

http://www.best-scuba-diving-vacations- ... lumbia.pdf

Yes I want to plan a dive up there this winter ...

[H20doctor]

Looks like a great wreck richard .. Id prob stay on the outside and film it , and peek into the hatches and such .. But it looks like a great wreck with great Lodging , and hotels in the area

[spudgunman]

http://www.best-scuba-diving-vacations- ... lumbia.pdf

Yes I want to plan a dive up there this winter ...

cool map is there one like that for the sound?

[CaptnJack]

Looks like a great wreck richard .. Id prob stay on the outside and film it , and peek into the hatches and such .. But it looks like a great wreck with great Lodging , and hotels in the area

The Sidney area is a little bit of a pain fill-wise. The shops up there never seem to last...
Odgen point runs charters to the Church and the Mackenzie. Their big boat "Cape Able" is slow but pretty nice IMO. Both sites are reasonably protected so a winter charter is likely to go most days.
http://www.divevictoria.com/index.php?page=charters

[CaptnJack]

http://www.best-scuba-diving-vacations- ... lumbia.pdf

Yes I want to plan a dive up there this winter ...

cool map is there one like that for the sound?

Jack Connick made one or was part of making one. They are more photogenic and less "site dense". I have seen them around but dont' know who has them or where they are online. I bet Fritz would know how to get one.

[boydski]

The Sidney area is a little bit of a pain fill-wise. The shops up there never seem to last...

Hi Richard,

I was just up in Sidney last week and there is a nice dive shop (with a compressor) right in the Sidney Harbor Marina now (top of the ramp and look left).

For those of you with boats, the wreck of the G.B. Church is only a few miles from Turn Point (Stuart Island) and is easily accessible from the San Juan Islands. As suggested above, it is a great wreck, with large holds that is relatively shallow and easy to explore. This site is also well protected from tidal currents (unlike the HMCS Mackenzie, which is a few miles south and VERY current sensitive).



Anchor Windlass on the bow of the G.B. Church

[Pinkpadigal]

I dove it about 4 years ago with my husband. One of my favorite artificial reef dives and probably my favorite in BC. The white anemones made it almost glow. Lots of large rockfish and a GPO on the bow. It was beautiful. Wish I had a camera.