Snake Island Wall, Nanaimo BC
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:51 am
August 28, 2017. Just Greg Smith and myself. Tsawwassen Ferry to Nanaimo BC. Stayed at Howard Johnson Harbourside at 1 Terminal Ave.
Dive Charter with Sundown Dive Charter at 22 Esplanade. Two older small boats, 21 foot outboards. Don't expect to be pampered.
Day 1: HMCS Cape Bretton, 30 ft vis and Jesse Island, 20 ft vis, which is shallow with interesting structure and sea life but shallow vis was bad, swim thru at 15 FSW.
Day-2: HMCS Saskatchewan, 50 ft vis and Clark Rock, 50+ ft vis, a big round pinnacle with GPO's and Wolfies.
Day-3 Snake Island Wall twice, 75 ft vis. Big deep wall with anchor buoy at south end of the island. Just follow the driveway down to 100 FSW. There's 3 foot tall Chimney Sponges. Go left a couple hundred feet to a huge overhang. Great vis.
Because of marginal winds, we spent 3 days resisting Rivtow Lion and insisting on Snake Island - be persistent.
The beach trail access is in HOJO's parking lot. You can walk through the park to the other end of town on the water front trail.
Restaurants are in walking distance plus Horton's across the street.
We left our gear over night in the dockside shed while staff took our tanks, filled and returned them to the dock next day.
Dive Charter with Sundown Dive Charter at 22 Esplanade. Two older small boats, 21 foot outboards. Don't expect to be pampered.
Day 1: HMCS Cape Bretton, 30 ft vis and Jesse Island, 20 ft vis, which is shallow with interesting structure and sea life but shallow vis was bad, swim thru at 15 FSW.
Day-2: HMCS Saskatchewan, 50 ft vis and Clark Rock, 50+ ft vis, a big round pinnacle with GPO's and Wolfies.
Day-3 Snake Island Wall twice, 75 ft vis. Big deep wall with anchor buoy at south end of the island. Just follow the driveway down to 100 FSW. There's 3 foot tall Chimney Sponges. Go left a couple hundred feet to a huge overhang. Great vis.
Because of marginal winds, we spent 3 days resisting Rivtow Lion and insisting on Snake Island - be persistent.
The beach trail access is in HOJO's parking lot. You can walk through the park to the other end of town on the water front trail.
Restaurants are in walking distance plus Horton's across the street.
We left our gear over night in the dockside shed while staff took our tanks, filled and returned them to the dock next day.
