I just returned from a great week long trip up the Hornby Island BC, about an hour north of Nanaimo. Hornby Island Diving is a top notch operation with really friendly and capable operators in John and Amanda. Their family has been operating the lodge since the 70's. The main attraction in the winter is the opportunity to dive with the resident colony of Steller Sealions. There are hundreds of them on site, and especially in the morning it's a wild experience. Imagine being in a small room with excited, friendly puppy dogs that want to climb all over you, licking and nibbling. Now replace the puppies with 600 - 1500 pound aquatic mammals! Mostly harmless fun, however several dry gloves and one dry suit fell victim to the sea monsters...
This trip was organized by Richard Sallas, and filled with a great group of folks. Several PNW folks you may know, and a pretty diverse group of other from all of the US, Canada, and Germany. Richard also runs a photo workshop on the trip, with great opportunities for critique and feedback. I've been on a few of his trips now, with some others in the queue. Highly recommended!
The diving was mostly great, but we had a couple of weather days where the winds kept us off the water. But we had a few sunny days and great visibility the whole time. Hornby has some great locations for hiking and bird watching for non-diving days.
Here are a few of my favourite photos from the trip:
Hornby Island Diving with Steller Sealions - Jan 2018
Hornby Island Diving with Steller Sealions - Jan 2018
Last edited by dlh on Tue Jan 30, 2018 8:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
Dave
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Re: Hornby Island Diving with Steller Sealions - Jan 2018
Super cool! Great shots.
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Re: Hornby Island Diving with Steller Sealions - Jan 2018
Wow! All great shots, but #2 is perfect - her expression is priceless as the marine beastie nips at her hood!!
<Penopolypants> "I, for one, would welcome our new cowboy octopus overlords."
<LCF> "There is ALWAYS another day to dive, as long as you get home today."
<LCF> "There is ALWAYS another day to dive, as long as you get home today."
Re: Hornby Island Diving with Steller Sealions - Jan 2018
I agree, definitely my favourite photo from the trip. A perfect expression of wonder, joy, and WTF!!!!RoxnDox wrote:Wow! All great shots, but #2 is perfect - her expression is priceless as the marine beastie nips at her hood!!
Dave
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Re: Hornby Island Diving with Steller Sealions - Jan 2018
Great shots! And what a great experience! Love the whiskers, and they have such expressive faces, which you captured beautifully.
Come to the nerd side, we have pi!
Re: Hornby Island Diving with Steller Sealions - Jan 2018
Cute little buggers... but not on my bucket list.
More Pics Than You Have Time To Look AT
"Anyone who thinks this place is over moderated is bat-crazy anarchist." -Ben, Airsix
"Warning: No dive masters are going to be there, Just a bunch of old fat guys taking pictures of fish." -Bassman
"Anyone who thinks this place is over moderated is bat-crazy anarchist." -Ben, Airsix
"Warning: No dive masters are going to be there, Just a bunch of old fat guys taking pictures of fish." -Bassman