North Vancouver Island and surrounding areas diving
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2022 7:33 pm
Hi!
Jess and I just got back from a couple epic trips up to the Northern Section of Vancouver Island. We dove with Sun Fun Divers, UB Diving, and Abyssal Charters. Here's a map of the main places we went:
Not shown on this map, diving in Campbell River with Abyssal Charters. Campbell River is on the east side of VI about half way up the island.
The main purpose of the trips was to dive Nakwakto Rapids and explore some of the further out sites that God's Pocket does not go to. If you haven't heard of Nakwakto Rapids, read up on it! It's a major bucket list dive!
Some links to read up on it and see the currents in action:
https://luxebeatmag.com/liquid-rush-ben ... to-rapids/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsVwqflBJTY
(also search this website)
We chose the best tides of the year for these missions. I'd call it a success! We had 4 dives on Nakwakto, 4 dives near Nakwakto, 2 at the deserters, and several a bit further out from Browning Pass (including fantasy Island and Hunt Rock).
We were able to achieve these dives using the fast small boats that UB diving and Sun Fun have. Brandon Cole our group leader has 35 years diving this area so did most of the planning. (note: Sun Fun is pretty experienced in the area. UB diving is a less experienced operator in that area but they're learning).
Each day we'd make one run out, with 2 dives typically about 6-8 hours apart, waiting for slack. We only did a couple of lesser off slack dives. The drive from Port Hardy to Nakwakto is about 40 miles so you can see it's a full day! Each day we'd come back to Port Hardy or Port McNeill and cook our own meals or go out. The lodging was on our own, so you can see this is a more complex operation than just going to the luxury of God's Pocket.
Sun Fun Diving did all the chartering for the Broughton Arhipelago area. This is right in their back yard. I highly recommend every body check out Sun Fun diving on your way to/from God's Pocket some time. I can't say enough about it. The area is equally good to god's pocket, but different.
More later!
Jess and I just got back from a couple epic trips up to the Northern Section of Vancouver Island. We dove with Sun Fun Divers, UB Diving, and Abyssal Charters. Here's a map of the main places we went:
Not shown on this map, diving in Campbell River with Abyssal Charters. Campbell River is on the east side of VI about half way up the island.
The main purpose of the trips was to dive Nakwakto Rapids and explore some of the further out sites that God's Pocket does not go to. If you haven't heard of Nakwakto Rapids, read up on it! It's a major bucket list dive!
Some links to read up on it and see the currents in action:
https://luxebeatmag.com/liquid-rush-ben ... to-rapids/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsVwqflBJTY
(also search this website)
We chose the best tides of the year for these missions. I'd call it a success! We had 4 dives on Nakwakto, 4 dives near Nakwakto, 2 at the deserters, and several a bit further out from Browning Pass (including fantasy Island and Hunt Rock).
We were able to achieve these dives using the fast small boats that UB diving and Sun Fun have. Brandon Cole our group leader has 35 years diving this area so did most of the planning. (note: Sun Fun is pretty experienced in the area. UB diving is a less experienced operator in that area but they're learning).
Each day we'd make one run out, with 2 dives typically about 6-8 hours apart, waiting for slack. We only did a couple of lesser off slack dives. The drive from Port Hardy to Nakwakto is about 40 miles so you can see it's a full day! Each day we'd come back to Port Hardy or Port McNeill and cook our own meals or go out. The lodging was on our own, so you can see this is a more complex operation than just going to the luxury of God's Pocket.
Sun Fun Diving did all the chartering for the Broughton Arhipelago area. This is right in their back yard. I highly recommend every body check out Sun Fun diving on your way to/from God's Pocket some time. I can't say enough about it. The area is equally good to god's pocket, but different.
More later!