Port Hardy/ Browning Pass Hideaway

[Joshua Smith]

Glad it went well-I must admit one of the serious draws to a RB would be these types of trips, which is why I asked.

Well, that, and the chicks. I mostly did it for the chicks.

j/k. Open circuit was just fine for all the profiles we did on this trip- the OC divers had no complaints, at any rate.However, had we been doing any tech dives, the CCRs would have been much easier to do, at least in terms of helium- 3 sets of 19s would easilly give you 9 dives at most any depth- fill 'em up with Trimix and 02 for ~30 bucks before you leave, and you're all set for days and days!

[Pez7378]

Well, that, and the chicks. I mostly did it for the chicks.

Oh believe me, Jewel noticed! Or was it John she was after? Either way, she was all over you RB guys.

[dsteding]

j/k. Open circuit was just fine for all the profiles we did on this trip- the OC divers had no complaints, at any rate.However, had we been doing any tech dives, the CCRs would have been much easier to do, at least in terms of helium- 3 sets of 19s would easilly give you 9 dives at most any depth- fill 'em up with Trimix and 02 for ~30 bucks before you leave, and you're all set for days and days!

Really good reasons to get a Meg, I wonder if I'll ever head down that path . . .

But, as for hte chicks, I do fine with the ladies already . . . even being a lowly OC diver (must be the GUE cert cards, chicks dig those too).

[John Rawlings]

Really good reasons to get a Meg, I wonder if I'll ever head down that path . . .

A Meg? Ahem....I'll have you know that my KISS Classic did just frickin' fine, thank you very much!

[Maverick]

I always wear doubles sounder, its just how I roll. I have many singles and single rigs, i just like the trim of my doubles, and since i have a few sets if differnt sizes i always have the right amount of air ( I know are is not DIR but i am not DIR) for the profile of the dive i am planning, or maybe just wing the dive and take the big set.

as far as fills, John D. is great. I am going to get a cable soon, i just have been busy at work.

[Scott]

Sounds like everyone had way too much fun
John, In the picture "Nailer rounding a corner at Browning Wall" are those gorgonians hanging on the wall? Sorry I missed your call today but it probably for the best cuz it would have make me want to go for a splash and my inflator valve is on the mainland getting rebuilt so would have have to try one of the rental wetsuits.

[John Rawlings]

John, In the picture "Nailer rounding a corner at Browning Wall" are those gorgonians hanging on the wall?

Hmmmmm.....I don't see any Gorgonians in that photo, but I DO see some soft corals. Everything in that photo was connected to that huge vertical wall. There were some "clumps" of soft corals there the size of VW Beetles. The primary species appeared to be Red Soft Coral, Gersemia rubiformis.

The species we see in YOUR neck of the woods at Nootka Sound are the Pink Gorgonian, Calcigorgia spiculifera, or the Pink Candelabrum Gorgonian, Paragorgia arborea, (about which Andy Lamb cites the "synonomy is uncertain").

- John

[Scott]

Didn't think they were gorgonians but they looked all pink and fuzzy even if they weren't shaped like one.

[John Rawlings]

Didn't think they were gorgonians but they looked all pink and fuzzy even if they weren't shaped like one.

I think that you sent all of your snow down this way! 8 inches in my front yard this morning! It's April 19th, for crying out loud!!!!

I'm looking forward to seeing you at the Dive Expo!

- John

[Maverick]

okay so Ibought a card reader till calvin gets me my cable. wi should have a few pics up tonight.
BJ

[airsix]

okay so Ibought a card reader till calvin gets me my cable. wi should have a few pics up tonight.
BJ

You might like the card reader. Using the cable runs down the camera batteries. At least on my cameras it runs them down pretty quickly. Can't wait to see more pictures from everybody.

-Ben

[Romer Treece]

Nice report and photos!! Wish I could have gone with ya'll!!

[airsix]

Nice report and photos!! Wish I could have gone with ya'll!!

I wish you could have gone too. We'd be watching HD video by now instead of waiting for Mav to find a data cable and PEZ to quit fighting with photobucket and his laptop!

-Ben

[Cuppie]

yeah, i live with mav and still haven't seen the pics yet!! we're on a charter today but hopefully by tonite he will have gotten them on the comp!! i'm doing my best!

[Maverick]

heres cuppie on Browning wall

[Maverick]

here's some goose necks feeding,

[Penopolypants]

Nice report and photos!! Wish I could have gone with ya'll!!

I wish you could have gone too. We'd be watching HD video by now instead of waiting for Mav to find a data cable and PEZ to quit fighting with photobucket and his laptop!

-Ben

Ben, why do I get the feeling you need a diving fix or you're gonna asplode?

[Pez7378]

I might need some help with identification on this one. I think it might be the rare BPUWSC

[Pez7378]

Nakwakto Gooseneck Barnacles

Rawlings splashes on Eagle Rock

Red Trumpet Tube Worm?

Rawlings and Nailer99 on the Rock of Life

China Rockfish at Dillon rock

[Maverick]

a Diver, Gues WHo?

[Cuppie]

CHICKEN!!! Oh how i miss chicken. you know he had a good time after that dive...

[Pez7378]

Kung Pow Chicken!

[BDub]

Those pictures are awesome....

So what are currents like? Are the dives all drifts? If so, how fast does it get up there?

B

[Joshua Smith]

Currents can be pretty strong, in general. At Nakwakto, they're absolutely freaking insane. But when you go with John deBoek, he knows the currents intimately, and he'll explain what they will do at a particular site exactly, and when they will do it- most of the time, we were barely aware of the current, or it would gently move us across a wall in the direction we wanted to go, anyway.

[Pez7378]

Not all drift dives Brian. Only two that I remember were really swirling and that was the wreck and Nakwakto. I think John will be going back to the wreck at some point to do a story so I'll not elaborate. Nothing too strenuous but John deBoeck knows the waters well and prepares you for what to expect in his briefings. There was another crew up there doing some Tech stuff with scooters. I'm sure that's fun. Most of what we encountered were less than 2 knots. EXCEPT for Nakwakto. That was tear your mask off swift water. Fortunately the topogrophy allows you to hide in places. We were there at the very threshold of what John will allow anyone to dive. Nakwakto boasts the fastest tidal currents in the world at up to 16+ knots and it's fun as hell! There are stories of 17 foot boats and huge logs getting sucked under and spit out 100 meters downstream.