Howe Sound in early September

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orcasc205
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Howe Sound in early September

Post by orcasc205 »

We're thinking about heading up to the Vancouver area in early September (either Labor Day weekend or the following weekend) and I was wondering how the diving conditions in Howe Sound are usually around that time of year? Is the visibility normally starting to improve yet? I was thinking about one day of shore diving at Whytecliff or Porteau Cove and one day of boat diving off the Sea Dragon in West Vancouver. Any other recommendations?
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YellowEye
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Re: Howe Sound in early September

Post by YellowEye »

Sounds like a fun weekend!

I'd think viz would be pretty good! I don't think I've had bad viz in bc in Sept. If in doubt I've got a friend who dives sea dragon weekly and he can give you a recent report ahead of time. And there's a Whytecliff Wednesdays group on Facebook you can also get recent reports from. Fun group.

If you can spend the time and money, Vancouver Island offers even better diving.
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Sharkb8
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Re: Howe Sound in early September

Post by Sharkb8 »

I agree with Yelloweye! The vis should definitely be improving and the water will be nice and comfortable. If the vis is still mediocre you will still probably be able to go deeper and have it clear up at Whytecliffe and on the Sea Dragon. Porteau is shallower and farther up the sound so the vis could still be questionable. I’ll actually be diving off the Sea Dragon next weekend so I’ll give a report.

He is also right about Vancouver Island having better diving. For an easy trip you could stay in Nanaimo and do a day of shore dives 30 min north around Nanoose Bay, and do a day on one of the charters. Victoria also offers another easy trip.

Yelloweye, you guys heading to the island again Labor Day? I might be doing the same!
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YellowEye
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Re: Howe Sound in early September

Post by YellowEye »

I forgot to mention. I vastly preferred Kelvin Grove to nearby porteau cove. At Kelvin, we got to see warbonnets, cockerels, and bootsponges. Porteau cove is kind of like a bland Edmonds. Kelvin has a bit of a hike/swim though, but not too bad.

Sharkb8, several of us are going to VI the weekend before labor day... Better tides.

orcasc205, the weekend after labor day has better tides than labor day weekend as well.
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orcasc205
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Re: Howe Sound in early September

Post by orcasc205 »

Thanks for the info, everyone. I think we are going to stick with Vancouver this time since my wife doesn't get off work until late Friday and we will need to be back Sunday night. Diving on Vancouver Island is definitely on my list of things to do, though. I'll look at the weekend after Labor Day for the better tides.

Cheers,

-Doug
Sharkb8
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Re: Howe Sound in early September

Post by Sharkb8 »

I was out on the Sea Dragon yesterday, and even with the larger tide exchange the vis was great at depth. Once you got below 20 ft it opened up to 30+ vis at times. You guys won't have any problems. I'm going to guess that Whytecliff shore diving would have been the same. Have fun, and let us know how your trip went!
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orcasc205
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Re: Howe Sound in early September

Post by orcasc205 »

It turns out that the Sea Dragon is reserved for the GUE Nanaimo Wreck Fest the weekend we were going to head up, so we're looking at other options now. We'll either pick another weekend or dive with Bandito Dive Charters in the San Juans that weekend. Or maybe try to make it to Vancouver Island if the timing works.

If we dive out of Anacortes on Sunday the 8th, any thoughts on how the tides look to hit Keystone on the way up on Saturday?

-Doug
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Re: Howe Sound in early September

Post by YellowEye »

Sept 7 is doable for keystone, assuming calm winds. But it's a 7am splash at a 0 foot tide!

Watch the kelp and keep your regs in on entry and exit, those rocks get slippery.

Tides might slow down around high tide around 130 pm. Viz would likely be better. But the high tide slacks are shorter and less predictable.

Who knows, we may be up there.
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orcasc205
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Re: Howe Sound in early September

Post by orcasc205 »

Well, all my planning was for nought since it looks like we're now going to be in Monterrey, CA that weekend. Thanks for all the planning advice, though. I'm sure I'll make use of it at some point. Looks like we'll be getting some diving in on Monterrey Bay, though.

-Doug
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Re: Howe Sound in early September

Post by Sharkb8 »

Planning is never for naught if you learn something from it that you can apply in the future! Have fun in Monterrey. You should still plan a trip up north sooner or later. We are coming up on the best months of the year for being underwater!
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orcasc205
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Re: Howe Sound in early September

Post by orcasc205 »

Well, two long COVID years later we're hopefully going to make it up to Howe Sound finally (I don't mind reviving the old thread since it was still the last thread in this channel). We're diving with Sea Dragon charters to Halkett Pinnacle (weather permitting) in October to see the Halkett Sponge Bioherm.
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