God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
Howdy Folks!
Scubajess, keithboll, nwdivegirl and 8 other divers just came back from a trip to God's Pocket organized by photographer Richard Salas.
It was a great time! Viz was great, the people were great, the marine life encounters were great. It was our first time diving up there since they changed ownership.
For those unfamiliar with the area, it is a qaint converted fishing lodge on a remote island up north of port hardy, near Browning Pass. The pass and area is known to some as the best temperate diving around!
Dlh gave a trip report in the spring with the new owners as well. But now instead of Chris and B running the show, it is Sten and Al. Great guys. Al knows the waters extremely well, having captained the Nautilus Swell in previous years. He has a different approach to his boating... he moves slower and anchors to save fuel. This allows us to go further out on a fixed fuel budget. It makes for longer days but it was fun exploring further out sites.
Probably the highlight of the trip was getting to see for the first time the fabled male Rock Greenling. I've been searching for one of these for YEARS and totally hit the jackpot on this trip. I actually got to see about 9 or 10 "Rockies" on this trip, on three different dive sites. I saw 4-5 colorful males and 5 of the more duller colored females. So cool to see! Some were skiddish some were bolder. I actually saw 2 males skirmish, and some of the fish had flesh wounds.
Surface sightings included orcas, otters, humpbacks, baldies and various sea birds such as oyster catchers. We had a gull and humpback frenzy just outside the resort on our first night!
I also had an underwater encounter with 4 female sealions. I guess they may not have liked me because they pooped down on me and swam off! Very cool to see them though.
On the way up, we stopped and dove with Earl from Abyssal Charters in Campbell River/Quadra Island. Always a great time! Next time we may take a bear tour there, people were striking gold with bear encounters!
Can't wait to go back!
Scubajess, keithboll, nwdivegirl and 8 other divers just came back from a trip to God's Pocket organized by photographer Richard Salas.
It was a great time! Viz was great, the people were great, the marine life encounters were great. It was our first time diving up there since they changed ownership.
For those unfamiliar with the area, it is a qaint converted fishing lodge on a remote island up north of port hardy, near Browning Pass. The pass and area is known to some as the best temperate diving around!
Dlh gave a trip report in the spring with the new owners as well. But now instead of Chris and B running the show, it is Sten and Al. Great guys. Al knows the waters extremely well, having captained the Nautilus Swell in previous years. He has a different approach to his boating... he moves slower and anchors to save fuel. This allows us to go further out on a fixed fuel budget. It makes for longer days but it was fun exploring further out sites.
Probably the highlight of the trip was getting to see for the first time the fabled male Rock Greenling. I've been searching for one of these for YEARS and totally hit the jackpot on this trip. I actually got to see about 9 or 10 "Rockies" on this trip, on three different dive sites. I saw 4-5 colorful males and 5 of the more duller colored females. So cool to see! Some were skiddish some were bolder. I actually saw 2 males skirmish, and some of the fish had flesh wounds.
Surface sightings included orcas, otters, humpbacks, baldies and various sea birds such as oyster catchers. We had a gull and humpback frenzy just outside the resort on our first night!
I also had an underwater encounter with 4 female sealions. I guess they may not have liked me because they pooped down on me and swam off! Very cool to see them though.
On the way up, we stopped and dove with Earl from Abyssal Charters in Campbell River/Quadra Island. Always a great time! Next time we may take a bear tour there, people were striking gold with bear encounters!
Can't wait to go back!
Last edited by YellowEye on Sun Oct 13, 2019 9:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Visit pnwdiving.com for viz reports, slack planning, galleries and more!
Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
Great trip report! Sounds like an awesome trip up there. And pooped on? Well, maybe it was a sign of affection!
Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
Visit pnwdiving.com for viz reports, slack planning, galleries and more!
Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
Stunning photos!!!
Wow I really love that last one with the hooded nudibranchs in the eel grass, epic!
The juvenile wolfie... wow.
Amazing pics Eric!
Wow I really love that last one with the hooded nudibranchs in the eel grass, epic!
The juvenile wolfie... wow.
Amazing pics Eric!
Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
WOW, just WOW !!!
I can only imagine how great you had to feel finally not only find the Rock greenlings, but managed to get such beautiful pictures of them. And of course, all the other shots are so amazing. I am looking forward for more !
I can only imagine how great you had to feel finally not only find the Rock greenlings, but managed to get such beautiful pictures of them. And of course, all the other shots are so amazing. I am looking forward for more !
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!!! Love the rock greenling shots! I want to get up there soooo bad Where are Jess' photos?
Party underwater
Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
It was a great week at God's Pocket! So glad to be able to join all of you for this trip!
Here are a couple of pics.
Here are a couple of pics.
Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
Greetings Awesome Divers!!!
I finally had a chance to get my pics ready. It's been so hard going back to real life after the amazing week at God's Pocket trapped in a happy scuba bubble filled with Epic sea creatures, spectacular visibility & the friendliest Divers and crew around!!! It was magical!!! I can't wait to go back!!! The new staff are doing a great job! Captain Al took us to some new spots. It was all around so much fun!
Amazing Snaps YellowEye! Your new name is the Rocky Whisperer!
Richard Salas was amazing! I always enjoy my time with him and learn so much!
Also it was so nice to dive with Keith Boll (I love your nudi snaps!!!! ) & Pam (you are so sweet!!!! )! I'm so glad you guys were in the same trip as us.
Here are a few of my snaps. I wish I could've got pics of the adorable sea otters!!!! They were crazy cute!
I love God's Pocket and diving in Vancouver Island, I hope you all can get a chance to try it sometime
Cold water is the best!
Happy Diving!!!
I finally had a chance to get my pics ready. It's been so hard going back to real life after the amazing week at God's Pocket trapped in a happy scuba bubble filled with Epic sea creatures, spectacular visibility & the friendliest Divers and crew around!!! It was magical!!! I can't wait to go back!!! The new staff are doing a great job! Captain Al took us to some new spots. It was all around so much fun!
Amazing Snaps YellowEye! Your new name is the Rocky Whisperer!
Richard Salas was amazing! I always enjoy my time with him and learn so much!
Also it was so nice to dive with Keith Boll (I love your nudi snaps!!!! ) & Pam (you are so sweet!!!! )! I'm so glad you guys were in the same trip as us.
Here are a few of my snaps. I wish I could've got pics of the adorable sea otters!!!! They were crazy cute!
I love God's Pocket and diving in Vancouver Island, I hope you all can get a chance to try it sometime
Cold water is the best!
Happy Diving!!!
- Attachments
Live Long And Prosper!!!
Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions.
Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions.
Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
Awesome snaps Keith and ScubaJess!!
Again, love that cockerel's Keith!
So awesome you got that stalked jelly, SJ. I have not seen one before!
Again, love that cockerel's Keith!
So awesome you got that stalked jelly, SJ. I have not seen one before!
Visit pnwdiving.com for viz reports, slack planning, galleries and more!
Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
Loving these photos from you guys, and stalked jelly, is that what that is?
Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
Thanks Calvin! I was soooo excited to see the stalked Jellyfish, I saw 2 of them on the broad leaf kelp at about 30 feet. They were super cool! I want to go to Seiku by Neah Bay and look for more next summer. Have you ever seen them?
Live Long And Prosper!!!
Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions.
Stay Warm underwater with the Weezle Extreme Plus undergarment! Please let me know if you would like to order one or have any questions.
Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
Amazing photos from all of you!! What a fabulous time you guys had! Especially like the hooded nudibranchs, stalk jelly, and elusive ‘rocky’ pics!! Wow!!
Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019
Fantastic work guys! Some serious good photos!