God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Tell us your tale of coming nose-to-nose with a 6 gill [--this big--], or about your vacation to turquoise warm waters. Share your adventures here!
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YellowEye
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God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by YellowEye »

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!
Mussels and kelp in the surge zone
Mussels and kelp in the surge zone
A stimpson star in the surge zone
A stimpson star in the surge zone
Opulescent Nudibranchs are cannibals and hermaphrodites. They're also usually poisonous to predators... hence i was surprised when I observed a shrimp eating one on this trip!
Opulescent Nudibranchs are cannibals and hermaphrodites. They're also usually poisonous to predators... hence i was surprised when I observed a shrimp eating one on this trip!
A quillback greets me on Hussar Point
A quillback greets me on Hussar Point
A reef scene from Ruth's Rocks
A reef scene from Ruth's Rocks
A sea angel, from Copper Cliffs, near Campbell River BC
A sea angel, from Copper Cliffs, near Campbell River BC
Color explosion on browning wall
Color explosion on browning wall
Last edited by YellowEye on Sun Oct 13, 2019 9:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Tangfish
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by Tangfish »

Great trip report! Sounds like an awesome trip up there. And pooped on? Well, maybe it was a sign of affection!
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YellowEye
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by YellowEye »

Ruth's Rocks
Ruth's Rocks
A baby wolfeel that i found in about 12 feet of water, it was about 2' long
A baby wolfeel that i found in about 12 feet of water, it was about 2' long
Male kelp greenling
Male kelp greenling
Scubajess and a fiesty rock greenling
Scubajess and a fiesty rock greenling
Rocky
Rocky
Beautiful Hooded Nudies by the thousands!
Beautiful Hooded Nudies by the thousands!
Hooded nudibranchs on eelgrass
Hooded nudibranchs on eelgrass
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Tangfish
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by Tangfish »

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!
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Jan K
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by Jan K »

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 ! :)
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I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
Sharkb8
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by Sharkb8 »

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!!! Love the rock greenling shots! I want to get up there soooo bad :burntchef: Where are Jess' photos?
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KeithBoll
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by KeithBoll »

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.
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ScubaJess
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by ScubaJess »

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 :luv: :luv: :luv: trapped in a happy scuba bubble filled with Epic sea creatures, spectacular visibility & the friendliest Divers and crew around!!! :joshsmith: It was magical!!! :taco: I can't wait to go back!!! The new staff are doing a great job! :notworthy: Captain Al took us to some new spots. It was all around so much fun! :eric: :eric:

Amazing Snaps YellowEye! Your new name is the Rocky Whisperer! :partydance:

Richard Salas was amazing! I always enjoy my time with him and learn so much! :luv:

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. :partyman:

Here are a few of my snaps. I wish I could've got pics of the adorable sea otters!!!! They were crazy cute! :luv:

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!!! :pirate: :taco: :burntchef: :calvin: :joshsmith: :luv: :highfive: :hearteyes: :breakdance: :grouphug: :bounceline: :mmmbeer:
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Colorful Chiton on the reefs
Colorful Chiton on the reefs
My first ever Sea Angel snap, we saw him at Campbell River on the way up to Port Hardy, BC
My first ever Sea Angel snap, we saw him at Campbell River on the way up to Port Hardy, BC
Lingcod eating lunch
Lingcod eating lunch
Cool hermit crab on kelp
Cool hermit crab on kelp
Baby rockfish
Baby rockfish
More Nudi action
More Nudi action
My first ever Stalked Jellyfish encounter
My first ever Stalked Jellyfish encounter
Nudi on a walkabout
Nudi on a walkabout
Manacle Sculpin at SW Deserter Islands
Manacle Sculpin at SW Deserter Islands
Close up of a orange peel nudi for Rich
Close up of a orange peel nudi for Rich
Teenage Hooded Nudibranch, I loved his Mohawk
Teenage Hooded Nudibranch, I loved his Mohawk
Nudi Laying the next generation
Nudi Laying the next generation
Was soooo nice to see the Rockfish babies
Was soooo nice to see the Rockfish babies
I loved all the adorable hermit crabs
I loved all the adorable hermit crabs
My favorite kind of Top Snail , thanks to YE for finding for me on my last dive
My favorite kind of Top Snail , thanks to YE for finding for me on my last dive
Baby crab wearing a Russian hat
Baby crab wearing a Russian hat
Brooding Anemones were all over the kelp
Brooding Anemones were all over the kelp
ROCKY!!!!!! The legendary Big Foot in the fish world :)
ROCKY!!!!!! The legendary Big Foot in the fish world :)
Tiny sea spider on red soft coral
Tiny sea spider on red soft coral
Baby Sculpin
Baby Sculpin
Top Snail & Hooded Nudibranch
Top Snail & Hooded Nudibranch
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. :luv: :partydance: :eric: :taco:
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YellowEye
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by YellowEye »

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!
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Tangfish
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by Tangfish »

Loving these photos from you guys, and stalked jelly, is that what that is?
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ScubaJess
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by ScubaJess »

Tangfish wrote: Sun Oct 20, 2019 6:59 pm Loving these photos from you guys, and stalked jelly, is that what that is?
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. :luv: :partydance: :eric: :taco:
Tangfish
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by Tangfish »

Never seen that before, looks fascinating.
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Vjw
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by Vjw »

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!! :joshsmith: :luv: :taco:
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Gdog
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Re: God's Pocket Oct 7-11 2019

Post by Gdog »

Fantastic work guys! Some serious good photos!
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