Deception Pass 02/19 and Lydia Shoal 02/21

[whatevah]

Logged a couple of really fabulous dives this past week.

Deception Pass on 02/19 was excellent - a good slack to work with, great weather and the visibility was close to as good as I've seen there. My buddy and I decided to try a dive plan we've talked about a number of times - descending on the Whidbey Island wall, and coming back up on Pass Island. I took my digital still camera along with the wide angle lens and dome on it - attached my canister light head in place of the strobe and put it in movie mode. The results are far from real video camera quality (and the retractor attached to the housing makes an annoying squeaking noise), and I edited it into something of a silly personal journal. Still, you are welcome to take a look if you're interested. It's about 20 minutes long, and the half resolution, compressed version is an 80MB download here:

http://www.geckoworks.com/deception_pass_20090219.avi (you may need to download the free Xvid codec)

On 02/21, we made use of great tidal conditions in Rosario Strait to check out Lydia Shoal. We've considered it many times in the past, but always opted for a different plan. Well, we should've tried it before because it turns out to be a really amazing site - we'll be going back. I was experimenting with wide angle stills this time, and many of my photos were disappointing. I hope you enjoy viewing the least worst of them, which can be found here:

http://uwphoto.geckoworks.com/g/lydia_shoal_feb_2009

[Huskychemist]

Great pictures Pete. I didn't take the time to download the video yet...but the pictures were good. Thanks for sharing.

[fmerkel]

Boat or shore? I thought the access road was closed this time of year?
Pass Is. is that one right in the channel under the bridge?

Fritz

[Jan K]

Your Lydia Shoal pictures are fine, don't be so hard on yourself It sure looks interesting.
Cannot see the movie on my Mac for some reason, my QuickTime doesn't play it... :(
Since they closed the road to North Beach, I sure miss the pass dives ...

[gcbryan]

Your Lydia Shoal pictures are fine, don't be so hard on yourself It sure looks interesting.
Cannot see the movie on my Mac for some reason, my QuickTime doesn't play it... :(
Since they closed the road to North Beach, I sure miss the pass dives ...

When did this start...closing the road to North Beach?

[Jan K]

Would you believe OCTOBER ? ](*,) ](*,) ](*,)
http://www.nwdiveclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=5794

[whatevah]

Boat or shore? I thought the access road was closed this time of year?
Pass Is. is that one right in the channel under the bridge?

Fritz

Hi Fritz - yes, Pass Island is the one under the middle of the bridge. Between Pass Island and Whidbey Island is Deception Pass - between Pass Island and Fidalgo Island is Canoe Pass (also a very nice dive). We dove from a boat - I haven't checked the road down to North Beach lately sorry. There was someone shore diving from North Beach the same day we were there though, so either the gate was open or they walked down the stairway. I knew it wasn't Jan - their suit was black, not red.

Hey Jan - if you want to watch the video, you might have to download the xvid component for quicktime:

http://n.ethz.ch/student/naegelic/download/

Did anyone spot the Granulated Claw Crab in the video? How about the Proliferating Anemones in beautiful deep purple hue among the Lydia Shoal photos? I usually see them in neon pink - the purple was new for me and a nice surprise.

[mattwave]

Awesome report I can't beleive I finally organized a charter April 5 to Deception Pass and I will be in Nanaimo, oh well. At least we will be diving aboard the Deep Sea this Sunday - Black ROCK, which rocks.

[whatevah]

Awesome report I can't beleive I finally organized a charter April 5 to Deception Pass and I will be in Nanaimo, oh well. At least we will be diving aboard the Deep Sea this Sunday - Black ROCK, which rocks.

Thanks Matt - glad you liked it. Black Rock is an interesting spot and I'm sure you'll have a blast. Let us know how the visibility is eh? Seems like every time I go there I get poor visibility and I'm starting to wonder if it's just me.