|
Posted by Merry on October 03, 2016 at 20:01:48:
This August, we made our 2nd trip to God's Pocket, which was actually our 3rd trip of diving in the bountiful waters off Vancouver Island. The marine life is unparalleled, mysterious and wild, and the dive sites are pristine. Something about diving here takes hold of your heart and soul, leaving one wanting to return again and again. 
Our fun group.
Kevin Lee (diverkevin.com) took the plunge with us.
One of the nice things about the dive boat is what Richard Salas calls the "Billevator". Captain Bill Weeks designed this hydraulic elevator that swiftly and neatly lifts divers out of the water, fins and all. Here's Kevin on the elevator with camera clipped off.
Diver Aaron Briemer
Toronto couple, Cindy and Rick Rogers. This was Rick's 500th dive, so people clipped off various items to his tank without his knowing (a Canadian custom perhaps). Being a good sport, Rick posed with one of the decorations.
Cheryl Smith and Jon Rix (http://www.fathomthis.ca) are veterans of God's Pocket and Browning Pass. They've been diving here for the majority of 20+ years.
Diver Tom Rynalski. We're sorry that Tom's peppy wife, Cindy, wasn't diving on this trip.
Intern Amy, Captain Bill, wife Annie Ceschi, and Chef Chris were incredible hosts.
One other amiable couple at the resort, Sheryl and Russel Crow(e). Here's Russel.
7-Tree Island. A magnificent wall dive on one side, with a shallow pebble and shell bottom on the other.
Rock greenling. I won't rest until I find this fish again.
Humongous wolf eel from Fantasy Island
Penpoint gunnel
Scalyhead sculpin
Yes, this is a fish! Buffalo sculpin.
Grunt sculpin. Quoting Dr. Milton Love, "A small cold-water and solitary fish that, with the possible exception of the Pacific spiny lumpsucker, is the cutest fish on the west coast."
Roughback sculpin
Quillback rockfish
Red Irish Lord that changed color to match the brown and maroon background.
Spotted ratfish. I also won't rest until I get another shot at this unique fish.
Browning Wall, Northwest Passage Wall, Hussar Point, Buttertart Reef, Ruth's Rock, Landslide, R&B. At all these dive sites marine life is crowded, so much so that there is ongoing competition for space, not nutrients. For example, in this frame there are:
3 species of nudi
3 species of sponge
soft coral
plumose anemones
sea spiders
basket star
Geitodoris heathi feeding on sulphur sponge.
Rough scallop sponge
Smooth scallop sponge (left) and rough scallop sponge (right)
| 
