Also you will notice I don't seem to like any live aboard charters, you are right they are not my favourite, probably has to do with spending my youth on a submarine. I just am not that keen on vacationing on a boat. There are certainly several fine live aboard operation in B.C. which I have listed here. When you look at anyone's personal preferences you are subject to their biases.
Agamemnon Power Lines - for the corals
Browning Wall - for everything
Cliffhanger - for the wall
Copper Cliffs - for another wall
Hornby Rocks - for the anemones
Hussar Point - for the marine life
Kyen Point - for the bryozoans
Renate's Reef - for experience
Steep Island - for the tube worms
Turret Rock - for the rush
Abyssal Diving Charters
1 (800) 499-ABYS (for reservations)
(604) 285-2420
Fax (604) 285-24274
General Delivery Quadra Island, BC
V0P 1N0
A great charter in a wonderful area, lots of good fast current diving. There
are several things I like about the diving in the Campbell River area. First you
are very close to all the best diving so boat rides are short. Of course the
diving is first rate, anyone who has done dives in the area can tell photos
taken there because of the mass of colour. The bottom at most site is literally
carpeted with Strawberry anemones. Wolfeels and octopus are common here and the
operators Ian and Joann are great folks who will insure you have a great time.
Gods Pocket Resort
Box 130
Port Hardy, B.C.
V0N 2P0
(604) 949-9221
Always a great the diving at God's Pocket is amazing with lots of soft corals
and schools of rockfish. The accommodations are comfortable and the boat
exceptionally easy to dive off. Browning wall is legendary in BC diving and in
my opinion rivals any tropical wall with masses of sponge and soft corals. I
understand Kayaks are now available adding even more fun to the trip.
Rendezvous Dive Ventures
Box 135
Port Alberni, BC
V9Y 7M6
Phone & Fax(604) 720-9306
e-mail rendvous@island.net
You must dive with Dave & Renate Christie of Rendezvous, even
if you don't dive go for Renate's food. Always a great trip when I go here. Recently they added some kayaks to their equipment so you can now explore the local islands by kayak.
The Rendezvous is where I go when I want to dive and relax and eat (sort of in
that order). The diving is amazing the hot tub is relaxing and Renate is a great
cook. Barkley sound is one of the places that in the summer and fall it is
possible to see deep water sixgill sharks at shallow scuba diving depths, truly
an amazing site. If the weather is good and you get a chance to go to some of
the more westerly and exposed sites you can see things I have seen nowhere else
in BC.
Seymour Inlet Lodge
PO Box 1229
Port Hardy, B.C.
V0N 2P0
(604) 978-9050 (pager) or Campbell River Radio Tel. 02 Cape Caution,
MV Seafer N118069
Bud Bowles and his son Chris have lived in Seymour Inlet for 20+ years and know the area very well.
They provide a dive trip that includes high current diving (Seymour Inlet
contains the fastest navigable water in the world) and a true wilderness
atmosphere. The lodge is accessible by float plane (included in the trip
cost) and is very comfortable and well designed, and Gail (Bud's wife)
is a great cook.
The diving is truly unique, I have not seen the mix of fish and invertebrates found here anywhere else in B.C. All dives are conducted from fast well designed boats and I felt very safe diving here despite the possibility of strong currents. At places like this it is very hard to pick one or two dives to mention but no talk of this resort can leave out a mention of Nakwakto Rapids and Turret Rock that sits in them. The currents here are extreme (up to 18 knots) and the life is unbelievable, at slack water it is a dive that must be seen to be believed. While Nakwakto is unique it is far from the only great dive in the area sites like the Cliffhanger, the Outer Narrows, Cotton Channel and Bremner Island will soon join the ranks of B.C.'s best dive once they become more well known. Go there, pick your own favourite.
Also included in your trip are some non-diving activities while you wait for slack water. There is beach combing, hiking and Whale watching for those who are interested, or just take a canoe or kayak and relax on your own.
Flights into Seymour Inlet Lodge leave from Port Hardy and use a variety of bush planes including the venerable Grumman Goose (If your not familiar with the Goose remember Fantasy Island?). The flight in is definitely part of the experience and helps set the wilderness atmosphere of this place.