****Port Hardy Area****

****Browning Wall

Location:
Not far from Hurst Island, the home of God's Pocket Resort.

Above Water:
A boat dive that is a vertical cliff face both above and below the water.

Below Water:
Ok boys and girls now we are diving, a 250 foot (in spots) vertical wall that starts at the surface. This wall is covered with red Soft corals, Metridium anemones, and yellow Sulphur sponge. There are also Giant barnacles, clumps of Pink-mouthed hydroids, Bryozoans, Brooding anemones, Basket stars, Nudibranchs, including the 12 to 18 inch Orange peel nudibranchs. Lots of small life hides in the undergrowth. Schools of Rockfish hover off the wall. Red Irish lords await your discovery. Nothing beats drifting along in the current at Browning Wall a 100 feet down in great visibility looking up and down for 100 feet and seeing nothing but colour!!!!!
Yeah this might just be my favourite site!

Warnings:
Yes there is current here, dive the slack, but there are also hollows in the wall where you can hide from the current and enjoy the life. Also like I said its 250 (ish) feet straight down.

****Hunt Rock

Location:
A boat dive north of Hurst Island basically the middle of nowhere.

Above water:
Nothing but some kelp to mark this pinnacle.

Underwater:
Another stellar dive, home of the BIG fish. I've seen some very large rockfish here, in fact the word monster comes to mind. Similar invertebrate life to Browning Wall, just not quite as thick. Also home to Hunter and Huntress the Wolfeels, two very tame Wolfeels. See the Underwater Photography site for a photo of my wife/dive buddy with Hunter. These wolfeels are very use to divers and keep trying to get inside you suit with you. When we dove here their den was 10 feet away from a second Wolfeel den and maybe 10 feet away for an Octopus den.

Warnings:
A steeply sloping pinnacle with DEEP drop-offs, also lots of surge.
This site is very exposed.

****Hussar Point

Location:
Not far from Browning Wall.

Above Water:
A non-descript tip of an island.

Underwater:
Yet another great dive in the Port Hardy area. There are actually at least two dives at this site. One over an anemone carpeted bottom, that as you descend looks like snow, the other is along a small wall. Both are great with all the life you would see at Browning Wall, just not the grand underwater vistas. I could keep repeating myself here all the dives around God's Pocket Resort have a very similar feel to them, that is NOT a criticism believe me it would take hundreds of dives to see all there is to see up here. Last Time I was in the area Salps (pelagic tunicates that live in long strings) were everywhere, amazing.

Warnings:
Just dive on the slack.

****Snowflake Island

Location:
Just a bit farther on past Browning Wall and Hussar Point.

Above Water:
A small reef just off shore of Snowflake Island is just visible above the water.

Underwater:
A great wall, not as good a vista as Browning (this one only goes to 90 or so feet). Lots of invert. and small fish life here and just a great spot for nudibranchs. Lots of kelp to check out in the shallows. Last time I was there the kelp was loaded with Brooding anemones. Pick an animal if you look hard enough I bet you might find them.

Warnings:
Again just dive the slack.

****God's Pocket Bay

Location:
Go to the dock at God's Pocket Resort, face water, jump in.

Above Water:
Yes this is right off the dock and a great dive, hot showers await the end.

Underwater:
Swim over to the rocks on the left of the bay (looking out). Here you will find a wealth of colourful Seastars, Octopus and when I was there last large numbers of Hooded nudibranchs. Lots of other nudibranchs are here for you to find. On the swim back in check out the underside of the dock, even more Nudibranchs and Parchment tubeworms. this gets my vote as the best dive in less than 40 feet of water. I for some wierd reason you have film left after your boat dives just go snorkel to use it up. (However if you have film left your not paying attention!)

Warnings:
The occasional boat entering the bay.