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Dive Review of Rockfish Divers in
Canada/Victoria Island Saanich Inlet

Rockfish Divers, Mar, 2005,

by Rory L Cox, WA, USA . Report 1620.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Jonathan Grant from Rockfish Divers has an outstanding operation out of Brentwood Bay on the Saanich Inlet of Victoria Island. Saanich Inlet is a North American fiord, with tidal exchanges in the 10 ft. range. This makes for a nutrient rich enviroment, with the top 40 ft of water exchanging daily. Below 80 to 100 the water doesn't exchange, which makes for a wonderful crystal clear, though dark wonderland. Our first dive was to see "glass sponges", which apparently are only in this area. Visibility was only about 10 ft until the 70 ft range, then we encountered clear, cold water. The sponge field was at 100 to 120 ft. The sponges looked like large piles of white bones. During this dive I experienced a bouyant accent from 60 ft., the operation was outstanding, providing oxygen back to shore. They observed for a period of time and provided numbers to local recompresion chambers. Very professional in response. The next day we dove a seamount that was at 65 to 70 ft. The seamount is in an area of high exchange which contributes to the large variety of sealife. Our final dive was a drift dive at exchange. This provide a 3 to 4 knot journey over white anemone fields, numerous nudibranch species and carpets of tunicates covering the bottom filtering out the rich water flowing over them. The wild northwest setting, the rich and varied diving and the great hospitality of our hosts made for an unforgetable Canadian weekend.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Puget Sound, Roatan, Florida Keys, Cozumel, Belize
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 48-50°F / 9-10°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 30-40 Ft/ 9-12 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 120 ft., Safety Stop
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments No fresh water for cameras, but good dry protection. Very wide variety of subject matter underwater. Glass sponges, fish, nudibranchs, crabs, sea slugs
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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