*** Last dive of 2013! ***

Headed out for a post-Christmas, 'last dive of 2013' dive at Tyee today. The weather was nice, if cloudy and a bit on the cool side. The ocean was calm and high tide. Headed over to Dolphin by way of the wolf eels in Grandpa's den, then along the main Dolphin wall until the first main gravel chute. Turned then headed back to Tyee and along the right wall. Saw one seal while on the wall at Tyee. Overall a great long final dive of 2013.

Tyee-Dolphin Video 

Missed a week because I just didn't feel like diving when it was 7 below zero (C), but the temperature was up again this week, so time to head out to Tyee for a dive.

Followed the normal route from Tyee to Dolphin and back, stopping to see the various wolf eels. Swam along the Dolphin wall at about 100fsw today to see what was new. Lots of cod as always, plenty of boot sponges. I never did find the octopi at Tyee. Perhaps another day. Overall an excellent long dive.

Tyee-Dolphin Video 

Another great day diving at Tyee. Scattered sholwers overnight, but sunny patches during the morning. Same route from Tyee to Dolphin and back, seeing the wolf eels and lingcod on the way. Today started with the Thermalution heated vest off, and turned it on without problem at the 30 minute mark on the Dolphin wall. Very cozy and warm. An excellent long dive on a lovely December day.

Tyee-Dolphin Video 

Another great day for diving, and another great dive at Tyee. Played with the heated vest again, this time starting the dive with the vest on low and running the whole dive. I was nice and toasty warm the entire dive. After the trip to Dolphin and back, I played with the control in the shallows and was able to easily switch the heat settings. Overall an awesome day diving.

Tyee-Dolphin Video 

Another month and a half off, this time due to a small medical procedure. Nice to be back at Tyee again, and a very lovely day. Geared up and splashed, and then over to grandpa's den and dolphin after all checks. Afterward, back to Tyee and along the wall before heading back to the shallows and out. A very nice long dive.

I did try out a Thermalution (yellow) heated vest today. Worked great on the surface and toasty warm, but I was unable to get the wireless remote to work underwater. Turns out this is a well known issue and easily solved with the correct control placement, which I did not get correct today. I expect I'll find the correct location next dive. But, it sure was nice and TOASTY when I did have it working, plus no external battery pack or cord penetrating the suit.

Tyee-Dolphin Video 

After more than a month off diving due to home renovations, it was wonderful to return to Tyee for a nice long dive. The day was bright and sunny, with high tide and calm seas.

After gearing up and all checks, it was off to the left to see who was in Grandpa's den, then on to the wall at Dolphin. After a great time on the Dolphin wall, time to return to Tyee, then over to see the pair of wolf eels. Fun to watch the male become annoyed with the female's tail wrapped around his head. Then time to come in and head home. An excellent dive!

Nice dive today from Tyee to grandpa and back. Tried an extra quilted vest in the undergarment - much too buoyant and found it hard to vent the suit. Not going to use that again.

Tyee Video 

Diving with Greg Mossfeldt and Dale Demchuk off the Sea Dragon.

Moored at the bow, we descended and entered the bow hatch to the second deck. We then headed along the second deck to just before the engine room, then descended a staircase to a maintenance room. Returned the same way.

Diving with Greg Mossfeldt and Dale Demchuk off the Sea Dragon.

Moored at the bow, we descended and entered the bow hatch to the second deck. We then proceeded along the second deck until reaching as far aft as we could find on this run before turning and heading back out the same way.

Diving with Greg Mossfeldt and Dale Demchuk off the Sea Dragon.

Still moored at the bow, We descended and entered the bow hatch to the first deck. Traversed the length of the ship on the port side until the engine room, then into the engine room for a look. Exited the engine room starboard and headed aft. Once we exited aft, we turned around and proceeded back up the starboard to the bow hatch and out.

Diving with Greg Mossfeldt and Dale Demchuk off the Sea Dragon.

We moored at the bow, descended and then explored the entire main deck. At one point we found a wolf eel in the open and I took some video.

Cape Breton Wolf Eel Video 

Diving with Greg Mossfeldt and Dale Demchuck.

Tyee-Dolphin Video 

After a few weeks off, nice to do another long dive from Tyee to Dolphin and back. No octo today, and the near wolf eels were hiding in their den, but the wolf eels at granpa's den were nice to see.

Tyee-Dolphin Video 

It's Canada Day. Great day to go diving. Nanaimo Dive Outfitters (NDO) has a full crew here today for festivities including some great diving, plus food, drinks and some prizes.

Tyee-Dolphin Video 

Another great long dive from Tyee to Dolphin and back today. Tonight (June 23) is the 'super moon', and the tide was the lowest I think I've ever seen at Tyee. After gear up and a VERY long trek to the water, it was splash time. It was so far out that one wag said we were starting at the cut. Almost, but not quite.

Standard routine, descend, head off to the left to see grandpa's den (only the female in today), then down to see the small octopus before heading over to Dolphin. Once again the Dolphin wolf eel was not in the den, but just when heading over the wall, I spied a 5 foot wolf eel swimming above on the wall. Headed up and then followed the wolf eel for some time as it would swim, then rest, then swim again. I finally lost it as it turned a corner far ahead, but didn't come out the other side. Upon arriving, I found the wolf eel resting in a den. After that, headed back towards Tyee, again stopping to see the octo and the female wolf eel. Visibility was easily 40-50 feet at depth today, so navigating was fun.

Back at Tyee, headed over to see the wolf eel pair. The eggs must be hatched by now, but the female is still very shy in the back of the den. Then headed along and eventually up the wall before returning to the cut and heading in. Unfortunately, the tide had gone even FURTHER out, so the trek back in was even longer than the trek out! Still, an awesome dive.

Tyee-Doplhin Video 

Another great long dive from Tyee to Dolphin and back. Tide was higher today, which was a very welcome relief from past weeks. Same dive plan as previous dives, with stops to see grandpa's den, the octo (from last week), Dolphin, various fishes and such, and then the pair of wolf eels on the right before heading back to the warmer shallows. The temperature difference above 25 fsw is now quite noticable, as is the halocline. Overall, a marvellous dive for father's day.

Tyee-Dolphin Video 

Another great long dive from Tyee to Dolphin and back today. Vis was OK in the shallows, not as good as at depth due to a large halocline. Saw grandpa and female again today, and met Shirley near grandpa. She showed me a small octo just down from grandp, which was very cool. No wolf eel at Dolphin today, but lots of rockfish along the wall. Back at Tyee again saw the wolf eel pair before heading back up and in.

Overall an excellent dive today.

Tyee-Dolphin Video 

Another great long dive from Tyee to Dolphin and back. Decent vis in the shallows, decent vis along the journey. Good pictures of grandpa and female, plus saw the wolf eel at Dolphin. Travelled along the Dolphin wall - lots of smaller rock fish just hanging out. Back at Tyee saw the wolf eel pair on their eggs - the male was hanging out of the den as well.

Overall a great dive

Tyee-Dolphin Video 

A good 80 minute dive from Tyee to Doplhin and back. Visibility in the shallows was excellent (around 15-20 ft), but there was a major halocline at 20 fsw; below that visibility was maybe 10 feet but even then you really only see vague shapes at 10 feet.

There were two wolf eels again in grandpa's den: the 'usual' larger grey-blue eel and a second large brownish eel that I've seen there before. The brownish one appears to be a female, as the larger grey-blue male is definitely protective of her. Took some video of the pair, then off towards Dolphin.

On the way came across a large Puget Sound King Crab and grabbed some video and stills. Reaching the wall at Dolphin there was again no sign of the wolf eel, and visibility was really not great, so had a look around at the rockfish and then returned to Tyee. On the right wall visibilty was so poor that I could not find the wolf eel den, so finally gave up and headed back in.

Overall a very good dive - nice to see the pair of wolf eels.

Tyee Video 

Another great 80 min dive from Tyee to Dolphin and back.

Excellent visibility today, with 20 ft. at Tyee in the shallows and easily 40+ ft. on the Dolphin wall.

Tyee Video 

Another great 80 min dive from Tyee to Dolphin and back.

Vis was quite fine for most of the dive. Started with 15 ft at Tyee, then up to 40 ft. on the Dolphin wall. Coming back to Tyee, it was like someone flushed a toilet with brown silt and crud pouring down the cut. From the cut back to shore was a braile dive, mostly due to the rapidly falling tide.

Tyee Video 

Well, Greg has returned home and Easter has come and gone, so it's time to head back to Tyee for a nice swim from Tyee to Dolphin and back.

The day was cooler but nice. Cloudy but not raining as we geared up and headed out. Visibility above 30fsw was marginal, but below 30fsw it opened up nicely. Swam to grandpa's den at 80fsw where the vis was easily 30-40 ft. Took video of the younger on now living in Grandpa's den before heading over to the Dolphin wall at 75fsw. Again, vis was good. Once on the Dolphin wall, no wolf eel home, so proceeded along the wall at approx. 90fsw to the end.

Turning, we headed back at 80fsw and still no wolf eel. Then back to grandpa's den, turn on the suit heater and swim back to the sea horse. From there a quick visit with the nesting wolf eel before a leisurely trip back to the shallows and back up to the vehicles. Overall a great dive.

Tyee Video 

Day 5; Dive 2 - Cape Breton aft penetration

We couldn't decide whether to enter a lower deck than the first dive, but in the end we conducted a repeat of the day's first dive. Again we managed to penetrate a little further than before, but stopped just short of the engine room as our deco obligation was the controlling factor on this last dive. After completing our deco, we returned to Bill's boat and headed back to Nanaimo for one last lunch at Amrico's.

Tomorrow Greg, James (Sketchy) and Darrin will be heading back home to the Fernie area, and I'll be doing significant gear cleanup and prep. It was an absolutely awesome trip for Greg and crew, and a great holiday for me as well. It's always a pleasure to dive with my buddies from my Calgary days, and always fun to dive with totally squared-away team divers. I'm definitely looking forward to the next trip out here from Greg and his crew.

Cape Breton Video 

Day 5; Dive 1 - Cape Breton aft penetration

Our last day diving with Bill O'Brien on the Nanaimo wrecks again found calm seas and a sunny day. We headed to the wrecks, mooring on the aft line of the Cape Breton. After gearing up, we splashed and grouped near the upline on the helicopter deck. Going over the side, the plan was to enter at the same lower level as yesterday, but continue further forward. The dive went completely according to plan, and we emerged after significant penetration to return to the upline and conduct our deco. Once again hot chocolate awaited us as we conducted our surface interval.

Cape Breton Video 

Day 4; Dive 2 - Cape Breton to Saskatchewan

During our surface interval, Bill moved the boat from the stern line of the Cape Breton to the bow line. After gearing up and doing our checks, we spashed and gathered just above the sand at the base of the port bow. The scooter divers took point navigating to the Saskatchewan while I swam behind. After a short swim (for me) we all regrouped on the bow of the Saskatchewan. After they clipped off their scooters, we penetrated the Saskatchewan and had a great time exploring the wreck. Emerging in the mortar bay, we then swam back to the bow outside the ship where the scooters were retreived and we headed back to the Cape Breton. This time I hitched a ride with Sketchy, saving considerable time on the return trip. Once back at the Cape Breton, we headed back up to fulfill our decompression obligations on the line before boarding Bill's boat for the ride home.

Cape Breton - Saskatchewan Video 

Day 4; Dive 1 - Cape Breton aft penetration

Once agein today was bright and sunny with calm seas. Today's dive began at the aft upline on the Cape Breton. After gathering near the upline, we then headed over the side and into the wreck from an aft entrance on one of the lower levels to explore. Using reels we headed down the passageways until we arrived about halfway to the engine room. At that point we decided to return along our line. Once out, we conducted our deco and returned to the boat for welcome hot chocolate.

Cape Breton Video 

Day 3; Dive 2 - Cape Breton

After our surface interval, the plan was for the scooter fellows to shadow me as I swam from the Cape Breton to the Saskatchewan. However, once arriving at the base of the bow, Darron was unable to proceed due to some gas issues. Greg and Sketchy headed off on their scooters to penetrate the Saskatchewan while Darrin and I headed back up to the main deck of the Cape Breton. We swam from bow to stern over the main deck, pausing to drop down the large hatch into the machine shop, where we masked our lights so Darrin could see the large crack in the hull caused by her sinking. Then back up to the main deck and aft to the stern before returning slowly to the bow upline to conduct our deco.

Cape Breton Video 

Day 3; Dive 1 - Cape Breton

The plan was for the scooter fellows to shadow me as I swam from the Cape Breton to the Saskatchewan. However, visibility was rather poor at the bottom of the line. I could hear the scooters, but could not hear them. Rather than try and follow blindly, prudence dictated a shorter dive above the main deck of the Cape Breton near the bow. The time was not ill-spent however, as the various wildlife on the ship provided numerous photographic opportunities.

Day 2; Dive 2 - Cape Breton

On the second dive, we again gathered at the bow upline of the Cape Breton,then headed aft along the main deck, looking into some areas as we went, but generally just having a good swim to the aft and back. Once back at the bow, we headed up for our deco before surfacing to head back in to Nanaimo and another fine lunch at Amrico's.

Cape Breton Video 

Day 2; Dive 1 - Cape Breton to Saskatchewan (almost)

Arriving at Bill O'Brien's boat before 10am, Greg, Sketchy and Darrin played with their Dive-X Scooters to tune the buoyancy and trim for the salt water. Once done, we loaded our gear and headed to the wrecks on a beautiful calm and sunny day.

We moored on the bow line of the Cape Breton, and grouped on the main deck where I took some video of the scooter divers buzzing around me. We then descended to the bottom just forward of the bow. After some difficulty setting a new real with too much line, we followed a bearing taken on the surface towards the Saskatchewan's bow some approx. 400ft. away. Greg and I swam, while Sketchy and Darrin followed along on their scooters. Our initial bearing proved just a bit off, as we ran out of guideline before we found the Saskatchewan's bow. It turns out we were off just a little to starboard (referencing the Cape Breton) and too deep. Our return to the Cape Breton was rapid as the three fired up their scooters for a quick zip back. I hitched a ride with Sketchy, who decided to try and scrape me off on the Cape Breton's superstructure! Fortunately my grip was strong, so that the result was simply a good 'clang' from my bailout.

Once back on the upline, we conducted our deco as a team and then boarded Bill's boat to a welcome hot chocolate.

Cape Breton - Saskatchewan Video 

Day 1; Dive 2 - Cape Breton

After our surface interval, we geared up again and headed down to the Cape Breton using the midships line. Once on the wreck we again grouped near the upline, just forward of the engine room. This time we headed forward over the main deck until we came to the bow hatch, where we entered the wreck. Heading along burma road from bow to stern, we again passed the various large rooms, then the steam tables. Past the steam tables we passed the engine room door, but did not enter this time. Instead we continued aft, emerging at the stern. We headed up over the helicopter deck as we moved forward to the upline. Once on the line we conducted our deco as a team and then returned to the boat. Gear off, we returned to shore and a great lunch at Amrico's.

Cape Breton Video 

Day 1; Dive 1 - Cape Breton penetration

Greg Mossfeldt, James Dixon (Sketchy) and Darron Froese arrived from the Fernie area yesterday for some wreck diving. We hooked up with Bill O'Brien of O'Brien Charters out of Nanaimo and prepared for five days of super wreck diving off Snake Island. Greg and I have dove together since 2003, so are very comfortable in the water. Anyone trained by Greg is a like-minded diver and so our anticipation was high as we headed out on a cloudy Sunday morning to the Cape Breton. Liz Tribe of Victoria also joined us today for the diving.

Greg and team dive the rEvo rebreather due to it's non-cluttered front as the counterlungs are inside the stainless frame at the back. It's an excellent rebreather, but I'm committed to my Prism Topaz as I've been diving it since 2006 and am well familiar with it's operation and characteristics. Greg loves to point out that the front-mounted counterlungs make it look as if I'm poking my head out of a donkey's behind, but I'll accept that for the ease of breathing they give me.

The seas were calm as we moored to the midships line, geared up, did our buddy checks and headed off the boat. Once bailout was retreived from the line Bill hangs below the boat we were off to the down line, checking at 20fsw and grouping once on the wreck, just forward of the engine room.

We headed to the stern with Liz in the lead and started forward along burma road, past the engine room, past the steam tables, and forward to the washroom and then out the bow hatch. Once on the main deck we turned around and headed back down the bow hatch and retraced our path aft along burma road. At the engine room door we entered the engine room to have a look around before exiting and again heading aft. Once there we exited and returned forward over the main deck to the upline, where we conducted our deco as a team and then returned to the boat for some welcome hot chocolate and a nice surface interval chatting about diving.

Cape Breton Video 

Another great, long dive at Tyee today! Suit heater worked perfectly today - I finally managed to get the battery switch properly set up (machined the protective collar). A bit choppy going in, and visibility was atrocious above 30 fsw and not great from 30 fsw to 80 fsw. Deeper it was OK.

Tyee Video 

Another great dive at Tyee today! Visibility was very good, but I wasn't able to get the suit heater turned on again. The machined delrin switch guard worked, but the tubing extender interfered with switch operation.

Tyee Video 

Another great dive at Tyee! Headed out from Tyee to Dolphin to video the wolf eels. The wolf eel at Dolphin was a bit skittish, even startling when I changed the intensity of my video light. I turned the light off to see if that would calm the wolf eel, and he promtply swam out of his den and off down the Dolphin wall, to the amusement(?) of a nearby lingcod.

I was able to turn on the light canister today as I'd added a small length of silicon tubing to extend the switch, but it was still difficult to 'keystone' the switch. Looks like the switch guard will definitly have to be notched. Stay tuned until next week for the continuing adventures of this light canister!

Overall an excellent dive.

Tyee Video 

Although the day was overcast with a bit of rain, and the forecast included a wind warning, Tyee was again the 'go to' place for a dive. After gearing up, splashed and headed over to grandpa, then Dolphin, then a return to the right of Tyee to see the wolf eels there as well. Overall another great dive. I played with a refurbished light canister today, and found the original switch guard made it impossible to activate the switch. Some mild machining of the guard is in order for this week.

Tyee Video 

Another great dive at Tyee today. Again swam from Tyee to Dolphin wall, recording wolf eels along the way. Using the TLS350 that I really like with a new silicone zip seal. Not bad but I may have to trim the seal a bit more. Overall an excellent dive.

Tyee Video 

Headed to Tyee again today. After installing a P-valve in the CF200 I bought from Danny a while ago, I decided today was the day to test the suit and valve. Last week I bought a new DUI silicon neck seal, which I trimmed and put on my TLS-350. The neck seal from the TLS I moved to the CF200. The rock books fit well, but won't go into my Jet fins, so I bought some neoprene sneakers on my June 2012 trip to Calgary which do fit in the Jet fins.

After gearing up, it was apparent the sneakers fit, but are tight on the toes due to the shape of the sneaker toe. Overall the suit fits pretty well, but I guess I'm used to the extra volume of a TLS-350 now. However, gearing up was about the same as usual, and then it was down to the beach and into the water.

The dive itself was a repeat of my last few week's dives, with a trip to Granpa followed by a swim to the shallow part of Dolphin wall. Finding the Dolphin wolf eel but not the octo, then heading back at about the 40 minute mark, arriving at Tyee by the 60 minute mark. From the cut it was over to the wolf eels nesting on eggs, then back in to shore.

The CF200 gets a little more air in the calves than the TLS-350, noticable when ascending. It does vent quite well though. I did notice once on the surface that the suit has a tendency to 'burp' excess air out the neck seal. I also found myself quite cold on today's dive. My feet were chilled, which hasn't happened in the TLS for some time now, and the rest of me was also quite cold by the end of the dive.

I think the CF200 may become my OW teaching suit as I can use the rock boots and my old mares fins for those dives, plus OW dives are much shorter and cold shouldn't be as much of a problem. The P-valve worked perfectly.

Today's dive was 80+ minutes, pretty much the same as all the Tyee-to-Dolphin wall dives. Now over 250 dives and over 250 hours on the Prism TOPAZ (a.k.a. Prism 1) rebreather. I sure do love this unit!

Tyee Video 

Headed out to Tyee again this weekend for the usual dive - down the chute and over to the left to see Grandpa, then over to the wall at Dolphin. Today I did not find the octo on Dolphin, but did find a new wolf eel. Then along the Dolphin wall to near the end before returning to the chute to see another pair of wolf eels before heading back in.

Overall another excellent dive!

Tyee Video 

Headed back to Tyee again today. The goal was to visit grandpa and the small octopus on the wall at Dolphin before heading back to see the wolf eels closer to Tyee.

After gearing up, headed out and down, then along to grandpa. Although I could not see the juvenile wolf eel residing with grandpa, the camera did capture her hiding behind grandpa in the den. After grandpa, a leisurly swim over to the Dolphin wall to see the small octo. Visibility today was excellent, perhaps over 40 feet as I could see well down the deep wall while at Dolphin. After that, headed back to Tyee to visit the wolf eels, then back to shore.

Overall and excellent long dive!

Tyee Video 

Bill O'Brien, Iain & myself headed out on Bill's boat today to explore Clark Rock and the surrounding area. Althought there was fog at home, the channel was clear and even sunny at times. After a nice if cold cruise to Clark Rock, we moored at the buoy and geared up. Once ready (and warm again after the ride), we splashed and headed down the line to scout the area.

Almost immediately we encountered two larger wolf eels in a den - an older eel and a young one. After photos, we carried on and proceeded to find two more wolf eels in various holes in the rocks. We then headed over to the other side of the rock, around and about before finally circling the rock and starting back for the boat. We ended up surfacing about 100 yards from the boat. After returning to harbour we headed to Miller's Pub for a great lunch and good conversation.

Overall an awesome dive! Thanks Bill!

Back again to one of my very favorite spots - Tyee. Same plan as last week, but intending to have a better look at the Dolphin wall

Grandpa was indeed in his den, but with no companion today. After a nice visit, over to the Dolphin wall for an extended look. Still no sign of any wolf eels, but I did spot a small Octo. After the visit, time to head back, visit grandpa again and then look for the wolf eels near Tyee. They were home, and guarding a mass of eggs. Very nice to see.

An excellent, if extremely cold dive today.

Tyee Video 

Today it was back to one of my very favorite spots - Tyee. The plan was to head over to visit Grandpa, then carry on at about 80fsw to find the end of the wall at Dolphin, and have a look at the wall.

Grandpa was indeed in his den, and with a rather young new companion. After a nice visit, we headed over to the end of the Dolphin wall, which was about a 10 minute swim from Grandpa over pretty barren terrain. The wall, however, was excellent. As always at Tyee, lots of rock fish and smaller life. After having a good look around, it was time to return to the entry point and spend some time chatting on land about the excellent dive.

Tyee Video 

For several years now the Nanaimo Dive Outfitters has held a New Years dive at Neck Point, and this year was no exception. We drove over to the small parking area on the far side of the park to dive the island and have our snacks in the same area. After carting our gear to the water's edge, we moved vehicles back to the main parking area before donning gear and heading out. While rounding the island, we encountered a small octopus, which is always enjoyable. On the return leg, we were visted by a group of rather frisky sea lions who escorted us in.

Once back on land, we enjoyed hot dogs, chili and hot chocolate to round out an excellent dive and start of the New year in style.

Neck Point Video