Diving BC News - What's New For Diving in British Columbia
It is also a summary of major new additions to the CoolDives.com scuba diving BC website. We will either provide links to other pages on this site, or direct links to other sites and articles of interest.
February 28, 2010 - Campbell River and Comox Dive Charters and Accommodation Packages Welcome Pacific Pro Dive & Surf Company - with great dive charter services and more available seasonally in Comox and Hornby Island, or Campbell River and Quadra Island on Vancouver island.
With many wreck dives, wall dives, octopus dives, snorkel trips, eco and sight-seeing tours, dive and accommodation packages, rental gear, air fills, dive lessons, and retail sales available, along with other exciting outdoor sports equipment, this is a great Vancouver Island dive destination. February 28, 2010 - Annapolis Sinking Update The Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia is still looking for volunteers to help prep the HMCS Annapolis artificial reef for her pending sinking.
See our Annapolis sinking updates page for more information about the timeline. Thanks for your Diving BC help! February 23, 2010 - Tofino - Home to Best Surfing in North America and Great Scuba Diving Not only is Tofino, on Vancouver Island British Columbia, a great place to scuba dive, Outside magazine, an American outdoor recreation magazine, has just named Tofino, B.C., "the best surf town in North America" as a part of its 2010 Editors' Choice Awards.
Come scuba diving or snorkeling in Tofino, and catch a wave or two while you're here!? January 22, 2010 - Vancouver Dive Charter Boat - The Sea Dragon We are pleased to list our preferred Vancouver dive charter operator -Sea Dragon Charters.
These guys have been offering dive charters in the Howe Sound area near Vancouver for many years, and offer very good service, a great (warm and comfortable) dive boat, and a very experienced and friendly crew. While many people love shore diving BC at some of our dive sites near Vancouver, getting out in a warm, heated dive boat year-round in Howe Sound is the way we like to dive!
January 15, 2010 - Diving in Victoria and Sooke on Vancouver Island Diving in Victoria and the Sooke area, on the southern coast of Vancouver Island, just got a little easier with the launch of Pacific Pinnacle Dive Charters.
This new local dive charter operator offers great service, a flexible schedule, and memorable dive trips to many great known, and some relatively unknown, dive sites around Southern Vancouver Island. Follow the link to our Diving in Victoria page and enquire about booking your next dives in the Victoria area. Have you dove the Pinnacles yet? January 10, 2010 - Award Winning British Columbia Diving - yes again The 2010 Scuba Diving Magazine Top 100 Readers' Choice Survey results are out and British Columbia is once again recognized as one of the World's Best Dive Destinations!!
More than 5,000 Scuba Diving Magazine readers from around the world submitted their votes and diving in British Columbia has once again won a number of fantastic awards. Click our Diving Awards page and see why British Columbia is one of the best (yet still relatively unknown) dive destinations to visit in 2010! Diving Vancouver and Vancouver Island, British Columbia - Cool water and amazing dives!! December 27 2009 - Legendary Diving at the Browning Pass Hideaway Some of the best diving that makes British Columbia diving legendary can be found just minutes away from the infamous Browning Pass Hideaway.
This dive lodge located near Port Hardy on Vancouver Island is ideally situated near some of the best scuba diving, best eco-tourism/photography, best whale watching and best dive get-away locations in the world. Amazing wall dives, drift dives, and many other nearby spectacular dive sites, with visibility nearing 100+ feet at times, along with great food and awesome dive stories and friendships make this a 'must-do' item for people who love diving and nature or marine photography. But the dive lodge books up fast with divers and non-divers, so check out the Browning Pass Hideaway and book your amazing, legendary wilderness dive adventure now. December 27, 2009 - 2010 Northwest Dive & Travel ExpoNorthwest Dive & Travel Expo 2009 from LiquidAssets.tv on Vimeo. The Northwest Dive & Travel Expo is coming May 21-23, 2010 and it's bigger and better than ever. This huge weekend focuses on everything underwater from showing people how fun it is to breathe underwater, to seminars and fantastic travel information around the world and right at home. And of course, there are exhibitors and information about the great diving in British Columbia. This show will be an exciting weekend of adventure and fun for divers and non-divers alike. Check out our Special Dive Offers page for a 50% off admission coupon. December 24, 2009 - Snorkeling in British Columbia In addition to having some of the world's best scuba diving, Diving BC also has some very nice snorkel sites for those who would rather be on the surface.
We are compiling a list of everyone's favorite places to snorkel in British Columbia, so send us your preferred spot and maybe some pictures and we'll add you to our site. We'll list favorite snorkel sites, along with preferred snorkel charter operators and places to stay in the area, and we'll even help get your snorkel trip booked. It's like swimming in a salt-water aquarium - except the water is a little cooler! December 22, 2009 - More Awards For Scuba Diving Vacations in British Columbia More dive destination awards were recently announced by Scuba Magazine after the results from their 2009 Reader's Choice Awards were determined.
While the official results won't be announced until the January/February 2010 issue, additional scuba destination awards were awarded for diving BC as follows: - Best Overall Rating for diving in North America with our "award winning wall dives, artificial reefs, and spectacular sea life" - Best Overall Rating for Underwater Photography - Best Overall Rating for Wall Dives in North America with "towering 100ft walls dressed in anemones and corals, British Columbia features some of the best Wall Diving in the world, not to mention North America" - 2nd Best Overall Rating for Health of Marine Environment in North America You can read more about our awards online in Scuba Diving Magazine, and then watch out for the Jan/Feb 2010 issue for the rest of the official results.
December 8, 2009 - Dive Services on the Sunshine Coast Diving BC on the beautiful Sunshine Coast is easier now thanks to our introduction of The ScubaShack.
Click the link for more details on Tuwanek, near Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast: - Discover Scuba Diving lessons - PADI certified scuba diving lessons
- Divemaster and dive buddy services October 8, 2009 - New Pictures from Whytecliff Dive Site Thanks to one of our viewers, Lee Newman, we have some great new diving BC pictures of the diving at Whytecliff Marine Park, located just a few minutes north of Vancouver.
This is one of the favorite local shore dive sites for diving in British Columbia, and apparently these photos were taken on a day with bad viz. Can you imagine how great it would be with good viz!? There are a number of new photos on the Whytecliff page so have a look and get a feel for what this site has to offer. Please feel free to send in your photos or reviews and help add great content to this site. Thanks for the photos Lee. September 15, 2009 - Congratulations to our newest Open Water Divers Cooldives congratulates Joey and his wife, who are our most recent couple to complete their Open Water Certification after taking private scuba diving lessons.
Like many other busy business people, they have always wanted to learn to dive but couldn't find the time with their hectic work schedules. But thanks to Cooldives, they are now ready for diving BC and to dive anywhere else in the world with their PADI certification, and there is already talk about continuing on with their Advanced diver training. Have a great time guys, but remember to always practice and upgrade your skills, and plan your dive and dive your plan! Dive safe! September 4, 2009 - Excitement Under And On Top of The Water - Welcome Vancouver Whale Watch! British Columbia has some of the best cool water diving BC in the world, and is also one of the best places in the world for whale and marine life watching.
So we are pleased to welcome a top notch whale and marine wildlife watching company to our site - Vancouver Whale Watch. Not only does Vancouver Whale Watch provide an adventure of a lifetime with first class vessels, the highest possible safety standards and added value from an on-the-water education of the west coast eco-system, they also offer great service and a guarantee that you will see a whale or you can return until you do. They have a 90% whale sighting success rate, and while you travel to find the Orcas (Killer Whales), you’ll have the opportunity to see a wonderful marine ecosystem, including bow riding Dall’s porpoises, sea lions, bald eagles, seals and more. "We have just returned home after a fabulous holiday touring western Canada. One of the days we spent with you looking for Orca making a life long ambition come true and would like to say a big thank you especially to [our Naturalist] ... for an absolutely fantastic and memorable day. Photos did not turn out as good as I hoped but the best pictures are locked away in our heads for a dull day in the office when the rain is pouring down outside and sunny holidays are a distant memory. We hope to enjoy a trip with you again in the future and will certainly recommend you to all our friends. Once again thank you to all you lucky people who must have one of the best jobs in the world." Karen & Tom Paterson (Scotland)
August 29, 2009 - Kelvin Grove Closed To Divers While diving at the popular, diving BC site at Kelvin Grove near Lions Bay has been controversial, it is now considered against the local by-laws to dive there.
Non-locals can face large fines if caught diving there, so you may want to consider a different British Columbia dive site for now. Enjoy Diving BC wherever you go. Updates: - A great posting about Kelvin Grove from our well known 'opinionist' Rafe Mair. - a continuing posting of opinions on Scubaboard Forum site August 1, 2009 - Amazing Kayak Adventures in British Columbia Imagine sitting breathlessly in your kayak, the water dripping silently off your paddle tip into the water, as a family of Orca whales glide mere metres away from your boat.
Minutes earlier, a group of seals swam beneath you, as a bald eagle, with a wingspan as wide as you are tall, soared just meters above your head. Hey, wait a minute, where did those seals go and why are the orcas licking their lips!?!? And in the distance, snow capped mountains loom over ancient rain forests where the First Nations people lived for centuries, and bears continue to forage daily on the shoreline for their dinner. Now stop dreaming, and come experience an amazing British Columbia kayaking tour and diving BC adventure. And now, book through CoolDives or ask for the Cooldives price when you call, and save 5% on kayak adventure tours. June 5, 2009 - New Dive Equipment - First Extendable Dive Rescue Flag Introducing the H.E.L.P.- the Handheld Emergency Location Pinpointer - the world's first extendable emergency location device.
While we don't ever recall seeing an incident of a diver being left behind while diving BC, we have all heard a number of recent cases of missing divers (or missing dive boats!?) in tropical locations - a divers second-worst fear! The Dive Flag is a telescopic flag designed specifically to give scuba divers a method of getting attention on rising to the surface. The H.E.L.P. dive flag is a brand new piece of kit that we think every diver, snorkeler, boater, and even hiker should carry with them, and is: - only 200mm long, extendable to 1500mm and is easy to store in your life jacket, BCD or knapsack for hikers. - lightweight and made primarily of fibreglass composite - visible in the water from 3,000 meters away Just pop the top and extend the flag when you are at the surface - and you can easily be seen by the dive boat. Increase your diving safety factor and check out this new piece of scuba diving safety equipment. We really liked it, and the only problem we had was our lanyard didn't fasten easily to it. Easily solved with an extra metal ring though. May 15, 2009 - BC Named One of The World's Best Wreck Dive SitesIn the 'new and improved' May issue of Scuba Diving magazine (which we really like the new format), Wreck Diving BC was named as one of the World's Best Wreck Dive locations.
With our many artificial wrecks and natural wreck dives, British Columbia has something to offer all levels of divers. Some of our more popular wreck dives include the sunken 737 in Chemainus, HMCS Chaudiere, HMCS Saskatchewan, HMCS MacKenzie, Del Norte, HMCS Cape Breton, and the HMCS Columbia. We will also soon have the HMCS Annapolis to dive on - see below for details. More information about some of our wreck dive locations can be found on our Best Dive Sites page. Ensure you have the proper scuba training and certification, and contact us to line up your Diving BC Wreck Trek. April 25, 2009 - Introducing The Beautiful Art of Judi Wild As part of our dream to introduce Westcoast scenery and marine wildlife artwork to the rest of the world, we are pleased to introduce you to the first of our artists - Judi Wild.
This image is one of a set of 4 related prints created by her, and reflects her passion with our First Nations history and amazing British Columbia wildlife. Visit her website and check out her other beautiful artwork in more detail. And congratulations Judi on completing your amazing new piece! Please support our artists and support diving BC. March 25, 2009 - Nautilus Explorer Almost Sold-out For 2009 The 2009 diving schedule for the Nautilus Explorer's British Columbia and Alaska trips hasn't even started yet, and there are only a few limited spaces available for the whole season.
Soon to be a sell-out for the 2009 season, there are just a few spots available on the 7 night May 16, 2009 Diving BC trip to Port Hardy and the 10 night Vancouver to Sitka, Alaska trip on June 13, 2009. Read this viewers review of the Nautilus Explorer, and contact us for booking details. This is the best liveaboard scuba diving vacation in British Columbia!! Northwest Dive and Travel ExpoApril 25-26, 2009 Tacoma, Washington The Northwest Dive Expo is the largest and most highly anticipated dive and travel show in the Pacific Northwest, for those who love diving BC and the surrounding areas.
Their weekend-long dive and travel exposition focuses on everything under the emerald green waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond, including: - how fun and easy it is to breathe underwater and to learn how to scuba dive - fun, educational diving information seminars - Travel and dive site information for the PNW, including Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, as well as warmer dive destinations - and much, much more. See our Special Offers page for a 50% off admission coupon. And see our Northwest Dive Expo page for more information about the underwater treasure hunt and dive expo.
February 22, 2009 - Shrek Spotted At Tuwanek Spit Once again, Shrek, the famous underwater Ogre, was seen by scuba divers enjoying the wonderful shore dives at Tuwanek Spit near Sechelt, British Columbia.Unfortunately, the divers didn't have an underwater camera, so if you have a picture of 'Tuwanek Shrek', specific information about where he has been spotted, or other pictures of this great dive site, please send them in to us. Rumour has it Donkey is there too but most divers can't find him? In the meantime, information about this wonderful Sunshine Coast dive site has now been added to our list of favorite dive sites. February 15, 2009 - Renate's Reef Dive Site - A Wilderness Dive Destination Renate's Reef, a beautiful pinnacle dive site in Barkley Sound, on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, is the newest addition to our list of favorite British Columbia dive sites.
In addition to the spectacular wilderness surroundings, you might see six gill sharks or sealions in addition to a ton of other colorful marine life. Check out the links and book your dives! There are lots of other dives in the area for all levels of divers.
February 3, 2009 - Spectacular Wilderness Adventure at the Rendezvous Dive Adventure Lodge If you are looking for a spectacular wilderness adventure in addition to a great diving trip, then The Rendezvous Lodge is for you.
This is one of British Columbia's first dive lodges and has been safely hosting divers in Barkley Sound for over 30 years. It is set amidst some amazing scenery and is surrounded by all kinds of wildlife above and below the sea. The hosts, Peter and Kathy, are tremendous, and they are also currently offering special low dive prices for those wanting to dive in March of 2009. This is a great place to bring your group for an awesome dive trip. Mention "CoolDives09-2 when you book for best pricing. January 17, 2009 - First Newsletter Launched We finally have our first Diving in BC newsletter created and an easy-to-complete on-line subscription form working.
Please sign up (see below the tabs on the left of your screen) to see our first Diving BC news letter or to receive copies of future backissues. To view backissues, go to CoolDives Newsletters We plan to issue these information newsletters at least quarterly, or whenever there is enough new information to make them worthwhile. We will not bombard you with a ton of useless information, and you can easily opt out any time you wish - just good diving BC information. Please note: If you filled out the previous form, you must unfortunately complete the new opt-in form for security reasons. Thanks for your continued support of Diving BC.  Click for more Diving BC News...
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