{"id":8101,"date":"2018-05-07T03:28:36","date_gmt":"2018-05-06T19:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.oceanlight.com\/log\/?p=8101"},"modified":"2019-07-08T02:09:35","modified_gmt":"2019-07-07T18:09:35","slug":"diving-british-columbias-browning-pass-and-gods-pocket-provincial-marine-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oceanlight.com\/log\/diving-british-columbias-browning-pass-and-gods-pocket-provincial-marine-park.html","title":{"rendered":"Diving British Columbia’s Browning Pass and God’s Pocket Provincial Marine Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

“The Best Cold Water Diving in the World”<\/strong> Strong words. True? Probably. I recently spent a week diving in and around Browning Pass, a spectacular underwater ecosystem at the very north tip of Vancouver Island on the West Coast of British Columbia<\/a>. The area is home to many islands, islets, passages and narrow straights. Extreme daily tides mean a lot of water is moving, continually with the exception of a few slack tide moments each day, producing strong currents that are amplified in the narrow waterways. Such currents bring a steady supply of nutrients to the carpets of invertebrate life that cover the area’s undersea reefs. While I was with Richard Salas last year photographing Steller sea lions<\/a> \u2014 marine mammals being a big interest of mine \u2014 he showed me lot of spectacular images from a place called “God’s Pocket”. The images convinced me to join Richard at God’s Pocket for a week and check it out myself. I’m generally not a critter guy nor a macro photographer, but I figured what the hell. British Columbia is said to be some of the best diving in the world. I reasoned I should see it once in my diving career at least.<\/p>\n

\"Hurst<\/a><\/p>\n

Hurst Island and Gods Pocket Provincial Park, aerial photo.
\nImage ID: 34464<\/a>
\nLocation: Gods Pocket Provincial Park<\/a>, Vancouver Island<\/a>, British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Giant<\/a><\/p>\n

Giant Plumose Anemones cover underwater reef, Browning Pass, northern Vancouver Island, Canada
\nImage ID: 34326<\/a>
\nSpecies: Giant Plumose Anemone<\/a>, Metridium farcimen<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The Fish Eating Anemone Urticina piscivora, a large colorful anemone found on the rocky underwater reefs of Vancouver Island, British Columbia
\nImage ID: 34327<\/a>
\nSpecies: Fish-eating Anemone<\/a>, Urticina piscivora<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Alabaster<\/a><\/p>\n

Alabaster Nudibranch, white-lined dirona, Dirona albolineata, Vancouver Island
\nImage ID: 34329<\/a>
\nSpecies: Alabaster Nudibranch<\/a>, White-Lined Dirona<\/a>, Dirona albolineata<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Fleshy<\/a><\/p>\n

Fleshy Sea Pen, Ptilosarcus gurneyi, Vancouver Island
\nImage ID: 34334<\/a>
\nSpecies: Fleshy Sea Pen<\/a>, Ptilosarcus gurneyi<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

In mid March I made my way from big-city Seattle to small-town Port Hardy. Port Hardy is at the far northern end of Vancouver Island, meaning my dive trip was also a road trip. The ferry rides and winding empty highways are a driver’s delight. The landscapes \u2014 rugged coastline, snow-capped mountains and dense forests \u2014 are beautiful. I had forgotten how much I love Vancouver Island. I met up with others in Richard’s group, we loaded up our gear on the boat “Hurst Isle” and made our way to rustic, comfortable, colorful God’s Pocket Resort<\/a> on Hurst Island, in God’s Pocket Marine Provincial Park. Tucked away in a quiet cove, the resort sits on sturdy pilings over the rocky shoreline at the edge of a dense stand of cedar trees. It could not be more scenic. Bill Weeks and Annie Ceschi run God’s Pocket Resort and took fantastic care of us for a week. We ate superb food, relaxed thoroughly, took in the sublime beauty of the islands at all times, and three times each day we shared in the spectacular diving the area has to offer.<\/p>\n

\"Pink<\/a><\/p>\n

Pink Soft Coral (Gersemia Rubiformis), and Plumose Anemones (Metridium senile) cover the ocean reef, Browning Pass, Vancouver Island
\nImage ID: 34330<\/a>
\nSpecies: Pink Soft Coral<\/a>, Plumose Anemone<\/a>, Gersemia rubiformis<\/i><\/a>, Metridium senile<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The Fish Eating Anemone Urticina piscivora, a large colorful anemone found on the rocky underwater reefs of Vancouver Island, British Columbia
\nImage ID: 34331<\/a>
\nSpecies: Fish-eating Anemone<\/a>, Urticina piscivora<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Spotted<\/a><\/p>\n

Spotted Leopard Dorid, Diaulula odonoghuei, Vancouver Island
\nImage ID: 34338<\/a>
\nSpecies: Spotted Leopard Dorid<\/a>, Diaulula odonoghuei<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Beautiful<\/a><\/p>\n

Beautiful Anemone on Rocky Reef near Vancouver Island, Queen Charlotte Strait, Browning Pass, Canada
\nImage ID: 34340<\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"White<\/a><\/p>\n

White plumose anemones Metridium senile with purple sponge and barnacle, Vancouver Island
\nImage ID: 34341<\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

The Fish Eating Anemone Urticina piscivora, a large colorful anemone found on the rocky underwater reefs of Vancouver Island, British Columbia
\nImage ID: 34346<\/a>
\nSpecies: Fish-eating Anemone<\/a>, Urticina piscivora<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Browning<\/a><\/p>\n

Browning Pass and Balaklava Island, location of the best cold water diving in the world, aerial panoramic photo.
\nImage ID: 34472<\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

We would typically leave Hurst Island, round Balaklava Island and dive Browning Pass between Balaklava and Nigei Island. About half the time we would be diving on walls, and virtually every dive had a variety of terrain if not actual walls. Water temps were in the low 40s, something I am not accustomed to, but I made do with my dry suit. I am a sluggish cold water diver and mainly settle down on the bottom and try to find cool stuff that doesn’t move to photograph while ignoring how painfully frostbitten my fingers are. I don’t move around much when I am frozen. But there is no need to go far on these Browning Pass dives \u2014 everywhere is an explosion of life. Sure, some walls have more colors than others, some are pure white, some are covered in bull kelp, etc, but rarely can a spot be found where one can put one’s hand down without touching animal life. I was stunned at the density of invertebrates. Fish \u2014 they were nice but I’m not too interested in rockfish and rockfish-looking species. But the inverts \u2014 holy anemones were they over the top! So overwhelming was the underwater sight-seeing that I did a poor job of actually taking photographs. I often did not know which way to point my camera, there were lush and exotic subjects in every direction. With the limited underwater time that we man-fish have while SCUBA diving I was a little frantic in my photography, wanting to get a record of every thing and consequently doing well at very little. I have been doing this long enough and have experienced so much let down in underwater photography over the years that I knew going into the trip I would likely do a poor job and thus had lowered my photographic expectations way way down. So when I returned home and found I had a few keepers, I was able to declare success! Such is the skewed mindset of the underwater photographer.<\/p>\n

\"Purple<\/a><\/p>\n

Purple sponge with white and orange metridium anemones, below bull kelp forest, Browning Pass, Vancouver Island
\nImage ID: 34347<\/a>
\nSpecies: Bull Kelp<\/a>, Nereocystis luetkeana<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Lopholithodes<\/a><\/p>\n

Lopholithodes mandtii Puget Sound King Crab amid a field of plumose anemones and red kelp, Queen Charlotte Strait, Canada
\nImage ID: 34348<\/a>
\nSpecies: Puget Sound King Crab<\/a>, Lopholithodes mandtii<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Hooded<\/a><\/p>\n

Hooded Nudibranch Melibe leonina on kelp and rocky reef, Browning Pass, Vancouver Island, Canada
\nImage ID: 34353<\/a>
\nSpecies: Hooded Nudibranch<\/a>, Melibe leonina<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Clown<\/a><\/p>\n

Clown Nudibranch, Triopha catalinae, Browning Passage, Vancouver Island
\nImage ID: 34354<\/a>
\nSpecies: Clown nudibranch<\/a>, Triopha catalinae<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Anemones<\/a><\/p>\n

Anemones cling to Bull Kelp Stalk, Browning Pass, British Columbia
\nImage ID: 34357<\/a>
\nSpecies: Bull Kelp<\/a>, Nereocystis luetkeana<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Beautiful<\/a><\/p>\n

Beautiful Anemone on Rocky Reef near Vancouver Island, Queen Charlotte Strait, Browning Pass, Canada
\nImage ID: 34361<\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"White<\/a><\/p>\n

White Plumose anemones Metridium senile and Yellow Sulphur Sponge, Vancouver Island
\nImage ID: 34366<\/a>
\nSpecies: Plumose Anemone<\/a>, Metridium senile<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Colorful<\/a><\/p>\n

Colorful starfish and anemones cling to submarine rocks, on the subtidal reef, Browning Pass, Vancouver Island
\nImage ID: 34370<\/a>
\nSpecies: Plumose Anemone<\/a>, Metridium senile<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Colorful<\/a><\/p>\n

Colorful anemones cover the rocky reef in a kelp forest near Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Strait. Strong currents bring nutrients to the invertebrate life clinging to the rocks.
\nImage ID: 34379<\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Giant<\/a><\/p>\n

Giant Plumose Anemones cover underwater reef, Browning Pass, northern Vancouver Island, Canada
\nImage ID: 34389<\/a>
\nSpecies: Giant Plumose Anemone<\/a>, Metridium farcimen<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Red<\/a><\/p>\n

Red Irish Lord resting amid Plumose Metridium Anemones, Browning Pass, British Columbia
\nImage ID: 34391<\/a>
\nSpecies: Giant Plumose Anemone<\/a>, Metridium farcimen<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Plumose<\/a><\/p>\n

Plumose anemones cover the ocean reef, Browning Pass, Vancouver Island, Canada
\nImage ID: 34395<\/a>
\nSpecies: Plumose Anemone<\/a>, Bull Kelp<\/a>, Metridium senile<\/i><\/a>, Nereocystis luetkeana<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Pink<\/a><\/p>\n

Pink Soft Coral and Barnacle, Gersemia Rubiformis, Browning Pass, Vancouver Island
\nImage ID: 34425<\/a>
\nSpecies: Pink Soft Coral<\/a>, Gersemia rubiformis<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Colorful<\/a><\/p>\n

Colorful anemones and soft corals, bryozoans and kelp cover the rocky reef in a kelp forest near Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Strait. Strong currents bring nutrients to the invertebrate life clinging to the rocks.
\nImage ID: 34429<\/a>
\nSpecies: Plumose Anemone<\/a>, Metridium senile<\/i><\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Gods<\/a><\/p>\n

Gods Pocket Resort, on Hurst Island, part of Gods Pocket Provincial Park, aerial photo
\nImage ID: 34470<\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Gods<\/a><\/p>\n

Gods Pocket Resort, on Hurst Island, part of Gods Pocket Provincial Park.
\nImage ID: 34497<\/a>
\nLocation: British Columbia<\/a>, Canada<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“The Best Cold Water Diving in the World” Strong words. True? Probably. I recently spent a week diving in and around Browning Pass, a spectacular underwater ecosystem at the very north tip of Vancouver Island on the West Coast of British Columbia. The area is home to many islands, islets,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8261,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[368,64,123],"tags":[369,353,356,330],"class_list":{"0":"post-8101","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-browning-pass","8":"category-canada","9":"category-underwater-photography","10":"tag-browning-pass","11":"tag-canada","12":"tag-pacific","13":"tag-underwater"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanlight.com\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanlight.com\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanlight.com\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanlight.com\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanlight.com\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8101"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanlight.com\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8101\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanlight.com\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanlight.com\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanlight.com\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oceanlight.com\/log\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}