Port Hardy. I don't know what that name means to you when you hear of it. Until last April 18 it didn't mean much to me beyond a far drive to get to the northern tip of Vancouver Island. But now that we've been there and gone diving I can tell you that the name Port Hardy is now a happy smile on my face. The diving is incredible! Firstly, there is a tremendous abundance of life, a myriad of colours beyond belief, and a variety of species of all sizes, shapes, and dispositions. Our first day was spent going for four incredible dives. One exceeded the next. First there was Hussar Point in Browning Passage where we encountered our first China Rock Fish, Blue Rock Fish, and lots of other new varieties that I am only now beginning to put names to. The second dive took us to George's Wait, a submerged reef in which we drifted along with the mild current until we were greeted by a rather large octopus. Our third dive was along Browning Wall (it was so incredible that we went back to the wall on our final day). It is difficult to describe the splendours of the Wall: we're down 70' - 80' and looking up we can still see the surface and between us and that surface is a continuous wall of anemones of all variety of colours rife with life such as giant Puget Sound Crabs, nudibranchs, shrimp, urchins, and on and on and on. Our final dive of the day (Barb sat out for this one - four dives is a bit much) was off of Seven Tree Island a pleasant evening dive that was more relaxing than anything else. More Puget Sound Crabs, lots of basket stars, a few white spotted rose anemone, and, well, too much to put down here. The next day was more exceptional dives, not the least was off of Hunt Rock in which we had the pleasure to dive amongst Wolf Eels. We had a pair of Wolf Eels come up and say hello to us (maybe in the future I'll be a little bit more at ease being around these gentle fish but as they swam around and around and around us it was all I could do not to take off for more secure ground). The fellows we were diving with interacted far more with the Eels than did we but what an enchanting experience all around. It was great to turn around and see the large male Eel swimming around Barb's legs and fins! And what more can we say except to encourage each and everyone of you to try to make a trip up to Port Hardy. It is well worth anyone's while and although it takes a bit of time to get there, and you'll definitely want bit of time once you are there, our three day outing definitely was cutting it short, you won't be disappointed. Happy diving. The intrepid divers, Edith and Barb. |