Vancouver Island has a wonderful reputation for so many things - not the least of which is scuba diving.

B次元官网网址淭his is improbably one of the best cold-water diving locations in the world,B次元官网网址� said Haley Isles, of Pacific Pro Dive, in Courtenay. B次元官网网址淲e have a massive amount of diversity off the Island. The life we have around here is unreal, and a lot of people donB次元官网网址檛 even know about it. I grew up here and I didnB次元官网网址檛 even know some of these things.

B次元官网网址淭he octopus, the sea lions, and a lot of the soft corals and anemones, give us quite a bit of colour.B次元官网网址�

Surprisingly, wintertime is actually a preferred time for scuba diving in these parts due to its strong visibility.

B次元官网网址淚 know sometimes in the summer, due to run-off, and we get quite an algae bloom, because of the heat, so it kind of makes the water a little more pea soupier,B次元官网网址� she noted. B次元官网网址淎lthough the summer is when we see the majority of tourists coming in, the winter months here for diving is pretty spectacular. I know the rain is a little daunting, but itB次元官网网址檚 great.B次元官网网址�

The local diving community is growing immensely, and there has actually been a slight increase in interest since the pandemic arrived, she added.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of forced people to say, B次元官网网址極K, what can I do in my own backyard?B次元官网网址� and we have been running a lot of courses B次元官网网址� we have people who would normally go to Mexico at this time of year, have discovered that maybe the West Coast (of Canada) is the place to be. We are also getting a lot of locals who are coming out because we are getting a lot of sea lions here and there is the chance for some really awesome sea lion encounters. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a huge draw. And we have sites where we know that there are wolf eels and maybe you will see those in their den.B次元官网网址�

Among the treasures the coast of Vancouver Island can lay claim to is the giant Pacific octopus - one of the largest octopuses in the world. Isles said interactions with octopi are special.

B次元官网网址淲e actually have a dive site near the Powell River ferry, it is a sunken sailboat, laying in sand, and within the sailboat, in every single crevice, itB次元官网网址檚 just loaded with octopus. And it can be incredible because they really can be quite massive. That can be a real thrill for people who have never seen an octopus before.

Haley said octopi are highly intelligent, and rather curious creatures, that will interact with humans.

B次元官网网址淭hey are really well-thought-out with their actions. They will most of the time, accept your hand if you offer B次元官网网址� you will get the odd one that is really playful, and will come and interact with you. ItB次元官网网址檚 quite an experience.B次元官网网址�

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