Diving Into The Deep

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For those who have always wanted to try scuba diving but have been too shy to try or too busy to take classes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The coasts off of Vancouver Island offer some of the best sites for cold water diving in North America say Andrew and Christine Edwards who run Ocean Planet Adventures in Tofino. For years, the pair has been helping both visitors and locals explore the depths of Clayoquot Sound, offering up affordable, four-to-five-hour guided excursions that can be completely customized. Island Times had the opportunity to tour the best underwater coves in the Tofino area with the experienced dive masters this summer and everyone had a blast.

 

Our tour began with a 15 minute boat ride to one of the two diving sites we signed up to see. Our guides were helpful in loading up the boat, setting us up with the right gear, and sharing some of the history of the area during the trip. We quickly determined that there is nothing like a boat ride on a sunny day coupled with great scenery. Once we arrived at our first location, the staff helped us gear up and (safety first!) gave us a quick safety lesson. They then directed us to diving locations where we were sure to see the most animal and plant life such as sea cucumbers, anenomes, sea stars, giant reefs, and eventually a shy octopus resting in his cave.

 

An hour later we moved onto a second location where the water was even clearer and busier with creatures. We completed our day exploring the beauty of Clayoquot Sound with suntans, smiles, and a craving for seafood – one couldn’t help it, having spent the day in the ocean.

 

Guided diving tours are available from Ocean Planet Adventures to anyone with the desire to get out and explore the waters around the Tofino area. Included in every tour is equipment rental, transportation to the best locations, a guided tour of the cove, and snacks. Ocean Planet Adventures also offers private charters.

 

For those who have always wanted to try scuba diving but have been too shy to try or too busy to take classes, Ocean Planet Adventures in Tofino offers a safe, exciting, and affordable solution.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

  1. The word SCUBA is an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
  2. Red and yellow light is filtered out by the water above divers, making everything appear bluish. To see natural colors divers must bring their own light source.
  3. Rubbing saliva inside the mask is an accepted and efficient way of stopping it from fogging up at depth.

SCUBA SAFELY:

The Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding, designed by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, provides ten tips for safe diving.

  1. Maintain good mental and physical health for diving.
  2. Be familiar with dive sites or dive with a dive guide.
  3. Use complete, well-maintained, reliable equipment that is familiar.
  4. Listen carefully to dive briefings and directions by the dive staff.
  5. Always follow the buddy system. Plan dives and dive with a buddy.
  6. Know how to use dive tables. Make all dives no-decompression dives. Be a safe diver. Slowly Ascend From Every Dive.
  7. Maintain proper buoyancy. Neutral buoyancy underwater, positive buoyancy at the surface.
  8. Never breath-hold or skip-breath while breathing compressed air.
  9. Use a boat, float, or other surface support device whenever possible.
  10. Know and obey local dive laws and regulations.

This article was written by Julie McManus of Island Times Magazine.

For more information, visit www.divetofino.com.

Video footage of our adventure is available at www.islandtimesmagazine.com

Send your comments to comments@islandtimesmagazine.ca