Hi Steve, Adam Pasch here, Just returning from Nanaimo,B.C. I
dove the HMCS Saskatachewan and the HMCS cape Breton. The
Saskatachewan is the 2ND largest artificial reef in North
America, Im told, and the largest is somewhere in Florida, but
anyhow, if you'd like to post this message this is a warning to
anyone who wants to dive British Coloumbia waters that, if you
intend on using Ocean Explorers Diving service through Ian K.
Hall off Stewart Ave. in Nanaimo, B.C. that the fore-mentioned
charter is a NO FRILLS charter. I had a series of wonderfully
challenging dives. First on the Saskatchewan to 130ft for 19
minutes with 2 stage deco and a 3 min hang at 15 ft. Saw
enormous ling-cod, 50lb fish that was 5 feet long,scallops, and
wolf eel. Apparently these fish(Ling-cod) get to 300+ lbs in
these frigid waters. By the way the water temp was 37 degrees so
a drysuit is required. But the charter was a nightmare. No hot
water, no coffee, or any sort of refreshment or food, no
additional weight,or tanks provided, no guide, virtually there
was no crew support, just the boat captain, who drove the vessel
and a dive-master who was essentially the boat captains deck
hand, and did not serve the customers(divers) in any capacity.(
no hot showers or air compressor either boys!!!!!!)
The cape Breton was also a wonderful dive but the current was
over one point five knots and tow lines had to be thrown out for
four divers. I will add that the dive master dropped the line in
the water like he was playing games, He had to pull in the tow
line twice before he successfully threw it out to the fatigued
divers waiting for it before they were swept into open water.
So this is a warning that anyone diver who wants to dive
northern BC, I highly encourage your enthusiasms particularly on
Gabriola, IS., Nanaimo, and Breakwater IS. but to be prepared to
be 100% self sufficient with you diving knowledge, capabilities,
the efficiency of your equipment, and knowledge of diving
physics and decompression (IE. Safety stops and dive profile
planning) because those Cannucks out that way, although
knowledgeable, primarily act as a mode of transportation, (IE
charter service) and nothing more. You will sign a death and
injury waiver, and that is it. All they want to know is your Max
depth and bottom time. In order to recognize if they have to
call the Royal Canadian Coast Guard in order to air lift you to
a Recompression chamber or not and believe me that is easier
said than done out their!!!!!!! There were 8 divers, all of
which were diving steel doubles with a bail out bottle on their
flank. Popular equipment of the divers was Halcyon,OMS,Apex. A
variety of drysuits were used such as Viking(Poseidon by
Scandinavian divers co.) DUI, Whites, Beaver, and Bare. One
salty man actually dove a wetsuit a john and jacket with 14mm of
insulation in the trunk. He was chilled by the 2ND dive! As was
I, in my drysuit, The man must of been chilled to the bone!.
I would schedule this type of dive for experts and would
DISCOURAGE divers with any level of diving under divemaster or
instructor from attempting these dives. I have over 600 logged
dives and was stressed! I would place this diving in the caliber
of UK diving, or diving on the north east U.S. ie. Mass., NJ,
and Maine.(Andria Doria, U-Boats etc.)
Cold, choppy waters that have clear or dark murky water
depending on your depth (IE. water types in the water column, as
in surface,intermediate,deep or bottom water, all of which have
different volume, salinity, and temperature characteristics!)
It is recommended that if the diver is interested in
accomplishing advanced diving. Go one step at a time. Do not
combine, deep, cold water, drysuit, tek,barren and rural
geographic,and wreck diving all together. Isolate one from the
other as well as possible, work your way into it and slowly
increase the challenge.
Some interesting books to read are, The Last Dive, Shadow
Divers, Deep Descent,also be sure to check out Deep Sea
Detectives on the discovery channel on Monday nights. Last note,
the Ventura county sheriff's search and rescue dive team will be
training volunteer divers for $200 to offset costs, Janurary
12th for more info contact www. vcsardive.org. and the
California Wreck Divers association will be hosting a banquet in
Marina del Rey on Feburary 24th for John Chatterton and Ritchie
Kohler, hosts of Deep Sea Detectives. They will be the guest
speakers, cost is unknown but you can contact steve lawson at
949 462 0462 or at www. cawreckdivers.org. Here is to a new and
safe 2007, plan your dive and dive your plan. best regards Adam
Pasch, EX-Navy Diver, PADI Divemaster, IANTD Nitrox 1-A, EMT.

--- Steven Trainoff <strainoff@...> wrote:

>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> > From: Paul Weakliem <weakliem@...>
> > Date: December 29, 2006 9:07:46 AM PST
> > To: Steve Trainoff <strainoff@...>
> > Subject: [Fwd: C.I.D. Cold Water Canada Trip]
> >
> > Hi Steve,
> >
> > I got this from Ken Kollwitz from Channel Islands Divers.
> They
> > normally do a great job on trips and are a good group, so if
>
> > anybody is interested in diving in BC this would be a good
> > opportunity to go with some local people...can you pass it
> on to
> > the PDC list?
> >
> > Paul
> >
> > --
> > California NanoSystems Institute
> > University of California
> > Santa Barbara, CA 93106
> > http://www.cnsi.ucsb.edu
> > (805)-893-4205
> >
> >
> >
> > From: "Dive Coordinator" <dive@...>
> > Date: December 28, 2006 8:02:37 PM PST
> > To: "Paul Weakliem" <weakliem@...>
> > Subject: C.I.D. Cold Water Canada Trip
> >
> >
> > Hi Paul, I am doing a B.C. Canada trip July 21-29, 2007. Do
> you
> > have anyone who would be interested in going ? I am going to
> try
> > for $1500.00 for divers and $1000.00 for non-divers. This
> will
> > include a lot of things The resort website is
> > www.porpoisebaycharters.com . If anyone would like to go I
> really
> > need to know A.S.A.P as I have a lot of details to work out
> and the
> > cost will depend on how many are going. I might be adding a
> 2nd
> > week also. Anyone interested can e-mail me at
> > dive@... or call me at 805
> > 486-1533. Hope you and the family had a great
> holiday, Ken
>
> ---
> ...STeve
>
> Steven Trainoff, Ph.D.
> http://web.mac.com/gbeckert
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/drsteve/
>
>
>
>
>

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