It is to satisfy the discovery cravings of the most curious divers that Abyssworld offers you to venture to British Columbia with Nicolas Barraqué, editor of Plongez! magazine and underwater photographer.Here, surrounded by lush forests and fjords carved by the ocean, you play with the current and tides to discover incredible biodiversity. Far from lagoons and their soft corals, British Columbia offers many surprises including multicolored nudibranchs, purple starfish, carpets of white plumose anemones, underwater kelp forests, as well as encounters with the plump wolf fish or the giant octopus. The strait is also home to whales and orcas, and the impressive sea lions bask on the rocks.
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Diving in British Columbia
Diving from Port Hardy, north of Vancouver Island in Western Canada, is unusual! No palm trees or lagoons here, but in terms of biodiversity, the area rivals the most famous spots. Jacques-Yves Cousteau even mentioned British Columbia as a site offering the best cold and temperate water dives. For divers seeking extraordinary experiences, you’re in the right place! Here, dives are conducted according to the tides and, of course, well-equipped. The dives, contrary to expectations, are colorful with magnificent anemones, extravagant nudibranchs, and scattered with strange creatures like the wolf fish, large gorgonocephalus, and, if you’re lucky, the giant Pacific octopus.
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Some exceptional dives
Dillon RockAt about 20 meters deep, you’ll find a large rocky habitat filled with life, algae, and small species living in the kelp. A completely different ambiance on this dive in the heart of the « underwater forest ». You’ll go in search of the much-anticipated wolf fish with its impressive jaw and the giant Pacific octopus.
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Your Abyssworld guide:
Nicolas Barraqué – Plongez!
A regularly awarded photographer at national and international competitions, Nicolas Barraqué is also an author and publisher of numerous books. In 2015, he created and became director of Plongez! magazine to continue sharing his passions with the widest audience. Nicolas is also co-founder and co-host of the Galathea Festival in Hyères. He will be delighted to return to British Columbia to accompany a small group of lucky ones to continue sharing his passions for photography and diving.
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Your accommodation at Hotel God’s Pocket
Only accessible by boat and surrounded by lush forest on one side and the waters of Queen Charlotte Strait on the other, the colorful cabins of God’s Pocket will give you a sense of freedom and smallness against the beauty of wild nature. Here one enjoys exploring by kayak, hiking, whale watching, and observing nature in general. It is not a 5-star hotel but rather simple and clean rooms with an exceptional view. Special care is given to the excellent meals that will be served to you.
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Head out of water
Your outdoor environment, in the Queen Charlotte Strait, is also stunning with numerous islands covered with forests, fjords plunging into the land… Pure nature!
Sprinkled with large forests, islands, mountain peaks, but also lakes, rivers, glaciers, or fjords, the region has 7 National Parks and is oriented towards nature. Being a land of immigration due to its geography, at the ocean’s gates but also at the U.S. border and because of its quality of life, British Columbia is very cosmopolitan. It is covered by 56% forests, making the region an important area for forestry. With mountain chains covered in forests dominating the region, the landscapes are spectacular..
One of the two areas in Canada equivalent to the « Appellations of Origin » we have in Europe is found in British Columbia. A mix of « noble » grape varieties and hybrid varieties allows vineyards to adapt to local climatic conditions. The largest production is near Lake Okanagan. On a latitude similar to the Champagne region but with higher daytime summer temperatures and much lower nights and with low precipitation, the vines need to be irrigated.
British Columbia is home to the largest number of resident wild species in Canada. Among the 143 mammal species like bears or reindeers, there are also 24 marine mammals like orcas. The bald eagle is also well established and visible in winter along some rivers in the region.
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Practical information
Stay in British Columbia, from March 24 to April 4, 2022, 9 nights starting from €5,190 (includes: flights, transfers, 7 nights in Port Hardy with full board, 2 nights in Vancouver, 14 dives including one night dive, a boat trip in search of sea lions and whales, a guided bike tour of Vancouver with lunch).