Instant Reader Report
on Rendezvous Diving / Renezvous Lodge in
Canada / Vancouver Island, BC on
2002/07
by
Jill Rain , WA, USA
Report Number 020818171738560

Questions?
Send an email to the author of this report

 Caribbean, Baja, Australia, PacNW 

Dive Conditions

500 psi  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Rendezvous Lodge, in Barkley Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island,
is remote - they book groups of 10 for minimum 3-day 8-dive stays. 
Assemble your own group or sign up for the package with a Northwest dive
shop (Anacortes Diving and Supply goes there thrice yearly). Bring all
your own gear including spares (I had to borrow when one of my gloves was
taken by an octpus - really). RL accessible only by boat 2 hrs from Pt.
Alberni, nearest town. Tall A-frame "vertical lodge" tucked into
rocky wilderness cliffside. 5 double-occupancy rooms, powered by
generator/battery, hot water, 2 bathrooms (one with shower), drying room.
Dramatic setting and views but also homey, comfortable atmosphere
(couches, books, dogs). Run by the gracious, friendly and very competent
Christies: Renate (who among other things, such as beating off bears) does
the cooking (old-fashioned, delicious in every way, plentiful, eaten at a
big table family-style) and Dave (who also among other things such as
collecting mussels for red-tide testing) drives the boat, chooses dive
sites and gives briefings - he has dived every wall and pinnacle in B.
Sound from 30 years experience.  Leisurely 2-tank day trip includes hot
homemade soup for lunch with long surface interval at quiet bay, beach or
hamlet of Bamfield.  Switch your own tanks on board for second dive -
morning and night-3rd dive tanks filled with compressor at RL dock.  Boat
anchors, buddy teams (required - if you don't come with one, you will be
assigned) descend anchor line, dive own profile and come back up.  Poor
navigators may have to do green-water ascent - try to avoid this! Currents
can be strong in top 20', generally minimal to moderate at depth.  Bob and
Kelley (owners + instructors of Anacortes D & S) monitor and rearrange
teams for best experience and safety, stepping in to buddy a
less-experienced diver, and provide help generally (including optional
argon pony bottle and fills if previously arranged) - plus a lot of
enthusiasm and extensive knowledge of the ecosystem.  No nitrox at
present.  No film processing, however it seemed at least half the
photographers were digital.  Camera rinse tank provided on board. Octopus
and wolf-eels on most dives, often out in the open - these guys were BIG!
but receptive to respectful fondling. Abundant nudibranchs, anemones,
seastars, abs, sponges, brittle stars, giant rock scallops, rockfish,
greenling, huge lincod, ratfish, baitballs. Saw a humpback whale, seals,
sea lions from the boat + lots of eagles. The viz, diversity, abundance
and size of marine life is superior to Puget Sound diving and the ambience
of Rendezvous Lodge makes this a memorable expedition. 

Questions?
Send an email to the author of this report

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. It is presented here to provide Undercurrent readers with timely information on dive operations worldwide. The material may contain errors, typos, ... Please report any major problems to EditReport@undercurrent.org, referencing the report number above. An edited version of this report will likely appear in the next Travelin' Divers' Chapbook, which will be sent to newsletter subscribers and published online for Online Members.