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Dive Review of God's Pocket in
Canada/North Vancouver Island

God's Pocket, Nov, 2012,

by Paul E Vitkus, NV, US (Reviewer Reviewer 6 reports). Report 6769.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Cold water scuba diving is not for everyone...requires extra effort, dry suits and skill to enjoy. These cold waters off the northern end of Vancouver Island are worth the experience...abundant big life and little critters as well. I have been diving these waters anually for 24 years with another operator (but no more!). Nudibranch nirvana for macro photographers along with many other little critters, including sculpins, shrimps, crabs, anemones, etc. Plenty of macro subject matter! Also larger fish including kelp greenlings, ling cod, wolf eels, red irish lords, cabezon, octopus and a variety of rockfish. Some great dive sites that require extra efort to get to...including Berry Island, Nakwakto, Dillon Rock, Hunt Rock and of course Browning Wall. Not all dive operators are willing to go the extra distance to these sites except Browning Wall which my group in previous years dove repetitively the last several years with another dive operator, nor provide the after-dive warm comfort and friendliness that owners, Bill and Anne did provde to my dive group this past week October 5-12, 2012. This was our group's first trip to God's Pocket and we were most impressed! Rustic, remote but comfprtable and well run...food was served family style and very tasty and abundant! Always had coffee and hot chocolate available. Kitchen and dining area was kept spotlessly clean! Dive boat had on board compressors (and Nitrox) and was spacious. Better yet was the the hydraulic lift to take happy but tired divers directly out of the water to the dive deck without having to climb a ladder out of the water. For us 50-somethings it was a sweet way to end the dive. After getting out of the water a small dry towel was provided along with a hot beverage and snacks. This is a very well run operation with friendly owners and crew. It takes some effort to get to God's Pocket, but well worth it. We will be back!!! Bottom line....thumbs up from our entire group!!!!
Websites God's Pocket   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving California, Hawaii, British Columbia, Florida, Roatan, Galapagos, Phillipines, Indonesia, Chuuk, Fiji
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy, cloudy Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 46-49°F / 8-9°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 20-50 Ft/ 6-15 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Suggested bottom time was 60 minutes or less - not usually a problem, since by the end of an hour in cold water, you are ready to surface anyway.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales > 2
Corals N/A Tropical Fish N/A
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 2 stars
UW Photo Comments Crew was accomodating about handling cameras on the boat and passing them to divers in water. No dedicated camera area on boat, but boat was roomy enough, so that was not a problem. No dedicated shore facilities for cameras, but my group was content with caring for their camera gear within their own cabins.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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