When you think about how you want the world to view you, what do you think of? How do you want to be represented? When we ask ourselves that same question, many different thoughts surface. The three that keep coming up are safety, environmental awareness and community.
 
We always strive to be as safe as possible in all our practices, and that tends to shine through in all our work. But what about environmental awareness and community? We realized that we need to work harder on these two topics.

Finally the environment. We strongly believe in the statement made by Sylvia Earle, "No ocean, no life. No blue, no green." Because of this we want to make sure we care for our oceans. As divers we should be ambassadors for them, as we're the ones down there. We get to see first hand what the world is doing to our waters. We constantly see all the garbage, pollution and over fishing that goes on. So why aren't we doing anything? Well, we're starting.

This year we want to change the way we dive. We want to bring community and environment back into the picture for everyone. We hope our changes will bring us all closer, and give us all better experiences underwater.

l would like to begin this post with a toast to Sam, who has been a significant presence in the Rockfish Divers store for the last several months.   He joined us in August, and has met every person who walked in with an unwaivering, friendly smile, and we have had consistent, oustanding feedback about his customer service as he did his best to make everyone feel welcome while learning the ropes of running a dive store and furthering his diving education.   Sam has always been eager to learn more, and has had an exceptionally positive attitude about everything even in times of trial.   Sam is such a genuinely nice guy to everyone, and for me personally he has been someone who always managed to make my day a little brighter because he truly cares and wants to hear how things are going - albeit a boring day in the office, or the most incredible dive experience from that morning.   He always listens with dedicated enthusiasm at whatever you have to share or anything you want to ask about, and steps up to lend a hand (such as jumping in to empty the truck full of tanks after a busy dive charter).

We are sad to share that Sam's last day with Rockfish will be Saturday, February 24th, after which he will be heading off to enjoy the next few months of snow and a fabulous summer in the BC interior before starting courses at BCIT in Vancouver where he'll be studying marketing management in the fall. We wish him the absolutely best, and of course look forward to him returning to visit and say hi and dive  in the future.   

This leads me into the topic of our scuba family, and the value we place in our team at Rockfish Divers.   While we put much emphasis on the safety, skills and experience of our staff, the greatest gift that we get is a sense of family that only comes from having a strong team.   The ability to work together, respect each other, laugh, have fun with and support one another is something that upholds the pillars of our Rockfish dive community and expands out to our customers, friends and family.   It is something that Sam has played a role in, and we look forward to current and new staff continuing the legacy of the Rockfish Scuba Family.

A few of my lasting memories of Sam: 

1. Seeing Sam's excitement after his first cold water dive where he was actually warm.   His smile was nothing short of contagious.
2. Sam asking if he could have a hug after an exceptionally challenging day, which actually left me so touched that I went home in tears afterwards.   Despite these challenges, Sam managed to carry himself through the day with such poise that he earned a lifetime of respect from me.
3. Wiping off the print of his forehead from the sliding door of our staff Christmas Party venue, after Sam had inadvertently walked right into the glass, which resulted in a resounding "boing" sound.

Good luck Sam - you will be missed!
Thank you to all of those who are part of our extended Rockfish Divers Scuba Family and stay tuned for more fun in 2018!

#RockfishScubaFamily #RockfishDivers #RockfishTeam #ScubaFamily #RockfishCommunity #RockfishFamily

While the business has actually been in operation for 15 years, it was 5 years ago today when Tyler and I shook hands, closed our eyes, and leaped into the icy cold December waters of Saanich Inlet as the new owners of Rockfish Divers. So much has happened in what appears to be such a short time, but in some ways we can hardly remember what our lives were like before Rockfish. However, the pace of our existence has been more akin to a roller coaster ride with all sorts of exciting ups and down, and it just keeps getting better. In small family businesses, continuing to be in operation after 3 years is a small miracle given the challenges of finances, relationships, economic stability, and unknown risks. Making it to 5 years is pretty special. What we are especially proud of is the values we outlined in our very first business plan are very much the core behind our continuing business today:

Community

• We wanted to create a diving culture that was inclusive and safe for everyone. with events both above and below the surface that appealed to divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts from all walks of life. 

Education

• We not only wanted to train high calibre divers at all levels, but we wanted to instill passion in our students based on offering training programs that go beyond skills.   This includes a foundation in the local ecosystems that we are diving in and the impact we as divers can have.

Protecting the Environment

• The underwater world off British Columbia is more prolific and diverse than almost anywhere else in the world, and it is a diver's paradise.  We are the ambassadors for the ocean, and every thing we can do to hold off the threats that exist today (over fishing, pollution, ocean warming) makes a difference.

Our goal of integrating education opportunities, equipment availability both for rent and purchase, and offering lots of opportunities for fun and rewarding experiences was achieved early, and has been continuing to build ever since.   However, we couldn't have done this without the incredibly supportive Rockfish Divers community that we are very thankful to have.   This segues into our latest announcement!

We are very excited to kick off this year's "12 Days of Rockfishmas" with a new initiative that gives back to our customers.   For every dollar spent at Rockfish, 5% of the pre-tax value will be added to our new "Charter Bucks" loyalty program (used equipment purchases and dive travel external to Rockfish excluded).   These funds can be applied at any time towards the diving or snorkeling charters available through Rockfish Divers, or towards dive equipment rentals (based on availability).   With our enhanced charter program, and new Rockfish Divers Charter Membership, this is the gift that continues to give back over and over.

​However, our staff at Rockfish all agree that "Charter Bucks" is a really lame name!   Please help us choose a better name for our new loyalty program.   You can submit your suggestions through the entry page below for your chance at a special door prize to be announced at the end of Rockfishmas 2017 along with the chosen revised name for this program.

From Tyler, myself (Alisa) and all of us at Rockfish Divers, Merry Fishmas and thank you for your continuing support.

#RockfishDivers #Rockfishmas #ScubaDiving #DiveCharters #LocayltyProgram #CharterBucks #Community #Education #ProtectTheEnvironment #DiveCharterMembership #VictoriaBC #BritishColumbia #BestBCDiving

By Stacie Cleveland, PADI Rescue Diver
 
For those of you that have ever been curious about the under water world, scuba diving is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the uncharted territory that the ocean provides. My first experience with diving was life changing, but admittedly, also challenging and a little scary. No one really ever prepares you for how you will react to being under water.  Until you try breathing compressed air in full scuba gear below the surface. PADI offers a course that helps prepare you for more than just learning how to dive, it prepares you for the dangers of scuba diving. One of the biggest dangers of the sport is something we are all too familiar with: human error.
 
What causes emergencies anyway?
 
I recently took the PADI Rescue Diver course through Rockfish Divers. It is an amazing course and is of utmost importance if you want to seriously dive recreationally. One of the key points that the course drives home is that most emergencies occur as a result of poor judgement. I cannot agree with this more. I think that most people, when they think of trying scuba diving and think of the things that could go wrong, often come to the conclusion that accidents are the fault of what “lurks below” or things that are out of your control. What most people don’t realize is that most of the time, accidents are usually scenarios that were preventable by the diver. I used to think this way a bit too, prior to taking the course. I always knew the sport came with some risk, but still believed most of what happened when something went wrong was due to unfortunate coincidence. The biggest surprise for me was how many incidents that became emergencies where due to things like improper training, failing to perform all of your pre-dive checks, or being unprepared.

What can I expect from taking this course through Rockfish Divers?
 
The best part of taking the course through Rockfish was how much hands-on training you receive. After learning all the ins and outs of emergency response in diving online, you can’t help but feel a bit nervous for actual water time. I am still fairly new to the sport, only getting back into the water again earlier this year, so most of the time I feel a bit anxious right before a dive. As soon as I am on the boat and going through the pre-dive briefing, I usually start to feel better. That is mainly due to the highly trained, qualified, and amazing staff, and the owners Alisa and Tyler. I had the pleasure of taking my course with Alisa, who guided our group expertly through concepts like self-rescue, search and recovery, and surface drills for how to deal with both conscious and unconscious divers in emergency situations. She makes you feel calm and confident under the water even when you are demonstrating difficult skills, like taking out your own regulator (which is your only source of air), and switching to a spare from another source. Knowing how to do this skill correctly without panicking could mean the difference between life and death, in an emergency scenario.
 
Does this course really change how you dive?
 
Without a doubt, my entire feeling and confidence about diving, and about my own skill level as a diver, has changed after this course. It highlights the importance of situational awareness, not only about yourself and your buddy but also about other divers around you and the environment. I still remember my first few dives, not having a clue what I was doing (let’s be honest, how many of us “fake it” when trying something new for the first time?) even though I read my Open Water manual carefully and studied every page. Even after ten or so dives and my Advance Open Water course, I still did not feel confident with diving. But the beauty and sheer awe of what I have seen under water keeps me coming back. After the Rescue Course, I finally felt for the first time that I had a grasp on what I was doing. I now feel comfortable with many of the aspects of diving that I was fairly clueless about when I started. I understand what I am looking for, and why, when performing my pre-dive safety check, and how certain, seemingly small things can lead to big problems under water if not paid attention to. For example, failing to realize that the buckle doesn’t quite work that snaps in your removable weights in your BCD. This can easily lead to an emergency under water, if you lose that weight without noticing, could send you into an uncontrolled ascent. I also can predict how certain decisions may result in emergency situations. Like not wearing enough insulation on a cold water dive, or deciding to dive when you are tired. These and many other scenarios are things I had very little awareness of when I started.
 
Scuba diving opens your world in ways you cannot explain without experiencing it yourself. Recreational diving is a fun, challenging, and rewarding sport. It can be scary and even cause panic at times, and in rare instances, can result in emergencies. With proper training and preparation, diving becomes seamless and relaxing. I look forward to the day I feel completely confident under the water. Thanks to this course, I am one step closer to that goal. Anyone considering diving, new divers, or those with years of experience, can all benefit from taking this course. And who else better than Rockfish Divers? Thanks to their amazing team, I am a better, safer, and more confident diver.
Happy diving!

#RockfishDivers #Scuba #ScubaDiving #Rescue #Safety #PADI #Emergencies

Dear Deco, I've grown up fishing on the West Coast and was sharing my interest in wanting to try spear fishing. Some in the group I was talking with were truly offended, so I changed the topic to avoid further discussion. Could you give me your take on spear fishing and whether there are local opportunities to incorporate this into diving locally? ~Thanks, Fishy Fish? 

Fishy - This is a very interesting question that has lead to many discussions over the years that we've been diving. Spear fishing is well known to be one of the most sustainable forms of fishing.  This style of fishing allows the diver the opportunity to chose prey that are amongst healthy fish populations, avoid undersized catch, and reduce by-catch. As with any fishing or hunting technique,  procedures for safe spear fishing must be followed, and it is in the best interest of the diver to research the species of interest and practice technique to ensure humane treatment of the animal. Divers in the Caribbean in particular have turned to spear fishing Lion Fish not only as a source of food, but for preventative measures to address the introduction of this invasive species that is drastically impacting the tropical reefs.

When we consider local fish species that would be targeted for spear fishing, it is very sad that some of the best and easiest fish to catch have been badly affected by over fishing (Lingcod and Rockfish are very slow to reach sexual maturity, often reaching 25 years of age or more before being considered an adult. As such, their populations are mere shadows of what they once were). Even though there are fishing season openings, as divers we value the few large examples of these fish and the local consensus is often to let these reproduce to encourage stronger populations that not only support a healthy ecosystem, but ensure fishing is available for future generations to come. If divers choose to spear fish locally, our only request would be they choose to dive in areas away from common dive sites that are confirmed to be outside of marine protected areas (MPAs).   Check out the Provincial Ministry of Environment website to learn more about MPAs and always ensure you have a license to fish and follow the regulations outlined by the Government of Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Come and talk to us at Rockfish anytime for further input.   ~Deco and the RFD Staff

Dear Deco, To keep up with the latest style trends, I've grown a lumberjack style beard. While this garners all sorts of compliments and provides added warmth on the surface, underwater my mask is constantly leaking just under the nose and in the corners closer to my ears. Are there any suggestions or products that you might recommend that allow me to keep my facial masterpiece? ~Wet Whiskers

Well Whiskers, there are a few cheap and easy options and as with anything in life there are expensive hard core solutions as well. The easy answer would be to apply a bit of soft wax, vaseline or lip balm/chap stick in the areas where you are noticing leaks (under the nose especially). Another alternative would be to trim your fine facial hair just beneath the nose and elsewhere that may cause your mask to leak. The extreme answer would be to switch to a full face mask that seals away from your beard.  Our Divemaster Nick is an expert at preventing leaks with elaborate facial hair, so you can ask him the next time you join us for a drop-in dive! ~Deco and the RFD Staff

Dear Deco - I've always been very careful to plan my dives according to the tide tables.   I have a couple sources for this information, and they are usually very close in terms of current strength, slack tide and general tide height.   Usually my dives are always lots of fun and making the most of the tidal exchange, but every once in a while it just seems like we miss the slack at some of the best local dive sites (including Ten Mile Point, charters to Race Rocks, and even diving the wrecks off Sidney). Can you explain what we are doing wrong?   ~Almost Washed Away

Dear Almost Washed - There is much research that goes into making tidal charts, and Canada is know as a leader in producing this information for worldwide access; however, at the end of the day all tidal charts are predictions and other environmental factors can play a big role. Barometric pressure, El Niño events, and even climate change can effect tidal phenomena. It is highly recommended that you continue to refer to the best recommended tidal charts, but always use your discretion and local expertise in making these decisions.   
~Deco and the RFD Staff

Dear Deco: I've recently found a used regulator available for $75.   The owner had it serviced 10 years ago, and it hasn't been used since.   Is this a great deal? ~Sea Bargain Hunter

Dear Sea Bargain: The regulator may be a great find; however, it is highly recommended to get the regulator serviced.   Over time the seals and o-rings lose their lubrication and harden, which causes a higher chance of the regulator free flowing.   Another issue to consider if whether replacement parts to support servicing are still available.   Outside of the warranty offered to the original purchaser, this may be costly and counter the "good deal" on the reg in the first place.   Feel free to contact us and we can provide direction on how best to move forward.

Dear Deco, The divers at Rockfish have mentioned on several occasions that diving is the sport of love.  My partner and I started started diving recently, and he really likes to hold hands, which I find a bit cumbersome. Do you have any suggestions on how I can nicely let him know I need my space underwater, but offer some suggestions to make diving fun and dare I say sexy? ~Cuddlefish 

Dear Cuddlefish - Yes, we are firm believers that diving is the "sport of love". When a couple shares a passion that is as exciting as diving, it certainly can bring two people even closer together. However, yes, we can appreciate the need for personal space, especially if something like holding hands could impede access to equipment and the motor skills to follow safe diving practices. So how about this for a suggestion? Consider introducing some new techniques to your dives, such as wreck diving, where you need to focus on technique skills such as laying line to penetrate a ship. Or you can work as a team taking turns using a camera while the other acts as a spotter for critters or even an underwater model. You could even consider getting into scientific diving where you work together on a project requiring the use of slates, quadrats, transect tapes and more where hand holding isn't practical. Now all of these may bring more fun to your dives, but what about the sexy part? Consider cuddling on shore to warm up after a long dive, pointing out and laughing at the "nudibranches" on each others face, or sharing the excitement of reviewing the pictures together that you've taken after a dive. (This might be a better time to hold hands!) ~Deco and the RFD Staff

Dear Deco, I've heard other divers talking about finning backwards, helicopter turns and advanced buoyancy techniques.  I can't seem to do them. Am I doing something wrong? Where can I learn these?  ~Needs Trimming

Thanks Trim, these techniques take the right equipment and lots of practice. It is a good goal to strive for because you can save energy, improve air and protect the environment.

When most people purchase fins, they typically are not at a level where they are thinking about advanced finning techniques. Going backwards in particular requires a very stiff blade that can slice through the water without creating turbulence. The Scubapro Jet Fins are one of the most popular fins for backing up, doing helicopter turns and the like.  

Rockfish Divers often puts on clinics to focus on finning techniques and try various styles of fin to see what you like best.   Contact us in store if you are interested in learning more.   ~Deco and the RFD Staff.

Dear Deco, As a regular on Rockfish dive charters, I really enoy the fresh baked cookies, but am wondering if it would be possible to add more variety. Sincerely, Choco-chipped Out

Yikes Choco - haven't you ever heard "never insult the chef"? No matter, we'll see what we can do to provide a little more variety in the treats provided between dives. Tomorrow we'll be serving home-made banana bread (baking now as I type), and the follow day we'll have gingerbread bundt cake. Yum! ~Deco and the RFD Staff