Rockfish Divers
  • Diving
    • Charters >
      • Charter Destinations
      • Charter Registration
      • Charter Dates
      • Our Boats
    • Weekly Drop-in Dives >
      • Drop-in Registration
    • Shore Diving >
      • Saanich Inlet
      • Central Victoria
      • West Shore
    • Dive Site Difficulty Ranking
  • Courses
    • Scuba & Other Training >
      • Discover Scuba
      • Open Water Course
      • Scuba Review
      • Drysuit Orientation
      • Advanced Open Water
      • Rescue Diver
      • Emergency Response
    • Specialties >
      • Drysuit Specialty
      • Wreck/Nitrox Specialty
      • Drift Specialty
      • Nitrox Specialty
      • Oxygen Provider
      • Search and Recovery
      • Equipment Specialty
      • Deep Specialty
      • Gas Blender Specialty
      • Night Specialty
      • Boat Specialty
      • Peak Performance Buoyancy
      • Underwater Photography
      • Navigation Specialty
      • Project AWARE
    • Kids Programs
    • Go Pro
    • Course Registration
  • Equipment
    • Used Equipment Sales
    • Buy
    • Rent
    • Repair & Service
  • Vacations
    • Travel Abroad Program
    • Victoria Visitors
  • Snorkeling
    • Snorkelling Registration
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Our Crew
    • Blog
    • Newsletter
    • Gallery
  • Calendar
  • Contact

Giving Back

5/4/2019

0 Comments

 

It's time for us to give back

By: Tori Preddy, IDC Staff Instructor

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.
As many of you may have noticed, this year we have started to focus more on community. We want to build up an epic dive community, where everyone can feel safe and comfortable spending time underwater. This means we need to get to know our dive buddies better. Therefore we've been hosting monthly pub nights to get together and enjoy each other's company while swapping dive stories and ideas.
Picture
But what about the rest of the community? We are still a part of a much bigger community, where not everyone dives. This community has allowed us to host many special events over the years, as well as support us in our efforts to grow. How do we help the Victoria community? Well for starters, we've started a food drive! All donations will go to the Mustard Seed, a non-profit that helps fight hunger in Greater Victoria. Every donation is appreciated, but as an incentive, anyone who donates five or more items will receive a free Rockfish Divers travel mug!
Picture
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.
Picture
We're starting off with the simple stuff that we should have done long ago. First, we're encouraging our suppliers to limit their plastics in packaging. We've also introduced paper bags, on the occasion you need something to carry all your new gear in. We now also have a public can and bottle recycling bin. 
All this stuff is great, but what about dealing with the stuff humans have already done to the environment? Well, that's where we need you. We've pledged to run at least three underwater clean ups per year. Our first one will be in honor of Earth Day, and will be held on April 20th. Our next will be in June, for World Ocean Day, and our last (for the year) will be in September for World Clean Up Day.

Underwater clean ups are a great way for everyone to give back, as well as ensure our dive sites remain pristine for years to come. On April 20th, for our first clean up of the year, we will be cleaning Ogden Point. There is loads of fishing line and hooks there that harm marine life, and create an entanglement hazard for divers, so we want to clear it up!

We will provide mesh bags for all, as well as dispose of all the rubbish brought up. As a treat for those who help out, there will be a raffle with some great prizes from PADI, Huish Outdoors, and more! There will also be a selection of baked goods and drinks for post dive "energy".  We hope to see you all there.
Picture
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.
0 Comments

New cover on Inde!

1/11/2018

1 Comment

 
1 Comment

Just desserts after illness kept me out of the water for a long time

13/5/2018

0 Comments

 

Just desserts after illness kept me out of the water for a long time...
By Alisa S. Preston, Director and Master Instructor

Last fall...October 29, 2017 to be exact....had been my last dive. It was at Race Rocks, it was short and sweet - gliding over anemone gardens and constantly shadowed by a very large and friendly sea lion, and it ended early because I just felt 'off'. Very quickly upon returning to the surface I descended into a fever and the depths of a flu that kept me bed ridden for the next 4 weeks. Based on my doctors concern that I might never dive again, several months of respiratory treatment ensued, but my return to diving was further thwarted by a torn elbow extensor tendon and complicated dental work. One might imagine that after more than 6 months without being underwater only helps build up the excitement of returning to the sea. Alas, the longer I was out of the water, that excitement turned to dread that my scuba diving days might truly be over; a fear that I just couldn't shake. This led to all sorts of excuses from not being able to go because of the weather, that the vis was terrible, to being too busy getting my hair done (true story) despite being medically cleared to dive. 
PictureOrange Peel Nudibranch
Last week my husband and dive buddy finally had enough, and after an intervention of sorts I succumbed, agreed that I didn't have an excuse, and agreed to go diving.   We made plans for the West Shore this weekend for an easy dive to get back into the water. Despite my happy facade for the sake of the others on the dive boat, I joked with a hint of truth about whether I remembered how to dive let alone maintain my buoyancy, whether I would suck back my air too quickly, or most importantly, whether I could descend at all and be able to breath without bringing on a coughing fit. I needed a sign to snap me out from my self doubt, and I'm thankful one came to us out of the blue (or green based on our local waters).

The vis was poor, my new dental fillings tingled a bit, and the current was more than expected. While there was lots of colour from telia anemones, orange peel nudibranchs, cup corals and sea cucumbers, I was still distracted with the thoughts of worry going through my mind. But then amongst the boulders at Secretary Island off Sooke, BC, we came across just the sign I needed to re-ignite the passion for being underwater.

There was an octopus ballooned into a strange ball with what seemed like far too many legs. At first this creature had slowed its breathing in hopes of not being detected; it was like a stereogram where your eyes needed to relax and focus on what was truly happening. Then after a while, it started moving about in search of a den and we could see that we had stumbled across the final blow in a fight to the finish between two large male octopuses. The survivor was settling in to enjoy the victor's feast and had cloaked itself around it's competition, leaving only a dangling hectocotylus arm to confirm that the dual had been male versus male. (You can actually see the hectocotylus arm, or the private parts of a male octopus, of both creatures in the video above, and a close up of the losing octopus below. The distinguishing feature is no suckers at the end of the arm).
Picture
Hectocutylus Arm of the defeated octopus.
While I know we were extremely lucky to witness the end of such a battle rarely seen by divers, this just reminded me how thankful I am for being able to dive, and to never give up on doing what I love for as long as I can. You just never know what you might find! 

Just remember though, if you have been sick or injured and this has taken you out of the water for a while, before jumping back in it is highly recommended you see a doctor first. Being impatient and not looking after yourself is not worth the risk. But when you are healthy and ready to dive, find a buddy that you are comfortable with and choose an environment that let's you ease back into the flow of diving. I can't promise that you'll start off again with two octopuses hugging it out, but you just never know.

Thanks to the very supportive dive group and surface crew: Kat, Sam, Paul, Jenn, Mike, Neil and Cassandra for making my return to the ocean such an incredible day!   And special thanks to Tyler for helping me remember what I had been missing.
#RaceRocksEcologicalReserve #Scuba #ScubaDiving #BacktoDiving 
#RockfishDivers #ScubaDiving #DiveCharters #Community #Education 
#ProtectTheEnvironment #VictoriaBC #BritishColumbia #BestBCDiving #PNW 
#GiantPacificOctopus #OrangePeelNudibranch #TeliaAnemone #TreaureChestFound #SafeDiving #WestShore ​#SecretaryIsland #HopeSpot #ColdWaterDiving #SookeBC #EmeraldSea #HectocotylusArm #ScubaNerd
0 Comments

Rockfish Divers - Scuba Family

22/2/2018

0 Comments

 

Rockfish Divers - Scuba Family
By Alisa S. Preston, Director and Master Instructor

PictureSam enjoying a dive in Saanich Inlet
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

0 Comments

5 Year Anniversary, 12 Days of Rockfishmas, New Loyalty Program and much more....

29/11/2017

1 Comment

 

5 Year Anniversary, 12 Days of Rockfishmas, New Loyalty Program and much more....

By Alisa S. Preston, Director and Master Instructor

PictureStill having fun after 5 years as Rockfish Divers! Photo credit: Ron DeVries
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


    What should we call our new Rockfish Loyalty Program Name?

    Please note that Rockfish Divers will only use the information submitted for the purposes of selecting a new name for our Loyalty program and contacting the person who submits the best suggestion and wins the door prize that will be announced on December 12, 2017 after closing.   If an improved name is not determined, all entries will be put into a blind draw.
Submit
1 Comment

Top Ten Dive Sites in the Greater Victoria Area

23/11/2017

0 Comments

 

Top Ten Dive Sites in the Greater Victoria Area

By Tyler R. Preston, PADI Course Director

I've held off writing this kind of blog for many years as I always knew the West Shore had great diving and without experience in that area, it would not be an accurate representation of the diving off Greater Victoria.  

Sometimes it's difficult to make Top Ten lists like this; doing a dive with 100' of vis and having a giant pacific octopus join you out of its den can skew  personal experience.  Should the next person come along in 5' of vis with little more than a sandy bottom, they may have a completely different dive.  My personal opinion is that you need to do a dive many times so you can take the overall sum of all of your experiences in order to properly assess the site.  

Take the following with a grain of salt: some divers like wrecks, some like walls, some like the challenge of tech diving.   Your opinion may differ from the next divers'........ this is the dive industry after all.

#10
Ogden Point Breakwater
Ogden Point is an excellent shore dive.  Given the diversity of life, accessibility and proximity to Victoria it is definitely worthy of being in the top ten Victoria dive sites.  I'm personally not fond of the walk out to dive flag 4 or 5, but if you are after a quick, easy and diverse site, Ogden point is a great choice.  
Picture
10th best dive site - Ogden Point, Victoria, BC.
Picture
Picture

​#9
Nudibranch Wall
Nestled in Sansum Narrows, I'm guessing few have been diving here before.  Although a bit of an environmental nightmare left over from commercial fishing in the past, the wall is exceptional given that you can dive it virtually any time despite current tables.  Nudibranchs and a dense array of fish and anemones cover this very steep wall, but the most interesting part is the huge nets draped along the wall.  As mentioned it is horrifying to think about the quantity of life that was likely once caught under these massive nets.   However, they bring a really eery and cool feel to the site. 
Picture
9th best dive site - Nudibranch Wall, Victoria, BC
Picture

​#8
Great Race (Race Rocks)
Sea lions, sea lions, sea lions!  If you're after big interactive life, Great Race should be on your list!  Although you will still see lots of other cool life, this dive is non-stop sea lions.  Nothing quite like staring a sea bear in the eyes, while others are right behind you likely making faces.
Picture
8th best dive - Great Race, Race Rocks, BC
Picture

#7
Swordfish Island 
The big draw to Swordfish is the swim through, which is a cavern of sorts.   Swimming through the tunnel is truly amazing.  There are few sites locally that have the color diversity found in the Swordfish swim through.   It doesn't hurt that the wall along the island is also great - often visited by sea lions, huge Puget sound king crabs, octopus and wolf eels.   There is no wonder Swordfish is a great dive to accompany a Race Rocks charter.
Picture
7th best dive - Swordfish Island, Victoria, BC
Picture

​#6
HMCS McKenzie
At 366' long, the McKenzie is massive, has a serious cool factor, and is packed with life.  It's subjected to a lot of current so you need to be cautious on when you plan your dives, but the wreck has a lot of life - anemones, big cabezon, tube worms, barnacles and much more.  It would be higher on my list, but the current and highly variable vis drop it a notch or 2 for me.


Picture
6th best dive - HMCS McKenzie, Victoria, BC
Picture

#5
Senanus Island Glass Sponges
The sponges hold an mysterious allure for most divers.  Found at over 100'/30m of depth, the sponges are homes to crab, squat lobsters, and lots of jeuvenile rockfish in a dark eery setting.  The inlet often has exceptional visibility and tends to be even better down at the sponges.  Nothing quite like seeing a big white sponge the size of a smart car appear out of the darkness.
Picture
5th best dive - Senanus Island Sponges, Victoria, BC
Picture

​#4
Burial Islet
Nestled in the middle of Sansum Narrows, Burial Islet is a macro haven.  This high current area is like diving over rolling hills covered in freshly fallen snow given the coverage of so many white short plumose anemones.   Although not a lot of seals or sea lions, the density of smaller critters is impressive. 
Picture
4th best dive - Burial Island, Victoria, BC
Picture

#3
Ten Mile Point
Ten Mile Point is the best shore dive I have done anywhere.  Although you don't see a lot of big life (except octopus and the odd wolf eel...oh yeah, and the big cabezons), the macro life here is exceptional. Warbonnets, grunt sculpins, anemones, scallops and so much more in only a square foot or .25m.  The locals love Ten Mile, and will hit the water at any time of day or night to catch a good slack.   It's no wonder you find lots of divers at the nearest local pub comparing photos on the quarter moon each month.   
Picture
3rd best dive - Ten Mile Point, Victoria, BC
Picture

#2
Secretary Island
As you push out towards open ocean, the sea life changes.  The density of life on this island is impressive, but the diversity is even better.  The west wall at Secretary is still my favorite especially with good visibility.  You almost always get a visit from sea lions, and you can dive on or off slack! Strawberry anemones, pacific sea nettles, orange peel nudibranchs and much more can be seen here.
Picture
2nd best dive site - Secretary Island, Victoria, BC
Picture

#1
West Race (Race Rocks)
West Race is truly a world class dive site.  I can only think of a few dives on the planet I would consider to be better than West Race.  Lots of sea lions (but not so many that it is distracting), octopus, wolf eels, basket stars, strawberry anemones, Puget sound king crabs and more anemones than you can imagine.  The diversity and density of critters make this dive amazing, but when you throw in several sea lion visits on a single dive - in my opinion, it is the best dive off Greater Victoria, in the top five (5) in British Columbia, and the top ten (10) in the world!  
Picture
West Race Rocks, Best dive in Victoria, BC
Picture


Honorable mentions:


Beechy Head - I haven't done this site enough to experience its potential.  It is very subjected to current, but as I was blowing across at a knot or so, the wall was packed with life - the 6 or 7 pacific sea nettles didn't hurt either (I avoided the sting, but they were incredible to see)!

McCurdy Point - a Saanich Inlet favorite, especially when the vis is poor in the inlet.   For some reason, McCurdy always seems to have the best visibility when everywhere else is like soup.   The boot sponges along this wall are very impressive.

Moon jelly dive - the Saanich Inlet near the mouth of Tod Inlet hosts millions of moon jellies in the summer into late fall.  Accessible by shore or boat, diving with countless moon jellies is always good fun.

Lunch at Portland Island - There is nothing like stopping for lunch and a pee break after diving in the Southern Gulf Islands, especially sites including the GB Church, Arbutus Island or Schute reef.  I love pulling up on the beach and picking fresh apples for a snack in late summer, and driving home as the sun sets with spectacular colours.   

My list is never complete!  Really, we could make this the top 20, or even 50, but you have to cap it somewhere.   More extensive lists would definitely include:
  • North Race (Race Rocks),
  • Arachne Reef (Southern Gulf Islands),
  • Church Islands (West Shore)
​....wherever the next exploratory dive takes us!   Stay tuned for future top ten lists that have a specific focus, such as top ten topography dives, top ten macro dives, and so on.

#RockfishDivers #DiveCharters #Scuba #HopeSpot #SaanichInlet #SouthernGulfIslands #WestShore #RaceRocks #SeaLions #MacroLife #Ocean #Charters #Diving #GreaterVictoria #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia

0 Comments

Why Taking PADI’s Rescue Diver Course Will Change How You Dive

2/10/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
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.

Picture
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

1 Comment

'Dear Deco' Diving Advice Column

6/6/2017

1 Comment

 

Dear Deco....We've missed you!

Due to popular demand, our Dear Deco column is back and will continue as part of the Rockfish community blog.   We're throwing back to some of the best questions we've received over the years, with updated answers based on the latest information available.  

​While Deco is a true character and co-mascot with Kody, Briggs and Stratton for Rockfish Divers, his name is a pseudonym for the dive professionals who truly respond to your questions.   We strive to provide the best guidance or information for any questions address to Dear Deco. Please submit your best scuba related questions or concerns below for our future issues - your anonymity is guaranteed and there are no silly questions.
Picture

    Submit your anonymous questions or comments for Dear Deco!

Submit

Spear Fishing

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

Diving with Beards and Mustaches

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

Planning Dives Around Tidal Exchanges

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

Buying Used Regulators

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.

Diving Is The Sport Of Love

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

Finning Techniques: Moving Forwards and Backwards

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.

The Best Time for Kids To Start Diving

Dear Deco, My daughter will be turning 8 in January, and I'm thinking of registering her into one of your upcoming Bubblemaker Courses. I'm just wondering if this age is too young to start scuba diving? Thanks, Pelagic Parent 

Dear Pelagic, 8 year olds always seem so small!   When compared to standard adult sized equipment, it's hard to imagine them getting into their gear and into the pool. While it almost seems too young to have kids being introduced to diving at such a young age, there are many factors that help keep children safe in a Bubblemaker Course: shallow maximum depth, low instructor to student ratios, properly fitting equipment for little people, and strict standards on how to present the performance requirements in a manner so young participants understand the key rules of diving (i.e. never hold your breath). This is a very clinical sounding response to your question. Now let me speak to what I have observed in kids who have started diving at an early age. In a shallow pool, it provides a unique, fun, and safe environment for children to practice the dexterity and skills for finding neutral buoyancy and balance.   It allows kids to work as buddy teams, building friendships that extend beyond diving together. I have seen kids who are initially worried change their expression to glee as they catch an underwater dart and redirect it to another child.   There are building blocks from diving that can extend to many other parts of life...yes, all from one initial pool session.

Please note that training agencies such as PADI require children to be at least 10 years old before they can scuba dive outside of a confined environment (i.e. moving from the pool to the ocean).   It is also absolutely up to the discretion of the instructor in consultation with the parents to determine if a child is truly ready (considering maturity and physical ability) to move to the next stages of a scuba diving program.   However, the Bubblemaker Course is one of the most fun programs: both for the instructor and the students. Kids often absorb and apply the rules of diving faster then their parents and we love watching their enthusiasm!   ~Deco and the RDF Team

Surface Interval Cookie Break

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

1 Comment

    Author

    ​Rockfish Divers is focused on community and educating divers on safety and environmental issues that impact the aquatic ecosystem.   If you have an idea for a topic you would like us to feature, please submit it through the link below and stay tuned.

    Archives

    April 2019
    November 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    June 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed


 250-516-3483​  

3945 Quadra St, ​Victoria, BC V8X 1J5, Canada


  • Diving
    • Charters >
      • Charter Destinations
      • Charter Registration
      • Charter Dates
      • Our Boats
    • Weekly Drop-in Dives >
      • Drop-in Registration
    • Shore Diving >
      • Saanich Inlet
      • Central Victoria
      • West Shore
    • Dive Site Difficulty Ranking
  • Courses
    • Scuba & Other Training >
      • Discover Scuba
      • Open Water Course
      • Scuba Review
      • Drysuit Orientation
      • Advanced Open Water
      • Rescue Diver
      • Emergency Response
    • Specialties >
      • Drysuit Specialty
      • Wreck/Nitrox Specialty
      • Drift Specialty
      • Nitrox Specialty
      • Oxygen Provider
      • Search and Recovery
      • Equipment Specialty
      • Deep Specialty
      • Gas Blender Specialty
      • Night Specialty
      • Boat Specialty
      • Peak Performance Buoyancy
      • Underwater Photography
      • Navigation Specialty
      • Project AWARE
    • Kids Programs
    • Go Pro
    • Course Registration
  • Equipment
    • Used Equipment Sales
    • Buy
    • Rent
    • Repair & Service
  • Vacations
    • Travel Abroad Program
    • Victoria Visitors
  • Snorkeling
    • Snorkelling Registration
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Our Crew
    • Blog
    • Newsletter
    • Gallery
  • Calendar
  • Contact