Dive site review: Grahams wall Just recently, I got a chance to “re-discover” this great off shore site. We dive here on a regular basis with our out of town charter groups, and it’s dive #2 almost always after doing the GB Church with our advanced course (our advanced course always includes 2 boat dives). I have been skipping this dive for a while now because I’ve done it so much but last week I strapped on my Drager Dolphin Rebreather and gave it a whirl. Our three charter guests from Missouri were fairly new divers and had not dove in Canada before, so they were in for a treat. After a great first dive on the church and a bite to eat we got ready for one of the best drift dives in the area. I was going to tell you exactly where we drop in and how we like to dive it but I’m gonna keep that a secret. You’ll just have to try it your self… with us of course. Grahams wall got its name from an open water student who drifted away from his group diving sheep island and discovered this gem. Yes I said open water student, but things were different then: courses were longer and more intense. An o/w diver in 1977 is like an advanced o/w diver now. I was first told this story by Grahams instructor, Charles “Chic” Goodman, former PADI Canada head and owner of Rim-Pac Divers in Sidney years ago. He said “at first I was screaming at him, ‘where the hell did you go- what happened!!!’ Then, after listening to what he had to say we dove it and the damn guy is immortalized forever in a dive site.” (approximate quote) I think Chic was a little peeved that there are no dive sites named after him. There probably should be, the guy did so much for the sport locally. The wall has three sections: A wall of dense Plumose anemones, rocky cliffs, and a wonderful shallow kelp forest. Depending on what end you start from you will see them with the rocky part in the middle. As we cruised along at the 60’ level, a massive school of tube snouts (the long skinny shiny li’l guys with pike noses) I was able to pass right through them with out a single one bolting. I think one of the reasons I love that place so much is its diversity. A diver can see just about everything there at different depths: schooling fish, octopus, nudibranchs, many different types anemones, and sea pens too! I always tell people when they get sick of diving, or they are just getting a little bored with the usual, “then try something new”. Take a new course. Expand your interests. Maybe take a camera on a dive next time or try out a new piece of gear. I’m not saying that everyone should go out and buy a rebreather, but hey, it worked for me. I was recently contacted by the director of photography for that mermaid movie they’re filming over in Brentwood. They were looking for a place to shoot a scene with two stunt double mermaids swimming up through the kelp. Grahams wall is one of the places I will take them. I told them I’d outfit the trip for free as long as my name appeared in the credits somewhere (LOL my own little spot of fame). Oh well its something at least, because I don’t think any one is going to be naming a dive site after me anytime soon. I feel your pain Chic. So the next time you get tired of the same old shore dives give this one a try: you won’t be disappointed. “Breathe Continuously” Dan Sidney Dive n Surf |