Artificial Reef Society of BC
1905 Ogden Ave V6J1A3 Vancouver, BC, Canada

https://wa.aaa.com//experien/getaways/salish-sea-shipwreck Some interesting reading. Found this in the AAA Western Journey magazine Rick

The ARSBC is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Directors to our Board. Kiersten Enemark joins as the new Communications Director. The daughter of founding member, Tex Enemark, Kiersten brings with her over 20 years’ experience engaging with local governments and community groups; and Colin Parkinson joins as the new Director of Government Liaison. Colin recently retired from Transport Canada and was the Regulator involved in the assessment of reefs proposed by ...both the ARSBC and Fisheries & Oceans Canada. He brings with him both knowledge and experience on the permitting process within the federal government Howie Robins, President and CEO

Pacific Science Enterprise Centre (PSEC) Partnership Celebration The ARSBC was invited to participate in the Pacific Science Enterprise Centre (PSEC) Partnership Celebration, which was held today at The Department of Fisheries and Oceans facility in West Vancouver. We are proud to be associated with DFO for this event and look forward to talking about our successes to help sustain our marine ecosystem with ship- to- reef projects... Howie Robins, ARSBC President

Partnership Celebration, 8 June 2019

Interesting article recently published in the North Shore News. Enjoy! Rick https://www.squamishchief.com//from-dead-to-alive-in-howe-

In Memory of Tex Enemark https://www.legacy.com/o/princegeorgecitizen/obituary.aspx The Board of Directors sadly announces the passing of Tex Enemark on March 12, 2019, Tex was a founding member of the ARSBC and served as President from 2001-06. From the beginning of the Reef Society, Tex changed the seascape of scuba diving in British Columbia by helping to make it a premiere destination for eco-adventure wreck dive tourism. For many years his role had been government rel...ations, ship acquisition and project financing, and developing the tourism enhancement aspects of ARSBC activities. Tex was never short of a good story, many of which portrayed his persistent efforts to convince the Ministry of Defense to donate to a fledgling reef society the first of several decommissioned Restigouche class destroyer escorts. From 1990 -1991, the former HMCS Chaudière was prepared for disposal at sea. From there, the ARSBC's ship to reef projects flourished sinking many more vessels. Doug Pemberton, former Vice President said " the greater dive community owes a great deal of gratitude for the work and time Tex spent to help develop recreational diving in this province". Tex was always available and ready to dive and explore our ships, it was his reward as much as many others who contributed to the hard and complicated task of building up a productive ship to reef program that benefited many businesses in coastal communities. Howie Robins, current Reef Society president said " Tex was my mentor, a person I could reach out to and he was always available for me. Just before his passing, I whispered to him my heartfelt appreciation for being such a close friend for over 30 years". The ethics and level -headed approach Tex brought to the Reef Society will always remain our bedrock. Collectively, our hearts go out to Tex's wife, Sandra, and his family. ARSBC Board

I've had an update from Gary Lambeth (Salish Sea Dive, Powell River) on YOGN 82: "The YOGN 82 has become a habitat for many creatures. Since its sinking we've seen a huge increase in life that started almost immediately. I visited her about a half hour after the sinking and was surprised to see a few urchins on her deck already. I scratched my head on that for a few minutes until I realized that the impact would have sent them flying. It was fascinating to see the red, churn...ing clouds billowing out from all the holds. It seemed almost post-apocalyptic. This was to change, of course. Within a few weeks we saw it become home to Giant Pacific Octopus, Buffalo Sculpin, Irish Lords, Rock Fish, Ling Cod, Pacific Cod and Perch so thick they blocked the entire ship from my sonar. All of it. What a treat it has been to enjoy this dive site. It's an excellent training ground for new and intermediate divers and certainly even technical divers will enjoy her. She has an almost friendly feeling to her. That could just be me, of course, but other folks have said the same. The water is usually clear were she lays. The penetration, should you wish to go inside, is simple with many large exits so you can see light from the outside all over it. It still feels a bit happily surreal that she's there. Not a day goes by we don't appreciate the YOGN-82 and all the people involved with her sinking." See more

ARSBC is proud to become a member of ABCMI, the Association of British Columbia Marine Industries.

North Island Compass also ran an article on the YOGN. Enjoy Rick

For those of you who haven't got your copy of the latest issue of Diver Magazine, here is a copy of the article they ran on the sinking of the Powell River hulk - YOGN 82. Rick

Just saw this video, which was posted by Tourism Powell River. Enjoy Rick https://vimeo.com/284220873

http://www.artificialreefsocietybc.ca//concrete_ships_scub Here is an article I forgot to post. Enjoy! Rick

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp See this month’s issue of BC Shipping for article on the Catalyst project. Rick