Dive Campbell River
P.O. Box 123 V9W 5A7 Campbell River, BC, Canada

Discovery Passage Underwater Photography Shootout Note- we made some changes. . The inaugural Discovery Passage Underwater photography Shootout will be held this year from Feb 15 to April 15 2021 This shootout is brought to you by Eiko Jones and Roger McDonell Dive Campbell River... . Photographers of all experience levels are welcome to submit images. All images need to have been shot within the bounds of Discovery Passage, and taken in the last THREE years. . The purpose of this is to highlight local diving in the Campbell River region and to offer a competition that is solely focused on cold water diving. Due to Covid-19 we do not want to be promoting any un-necessary travel this year, so only come and shoot for this if you are from the immediate vicinity. In future years we aim to make it a destination shootout, along the lines of the Monterey Bay Shootout, where everyone gathers together at a similar time to shoot it out . We have an esteemed panel of three international judges. David Salvatori, Richard Salas, and Doug Perrine. . There will be prizes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in three categories- Wide angle, Macro, and Compact Camera, as well as one Grand Prize Winner. . Entry fees to the shootout will be $15 for a maximum of ten entries over all categories. We will be posting more details on a website soon with full rules. . Please tag anyone you think might be interested in this. See more

Diving at Whiskey Point - The Rock today with Ocean Guardian Dive Charter. There is no snow underwater.

Attention underwater photographers on Vancouver Island. I am excited to announce a shootout style photography competition called the Discovery Passage Underwate...r Photography Shootout. There is world class diving right on our doorstep and this competition aims to highlight this. This inaugural event is co-sponsored by myself and Dive Campbell River- Roger McDonell. I will share more details soon as to exact dates but it will be starting in February. Unfortunately due to Covid, this years event will be limited to Vancouver Island Residents. We have a great line up of International judges- David Salvatori, Richard Salas, and Doug Perrine. Watch for more details. See more

Have you seen the amazing list of articles and educational inputs we have lined up for you for the winter edition? You can sign up for our magazine here https://divermag.com/subscribe/ and for the digital edition here https://divermag.com/diver-magazine-digital-editions/ #DIVEMAG

It is in the water! Soooooo Exciting! The team at Eaglecraft Aluminum Boats are doing the final tweaks and setup of electronics and engines and soon we will ha...ve access to start our testing and practice procedures for diving off of our new boat. There are still a few days left to play. What's the name game! We have been very elusive about the name of the new boat. This is your chance to win a dive trip on _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _! It's a Scrabble type puzzle. To win you have to guess the name from the letters supplied. Its two words but don't let anyone else know your guess. The more people that have it right mean your chances are reduced so don't give it away. Send us a Personal Message with your guess and if you are right your name will go into the draw for one of several prizes. Good luck. The letters to use are ---- nicaedouranag The deadline for entering is December 25th!

Some amazing footage and video editing by local Videographer! Thanks for sharing your underwater experiences Marcelo Johan Ogata.

Three Grunt Sculpins all tucked in their respective homes. Two appear to be sitting on eggs. Shot at Argonaut Wharf using iPhone 11 Pro with Kracken KRH04 Smartphone Housing with 2x Bigblue Dive Lights.

Steep Island in Discovery Passage is among one the top dive sites near Campbell River. The wall dive has masses of Northern Tube Worms covering a large area from 10 to 25 meters. The stalks of the tube worms are themselves covered with bright pink Brooding Anemones. The young exit the mouth and develop attached to the base of the parent before crawling off on their own. Photos by Roger McDonell using a Nikon D850 with 60mm lens in Ikelite Underwater Systems housing lite with 2x 15,000 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights. Abyssal Diving Charters Oceanfix.ca Ventures Ltd - dba Beaver Aquatics - 2018 Destination Campbell River

Sometime when you look closely you can see the many eyes staring back from this mass of fish eggs. Shot with Nikon D850 with 60mm macro lens in Ikelite Underwater Systems housing and 2x 15,000 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights. At Steep Island in Discovery Passage across from Campbell River. https://youtu.be/anZNa-VRZAk Abyssal Diving Charters #discovercampbellriver

Two small Grunt Sculpins were close together at Argonaut Wharf on a Sunday dive from shore in Campbell River. The sculpin in the barnacle is protecting eggs so we will be checking to see how they are doing in future dives.

A few more of the images from a dive at the Argonaut Wharf. Photos by Roger McDonell shot with Nikon D850 with 60mm macro lens in Ikelite Underwater Systems housing and 2x 15,000 lumens Bigblue Dive Lights #discovercampbellriver

We often see a number of Giant Rainbow Dendronotids but mostly they are a translucent white. Occasionally we see one of these Dendronotids with a unique coloring.

Diving at the Argonaut Wharf you will likely come across this little Grunt Sculpin tucked away in a barnacle shell. This sculpin is carefully protecting eggs which can be seen in the background.

A few of the creatures found at Argonaut Wharf.

Here is a showreel of footage taken on my first handful of dives with my Laowa Macro probe lens underwater rig. (The one I shared the image of a couple days ago...). This is a very unique lens and requires some support while using it for video. I built the motorized slider rig so I could not only have steady footage but also have nice smooth movements as well, which adds so much to video sequences. Equipment used is Nikon Z6 camera, Aquatica Digital housing and monitor, Big Blue lights and custom made lens port. Music by Beneath the Mountain. See more

Photo of an Octopus on the HMCS Columbia artificial reef taken by Sheldon Boyd.

Work is progressing well on our new dive charter vessel. Its heading into the paint shop for some colour application. Here is what we hope it will look like when completed. Eaglecraft Aluminum Boats Dive Campbell River

This small Giant Pacific Octopus has found a nice spot for a home in the end of a PVC pipe under Argonaut Wharf. We call it Piper. Enjoy the short video. I think I will use this as a background for my next Zoom meeting. :) Watch in HD for best result.

Both Giant Pacific Octopus and Red Octopus are found in Discovery Passage. Be sure to check it out in High Definition.

A quick compilation of marine life found in Discovery Passage

This video is dedicated to the memory of Bryan David Erickson - February 25, 1954 - August 16, 2020. Bryan was a dive instructor in Campbell River for many years and this was where he took students for their dives. Its said he had trained an octopus to sit on his shoulder during the dive as he visited so often they were friends. Bryan founded Beaver Aquatics Dive Shop in 1986 and contributed much of his life to diving in the Campbell River area. Not far from downtown Campbel...l River is the Argonaut Wharf used by a mining company to load their ore ships. Located on the Tree Spit, the Wharf has easy access and parking. Like most dives, currents are an issue and diving is best at the end of the flood tide and beginning of the ebb. This site is popular as a night dive as octopus can be found under the fallen pilings. Some large anemones position themselves on the upright pilings. Also a good site to find Grunt Sculpins, Hermit Crabs, Sea Pens and masses of Green Sea Urchins. Destination Campbell River See more

Under the Argonaut Wharf are several octopus dens. Occasionally we find an octopus out hunting for food. In this case a small fish was caught by this small octopus and is not getting away. Shot with Nikon D850 with 60mm macro lens with Ikelite Underwater Systems housing using 2x 15,000 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights. #DestinationCampbellRiver Be sure to watch in HD or 4K setting. Please Share! :)

You will probably only see one of these Sailfin Sculpins at night as they are shy and a nocturnal feeder. This one at Argonaut Wharf, not far from downtown Campbell River, was not to interested in having its photo taken. Photo by Roger McDonell using Nikon D850 with 60mm macro lens in Ikelite Underwater Systems housing and dual DS-161 strobes.

Today's dive from Campbell River was at the Argonaut Wharf where we found a few different octopuses and Grunt Sculpins. Always entertaining to visit with these amazing creatures. Photos by Roger McDonell using a Nikon D850 with a 60mm macro lens in an Ikelite Underwater Systems housing with 2x DS161 strobes. Destination Campbell River Oceanfix.ca Ventures Ltd - dba Beaver Aquatics - 2018

A small Red Octopus out in the open at Argonaut Wharf last night. You can see how they can change colour.

They are called Decorator Crabs and they blend in by attaching life to themselves. Shot a Row and Be Damned dive site. Photos by Roger McDonell using Nikon D850 with 60mm macro in Ikelite Underwater Systems housing with DS161 Strobes. Destination Campbell River Abyssal Diving Charters

My neighbour came up with this as a logo for DiveCampbellRiver. What do you think?

Night diving under the Argonaut Wharf can be so different from diving during the day. Things come out at night like this small Red or Ruby Octopus. Here the octopus seems to be curious about the divers and finally coming right toward the camera lens in the end. Click on the 'Subscribe Button' to be informed about more videos from Dive Campbell River.

The cutest little Ruby Red Octopus from under the Argonaut Wharf. Not much larger than a plum, this little creature can change colours to match surroundings and evade predators. Finally it decide to squeeze into a small bottle on the ocean bottom and then pull some debris over the mouth of the bottle for good measure. Photos by Roger McDonell shot using Nikon D850 with 60mm macro lens in an Ikelite Underwater Systems housing with 2 Ikelite D161 strobes and a Bigblue Dive Lights. Destination Campbell River Oceanfix.ca Ventures Ltd - dba Beaver Aquatics - 2018

Diving at Grouse Island in Discovery Passage is always a treat. There are lots of different nudibranchs and some with eggs. Thanks to Earl Lowe with Abyssal Diving Charters we were able to get out for a boat dive while practicing social distancing on his boat Most Outrageous. Photos by Roger McDonell using Nikon D850 with 60mm lens using Ikelite Underwater Systems housing and DS161 strobes and Bigblue Dive Lights.

Night diving at the Argonaut Wharf has been popular as we can physical distance dive! Visibility has bee between 20-40 feet depending on day/night and current/tides. This was the first time I went in for a dive on a Wednesday and came out of the water on Thursday. Oceanfix.ca Ventures Ltd - dba Beaver Aquatics - 2018

Doing the social distancing dive site at the Argonaut Wharf this morning. Found a Crimson Anemone with a small Clown Shrimp. Also lots more of other fascinating creatures. Photos by Roger McDonell shot with Nikon D850 with 60mm macro lens using Ikelite Underwater Systems housing with 2x 15,000 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights. Destination Campbell River Oceanfix.ca Ventures Ltd - dba Beaver Aquatics - 2018

I know. I know. Where does a hermit crab get a hair cut? Shot at Argonaut Wharf using Nikon D850 with 60mm Macro lens with Ikelite Underwater Systems housing and two 15,000 Bigblue Dive Lights. Destination Campbell River Oceanfix.ca Ventures Ltd - dba Beaver Aquatics - 2018 Photo by Roger McDonell

A short video showing the kelp in the current at the cruise ship dock off of the Discovery Harbour Marina in downtown Campbell River.

A dive site we have wanted to check out is the pilings of the cruise ship dock. We had a chance to dive (practising social distancing) yesterday evening. Here's what we found. It does pose some particular challenges with the currents. While there are lots of anemones and kelp on the pilings, there is not much life on the bottom. Shot with GoPro Hero 7 using 15,000 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights shot at 4K and captured stills from video. Thanks to Earl Lowe of Abyssal Diving Char...ters. Oceanfix.ca Ventures Ltd - dba Beaver Aquatics - 2018 Destination Campbell River See more

Some dives don't have the usual colour we expect to find in discovery Passage but the marine life can be very interesting regardless. This was a non tidal dive behind Steep Island near Lone Tree Island. Destination Campbell River Oceanfix.ca Ventures Ltd - dba Beaver Aquatics - 2018

We haven't been to Whiskey Point at the End of the Road in a while. Destination Campbell River Abyssal Diving Charters Oceanfix.ca Ventures Ltd - dba Beaver Aquatics - 2018 Photos by Roger McDonell using Nikon D850 with Ikelite Underwater Systems housing and Bigblue Dive Lights.

There is a Leather Star uprising happening right now in Discovery Passage! Well we could call it that or we could just appreciate that in the spring, life reproduces. The Leather Starfish like other marine life that spreads its spawn into the water column, getting as high as possible means life will travel farther and have a better chance to grow to adulthood. Visibility really drops when the Sea Cucumber and starfish decide its their time to reproduce as well. Destination Campbell River Abyssal Diving Charters Oceanfix.ca Ventures Ltd - dba Beaver Aquatics - 2018

From one of our favourite dive sites, Steep Island. Check out the video. https://youtu.be/anZNa-VRZAk

Nice footage by one of our local divers.

Argonaut Wharf is a nice easy shore dive while in Campbell River. Best to dive at the end of the flood before the ebb tide starts pushing.

A Red Sea Urchin rights itself.

This small Giant Pacific Octopus was spotted while diving off of Grouse Island. Roger was using a GoPro Hero 8 on a stick so was able to position it away from t...he divers and nearer to a small rock. The octopus took a particular interest in the camera and came over to explore and engulf to camera. See more

This was both a delight and a surprise to see on a recent dive to Grouse Island. A female wolfeel surrounding her eggs was a delight to see. The surprise was seeing the Sailfin Sculpin perched on top to the eggs. Shot with GoPro Hero 8 using a 8300 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights. Diving with Adventures of Gizmo and Gadget and Beaver Aquatics.

Dive today at April Point Reef with Campbell River Tide Rippers on board Adventures of Gizmo and Gadget. Roger McDonell taking pictures with Nikon D850 with 28mm lens in Ikelite Underwater Systems housing using 2x 15,000 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights. Thanks to Captain Vaughan Raymond for putting us in the right spot for a fabulous dive. Jim Petrus Ken Blackburn Kevin Bates

Out for a dive this weekend on Saturday to Grouse Island with some of the local Campbell River Tide Rippers divers.

When its blowing 15 knots and the dive boat is tied up then its a matter of finding a spot where you can just fall in the water. Fortunately the Argonaut Wharf at the Tyee Spit is readily accessible as long as the wind isn't coming in too strong. From Today's dive. Shooting with Nikon D850 using Ikelite Underwater Systems housing and 60mm macro lens with 2x15,000 Bigblue Dive Lights. Photos by Roger McDonell. #BigBlueDiveLights

Possibly the last dive in Discovery Passage for 2019. At Row and Be Damned with the Campbell River Tide Rippers on Adventures of Gizmo and Gadget with Captain Vaughan Raymond at the helm. Photos by Roger McDonell diving with Greg Baldock, Brianna Marcoux, Alan Young, Sheldon Boyd and Ruedi Pletcher.

So many crabs found locally. The largest found in the area is the Puget Sound King Crab. You won't find this one in a crab trap. They are colourful and shed there shells as they grow. Enjoy in 4K quality,

A Giant Pacific Octopus in 4K at Row and Be Damned Reef

A Purple Starfish doing yoga!

We are adding more content to our website. Check it out for videos of dive sites and photos of local marine life! https://divecampbellriver.com

Copper Cliffs today with Adventures of Gizmo and Gadget. Thank you Captain Vaughan Raymond for getting us out and back safely. Photos by Roger McDonell using Nikon D850 using 24mm lens in Ikelite Underwater Systems housing and 2x 15,000 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights. Destination Campbell River Beaver Aquatics Campbell River Tide Rippers

Terrific diving this weekend at Grouse Island and The Rock @ Whiskey Point.

Welcome to The Rock at Whiskey Point! So happy to see that this dive site is intact after an Alaskan barge recently ran ashore here.

Pictures from Row and Be Damned Reef. Taken by Roger McDonell using Nikon D850 with 24mm lens Ikelite Underwater Systems housing with 2x 15,000 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights. Adventures of Gizmo and Gadget Beaver Aquatics Campbell River Tide Rippers Destination Campbell River

Today's dive at April Point Reef came across this Scalyhead Sculpin with eggs in a barnacle shell.

The full quick edit video of the dive at The Rock @ Whiskey Point post barge grounding. Wolfeels still in their den and no apparent hard to any marine life after first dive. Video by Roger McDonell using Nikon D850 with 24mm f2.8 lens in Ikelite Underwater Systems housing and 2x 15,000 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights Destination Campbell River Adventures of Gizmo and Gadget with Captain Vaughan Raymond and divers Krystal Janicki and Greg Baldock. Thanks to Gord Kurbis for the seg...ment on CTV Vancouver Island News. Beaver Aquatics Campbell River Tide Rippers See more

This is officially the 'Barge Scar' at the Rock at Whiskey Point. The barge that was hung up on the rock was removed early this morning and we didn't waste any ...time to check out the damage at our favourite dive site. We are happy to report that there is minimal damage to the rock where the barge made contact. We found a few pieces of bottom paint that chipped off and one hull zinc. Other then that there was no other damage found on our first dive. We dove down the the rock where the wolf eels are and found them back deeply huddled in their usual den. We did a bit of a swim around as time and tide allowed and could see no obvious damage from any cables or anchors that may have made contact with the bottom. All in all we were happy to see that everything seems pretty normal. Dive Campbell River Destination Campbell River Adventures of Gizmo and Gadget Roger McDonell Captain Vaughan Raymond Greg Baldock Krystal Janicki CTV Vancouver Island Gord Kurbis See more

The H.M.C.S. Columbia was sunk as an artificial reef on the backside of Maud Island near Seymour Narrows. The 'wreck' has been there since June 1996 and has some growth and fish life that has been attracted to the hull. Theses photos are from a dive on Friday, November 8, 2019. Photos by Roger McDonell using a Nikon D850 with a 60mm lens in an Ikelite Underwater Systems housing with 2x 15,000 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights. Adventures of Gizmo and Gadget Destination Campbell River Beaver Aquatics

From yesterday's dive at Row and Be Damned in Discovery Passage. Photographer - Roger McDonell using a Nikon D850 with 60mm in Ikelite Underwater Systems housing with 2x 15,000 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights. Destination Campbell River Beaver Aquatics Adventures of Gizmo and Gadget

Not sure what a "corrosion inhibitor" is but it sounds like a substance we don't want in our ocean.

This is a video of the site where the barge is currently run aground. The site we dive is just to the northwest of the exact spot the barge is sitting. The intro surface portion of the video shows "The Rock" sitting just above the water at low tide. I know I can speak for the local dive community when I say we are very concerned to the potential damage to the marine life below the surface at the popular site.

An Alaskan bound barge has run aground at one of our favourite dive sites and is still hung up on "The Rock" at Whiskey Point. We are all very concerned about the chemicals that are in the railcars on board this barge. They are hoping to get it offThe Rock at high tide today at 3:00pm.

That's what you were doing down there all that time.

Face to face with a Puget Sound King crab at Row and Be Damned Cove.

Quite a wonderful day on the water with divers in at Row and Be Damned Cove and Grouse Island. Destination Campbell River Beaver Aquatics Adventures of Gizmo and Gadget Photos by Roger McDonell using Nikon D850 with 60mm macro using Ikelite Underwater Systems housing and 2x 15,000 lumen Bigblue Dive Lights.

Diving at Steep Island today found a wolfeel! Adventures of Gizmo and Gadget Photos by Roger McDonell using Nikon D850 using Ikelite Underwater Systems housing with 24mm f2.8 lens and 2x15,000 Bigblue Dive Lights. Destination Campbell River Beaver Aquatics

Nice catch Maxwell!