BC Spearing Trip: Round Two!

[Erik]

There are sooo many spots like that up there.... no worries. If we can arrange a daytrip to Browning Pass (no spearing) it is a MUST!

Erik

[feign]

Originally Posted by Fondueset

That stunning spot we visited the first day - with the amazing high-current wall and the small island with seals should be on the list too

Definitely Chris. That was in the Plumper islands and the area is open for game.

Originally Posted by Erik

If we can arrange a daytrip to Browning Pass (no spearing) it is a MUST!

Erik

Erik, I have been looking into charters for the Browning Pass area. One thought I had, which would be cheaper, was to use Lindsey. Although, this may be too long of a boat trip to that area. I don't think he would know the exact place of the famous wall, although we may be able to get coordinates to that location from other divers. Unless, would you recognize the spot of Browning wall from the surface topography? or any of the other sites such as Hunt rock, to guide us there. I don't know how long it has been since you were last there?

lee

[feign]

To all people planning on coming,


I need your vote/input regarding days of boat diving. As you know I have been in contact with Lindsey. He responded at first to me wanting $600 for a full day of diving (up to 8 hours). He plans to upgrade his ladder and provide some kind of food and hot water. Even at this price, this is a really good deal. For 10 divers, which we will likely end up with, this is $60/day, for those that have trouble dividing.

I have researched other options:

1 -kayak rental $60-100+ / day split for a two person kayak (frankly, for the amount of work to get to some of the good spots like the plumber islands, this is not worth it)

2 -fishing boat $125-150/hour for max 4-5 people/boat

3 -diving charter out of Port Hardy or McNeil is $115-140/person per day (but a day is really two tank dives, so this could mean 4 hours or so)

4 -shore diving - cheap and cool, but the great diving is offshore.

Despite it already being a good deal, I have negotiated with Lindsey regarding the price. He is willing to accept $500/day (up to 8 hours) if we commit to 4 days diving, which are not necessarily consecutive. The other nice thing about Lindsey is we can board his boat just minutes away from our camp at Beaver Cove, which was less attention getting than our first day with him on the Telegraph docks. After discussing with Erik, this is a scenario up for proposal:

Sat/Sun - arrive, set-up camp, shore diving from Telegraph.
Mon - boat diving Broughton Strait area from Telegraph
Tue - boat diving Broughton Strait area from Telegraph
Wed - rest day. Shore diving from Telegraph.
Thurs - boat diving at Browning Pass past Port Hardy.
Fri - boat diving Broughton Strait area from Telegraph
Sat - pack up. Shore diving if desired. Departure.

The part I am not sure about is the Browning Pass day. I have yet to ask Lindsey if he is willing to get his boat up there for us. If he agrees, it may require an extra fuel surcharge for that particular day. Regardless, if he is agreeable this would be the cheapest route for us to dive Browning pass. Worst case scenario, we bail on a fourth day of diving with Lindsey if we need to get a charter up at Port Hardy and pay $600/day for the 3 days with Lindsey.

I need to know what everyone is willing to pay or wants to do, so I can give him the go to book his schedule. Personally, $50-60/person/day for 4 days of boat diving is a wicked deal (Erik can attest to this). If we end up with 11 or 12 on the boat then it is that much cheaper. All those who went last year know how sweet the boat diving was. I hope that know one is pissed at me for taking off and trying to arrange this, but it would be nice to have a plan of sorts. We got lucky last time last minute with finding a good boat set-up.

Give me your input.

lee

[efattah]

I am all up for the four days of boat diving. I like the schedule with the rest days.

The only challenge with Lindsey's setup is the lack of a bathroom on the boat -- we need to make sure that we at least have access to some partially shielded rocky area for a 'natural' bathroom -- because 10 hours in the wetsuit can be challenging to the point of discomfort, and the 10C water is too cold too take off your bottoms in the water if you need to go...


Anyway, count me for all of it.

I will make an effort, time & money permitting, to bring some extreme 'cold water freediving' food with us on the boat days. I can make up some of the most thermogenic food imagineable. I didn't bring any last year since I hadn't expected the cold conditions. I will also (hopefully) be diving in my electric wetsuit.

[Erik]

Good stuff Lee, those are great prices! Scuba boats and ficshing charters are much more expensive. Add the benefits of familiarity, no hassles about spearing, the captain's knowledge of the area, and convenience, it's all good in my book.
I'm in for that.
Erik

[Fondueset]

Eric,

Have you integrated led lights into your electric suit? You could cover the entire surface with them and probably skip carrying a flashlight for night dives - not to mention setting a new freediving fashion trend. The trick is to come up with a good scientific-sounding rationale.

[Amphibious]

Originally Posted by efattah

I can make up some of the most thermogenic food imagineable.

I too have been working on thermogenic food. I have yet to finalize a name for it, but the working title is "Black Bear Chilli". it is primarly exothermic in nature, with expansive qualities, and lends itself well to maintaining positive bouyancy


I'm game for the works Feign! good on ya!

still up in the air how much actual diving I'll be doing (some complications from last surgery to deal with yet) but I'll be there none the less.

[Fondueset]

Eric,

Can you share with us you ideas on thermogenic foods? I am currently in an excellent position to test them

I am still trying to 'imagineer' my way out there.

[Erik]

Colin no worries- we'll strap you to a 30 metre line with a 20kilo weight belt, throw you over the side for 2 minutes every so often. If you don't come up with fish then the dives get longer hahahaha!

Erik

[DeepRN]

Originally Posted by Erik

Colin no worries- we'll strap you to a 30 metre line with a 20kilo weight belt, throw you over the side for 2 minutes every so often. If you don't come up with fish then the dives get longer hahahaha!

ROFL - OMG he's not quite a quad, but that conjures up some encredibly funny images in my head!

Iceselkie and I are a GREEN LIGHT - ALL THE WAY. That's peanuts for boat access to pretty much anywhere, for four days!

good ground work!

[Amphibious]

Erik, I used to dive to 34m a lot in the gulf with a rope and a cinderblock, would be just like old times! you'll have to wear a thobe and gutra though, to complete the picture

good news from surgeon, just back from ontario, should be ready to slay come june

[Erik]

Erik of Arabia here... I'll wear that!
We should do some variable weight spearfishing! Love to do it and don't have call for it here in the prairies.
Erik

[Fondueset]

Canadian!!

Wow you guys! Woe that I'd discovered this sooner!!

[fleedermouse]

Anybody else having trouble with their browser missing this thread when you try to select it through the "Spearo Network" forums. The only way I can get to it is to do a search and select it that way.

[JPPLAY]

Originally Posted by fleedermouse

Anybody else having trouble with their browser missing this thread when you try to select it through the "Spearo Network" forums. The only way I can get to it is to do a search and select it that way.

I have had that problem too.