Diving in Vancouver - Part I
Posted By Christopher Chin on 16 August 2005
We barely made it to the mouth of the cut when it was time to turn based on our dive plan. The gentle slope affords a wonderful opportunity to ascend slowly and review the dive in reverse. On the way back, amidst the sunflower stars, I found a lone (although not small by any means) morning sunstar. I could almost hear Marisa Tomei telling Joe Pesci “Oh Yeah. You blend.”
After the dives, I packed up my gear, and headed over to neighboring Horseshoe Bay to catch the ferry to Nanaimo, where I would continue my adventure, and explore some of the famous wrecks in the area.
With 35 vessels and 25 routes, British Columbia boasts one of the largest ferry systems in the world. One of the most popular routes is the one I was about to take between Vancouver and Nanimo. The larger ships employed along this route are absolutely enormous at 560 in length (picture two football fields end to end). While these enormous ships can carry 2100 passengers and nearly 500 vehicles, reservations are a must if you’re planning to travel by car between Vancouver Island and the mainland on a Friday, Sunday, or at the end of a holiday weekend.
Reservations can be made online, or by telephone, and cost $15 in addition to the regular fare. These reservations are non-refundable and only valid for the specified sailing time, so it’s important to plan ahead. Reservations sell out quickly as they only account for 30% of the ship’s capacity. The rest of the ferry is filled on a first come first served basis… and believe me, there will be plenty of people ahead of you.
It’s not uncommon to wait in line for four or five hours, and many local passengers can tell you about the time they waited six or more hours. Apparently, this is such a “normal” expectation that a culture has developed around it. You’ll see people breaking out lawn chairs and picnicking in the parking lot of waiting vehicles. While this is fascinating and social in its own right, take my advice and reserve a spot for a sailing you’re confident you can make. If you’re done diving early, you can relax at a nearby pub or restaurant and then hop in your car and drive over when it’s time. As you zip past the miles (no exaggeration) of cars in line, you’ll realize that those were the best $15 you ever spent.
Editors Note: Join us next week for Part II of this piece exploring Diving around Vancouver
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