Barkley Sound

Description

Barkley Sounds sites on the West coast of Vancouver Island.

There are not too many places in the world where you can easily expect 100+ vizibility, colorful living walls, friendly playful wolfeels, intense invertebrate life, and maybe top off the day by diving with a large six gill shark! Although not as much invertebrate life exists in Barkley Sound as apposed to Port Hardy, expect to find huge schools of fishes and a plethora of never dove dive sites. Pristine, is the word to describe Barkley Sound.

These are the dive sites that Parker visited:

	Choose a Barkley Sound Dive Site Review Tyler Rock Kyen Pinnacle Wreck of the VanLeen Surprise Reef Hayden Passage - Hayden Wall Hayden Passage - South Marker Sony Pinnacle Wreck of the Nika - The Fish Bowl

Location

Directions from Seattle donated by Jeff Rosenfeld (jeffrose@cks.ssd.k12.wa.us)

Basically, you take I-5 to the border. I-5 then turns into Canadian Highway 1. You take it for about 10-15 miles, excuse me 20km (you're in Canada now...) and get off at the exit for the Tsawassen Ferry. I think it's exit 20, but just follow the signs to the Tsawassen Ferry Terminal. Check out their page at http://www.bcferries.bc.ca/index.html for schedules, rates, and other info.

You'll want to take the Ferry to Namaimo (Duke Point Ferry Terminal). It's a 2 hour crossing. You'll want to arrive at least 30-45 minutes early.

Once you are off the Tswwassen to Duke Ferry, follow the signage that takes you to Campbell River. Highway 19. Do not turn into Parksville....stay on the highway. There will be a sign that says "Port Alberni". This will take you on an off ramp and you will soon be on a two lane highway only. Follow the road past Cameron Lake, MacMillan's Catherdral Grove and up and over the mountain and in to Port Alberni. Follow the sign that says "Port Alberni and Bamfield".

Comments

I had 5 wonder days of diving with Exta Sea Charters. I stayed on the boat, the Sea Venturer. Captain Al is by far one of the very *best* in the industry and the crew was very relaxed, and the acommodations acceptable. The boat is the featured picture on this page.

You arrive in Port Alberni the night before you set sail. You'll check-in with the boat crew than proceed to one of the local establishments for some fairwell grub n booze and BS. Hop on the boat that evening and away you go in the morning. All dive gear was kept on a 22' skiff, the Dive BC, pictured below.

As diving goes, it doesn't get any easier than this. You toss your drysuit on in the big boat, hop on the skiff and into your gear. The skiff takes you to the sight and than "YOU GO NOW". After the dive, you waddle on up to the side of the boat where the crew takes off your weight belt and fins and you motate on up the ladder on into the skiff. Repeat this process 3-4 times a day. Ahhhh, what a life!

Barkley Sound Charters

Most, if not all of the diving offered in Barkley Sound is either through liveaboards or local dive charters. We highly recommend Exta Sea Charters. It's the only way to go.