Our first impression when arriving on site is wow what a great location. Right in Departure Bay, close to shore with all the amenities the city of Nanaimo has to offer. A stones throw from Ocean Explorers Dive center, you can be on site in 10-15 minutes from their dock.

The next thing we saw was what looked like a great boarding party of pirates, crabs big and small, pillaging the vessel for all the nibblies they could find. Barnacles galore were providing a smorgasbord of sea food like these guys had never seen before. Looking around you really get a good impression of the beam on this vessel, at some 30 feet it looms above you when looking down the keel. After a few photo ops, we headed up the starboard side to join another boarding party of Sea star and  sea urchin. Many of these guys were up on the gunnels and rub rails surveying the deck before leaping on board. Viz was an easy 40 to 50ft as you could see clear across the vessel and all the way forward to the amidships stack and wheel house. We swam a circuit around the main deck, peeking in all the wonderful access holes and hold areas.

 Summary: A really great dive, lots of bottom time, safe swim throughs and penetrations, Do not enter unless your certified, remember your wreck reels and lights. Although we did not penetrate it looks like there are lots of places to explore, including engine room, wheel house, crew quarters or mess, amidships and the hold aft. It was very cool to see a fresh wreck, clean and silent in the depths. It won't stay this way long though, the boarding parties are working around the clock, picking the best accommodation while it's still available. Dive it soon dive it often, and support the Nanaimo Dive Association, Ocean explorers, and the other dive operators that have made this possible !!!! Thanks Again !

A note in passing, some of you have asked, this is not a shore dive. It's on the New Castle Island side of the harbour, and although you could do a shore dive from New Castle, you would have to get there with your gear, I am not sure what the trails are like but it is about 4 km to the dive site from the foot passenger only ferry (May to Sept.). New Castle Island, is a park so we will all want to be aware of our impact on this lovely spot . Even if you are a champion swimmer It is a way to busy harbour entrance to swim across, from the main island. Airplanes and boats coming and going frequently would be a significant risk. Give Ocean Explorers, Sundown or any of the other Dive operators in the area a call to get you there.