On July 26, several members of the Vancouver Apneist Club took the 7:00 am ferry to Victoria to dive the Ogden Point breakwater. There we were joined by several other divers from Victoria and Saltspring Island. In all, we had 16 freedivers in the water, It was the biggest turnout for a freediving event that we've had in years.
In a way, it's funny that the breakwater was such a big destination event. When I was growing up in Victoria going to the breakwater was no big deal. It was the default dive spot when we couldn't think of any better place to go. Compared to our regular diving in Howe Sound though, the Ogden Point breakwater is an amazing dive site. The main attractions are the granite steps and the adjacent kelp forest. Also, since the site is relatively close to the open pacific, the visibility at surface is relatively good, even in summer. But it does get pretty cold.
Another thing that I really like about the breakwater is that it is an excellent spot for beginners. There are lots of things to see without even having to leave the surface, including chitons, gooseneck barnacles and of course the kelp forest. It's also easy enough to get in or out at any point along the breakwater.
On this trip, most of us walked out to the very end of the breakwater before getting in. We worked our way slowly back to shore, playing in the kelp forest and taking photos. You can see my photos below, along with a YouTube video that I've compiled from the day.
Brent, Andisheh, Greg and Manfred Ready to go
Sean Smith nears the end of the breakwater
Andisheh, Greg and Annette getting ready to jump in
