Jan. 16, 2011 Gabriola Pass photos

[MarkH]

index
I also did a dive later in the day at Orlebar Point, where the visibility was even better, but my camera flash wasn't working (when I replaced the batteries a connection was loose) so I didn't get any decent photos.

 

[jeckyll]

Nice photos as always.

 

[mustang_5l]

I can't access them! I get a forbidden message

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /gabriolapass3.html on this server.
Additionally, a 403 Forbidden error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

 

[MarkH]

My whole site seems to be down. It happens sometimes. It'll be back up eventually hopefully.

 

[MarkH]

Apparently they said the hard drives on the server or whatever went down and recent files were lost so I re-uploaded them. It should work now. gabriolapass3

 

[mustang_5l]

Whoo Hoo! Pics are back up!!

 

[DaleC]

Hi Mark,
Do you know the road you took and were you near Dengen bay or Drumbeg? I have done several dives in Drumbeg and one in Dengen (and Descanso to the north) but none in what I would call "open" water. I'm always solo and a little chicken about going for a ride to Saltspring.
What do you think of Orlebar for current? I try to imagine where you put in (when standing on the scenic lookout) but it looks very exposed to me.
Comments?

 

[MarkH]

Hi Mark,
Do you know the road you took and were you near Dengen bay or Drumbeg? I have done several dives in Drumbeg and one in Dengen (and Descanso to the north) but none in what I would call "open" water. I'm always solo and a little chicken about going for a ride to Saltspring.
What do you think of Orlebar for current? I try to imagine where you put in (when standing on the scenic lookout) but it looks very exposed to me.
Comments?

I park at the end of Stalker Road, which is the Western boundary of Drumbeg Park. I swim out to the right about 150-180 meters into the narrowest part of Gabriola Pass. Just a reminder to people wanting to try this: There can be 8-9 knots of current here.

As for Orlebar, I've only done maybe 4 dives here and I don't bother timing it to any current table. I've been warned about current here, but I've never felt a whole lot. I have felt some in the shallows, but not on the wall. I'm sure there are people with more experience with this site who can say for sure. I go in right at the point (near the memorial plaque) and swim straight out towards Entrance Island. I'd say the wall starts about 100 meters out.

 

[DaleC]

Hey look out Mark! There's a boat comin through that pass.

 

[Skookumchuck]

Are you thinking of mounting an expedition Dale? Count me in if you are. I did my open water certification dives at Drumbeg and Orlebar Point. I'm sure it was because the new instructor wanted to check them out. When he sent his divemaster out at Drumbeg to set a flag in twenty feet of water for skills, the poor guy was near swept away. We ended up practicing in water barely deep enough to submerge. Next day, after much socializing at the Grasshopper Pub, we'd barely reached twentyfive feet when my near terminal headache was releaved by my buddies panicked emergency accent. I though I'd wasted quite a bit of money before the fourth and final dive got myself and the divemaster out on the wall at Orlebar and hooked me.