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Sports & Recreation Scuba & Snorkeling

Snorkelling Adventures Around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands

The Ultimate Guide

by (author) Sara Ellison

Publisher
Harbour Publishing Co. Ltd.
Initial publish date
Mar 2023
Category
Scuba & Snorkeling, Marine Life, Western Provinces
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781990776151
    Publish Date
    Mar 2023
    List Price
    $26.95

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Description

The very first guidebook written just for snorkellers exploring these unique ecosystems.

The chilly waters surrounding Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are rich in colourful and diverse marine life. Scuba divers have long been aware of this submarine cornucopia, and Jacques Cousteau himself recognized the Pacific Northwest as one of the world’s premier temperate diving destinations. But scuba diving is an elite hobby, requiring training and costly equipment, and consequently is accessible only to a relatively small number of people.

Snorkelling is an affordable alternative to scuba diving, and you don’t have to go deep to see the wonders of the Pacific. Within the top few metres of our local waters you can find spectacular nudibranchs, rainbow-hued anemones, dozens of sea star species and myriad nautical wonders. But unlike tropical snorkelling, where you simply have to strap on a mask and fins and dive in, snorkelling on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands poses a number of logistical conundrums to the beginner. How to stay warm in the frigid North Pacific? When to snorkel, given the tides, currents and weather patterns of our island habitat? And just what exactly is that strange-looking critter?

Whether for a family outing, a beginner’s trip or an expedition for the seasoned marine adventurer, this innovative guidebook has detailed descriptions of more than fifty destinations, including how to get there, which species one is likely to encounter, and how to stay warm and safe while making the most of every experience.

About the author

Sara Ellison is a professional astrophysicist and a significant leader in the cosmology field. She is also an avid sportswoman, triathlete and world traveller. She lives in Victoria, BC.

Sara Ellison's profile page

Editorial Reviews

“Unlike anything else available, this richly illustrated book is written with enormous knowledge gained from considerable research and countless experiences in Vancouver Island waters. In writing that is engaging and often funny, Sara Ellison complements fascinating information about animal and plant life with just about every practical tip imaginable.”

Theo Dombrowski, author of <i>Secret Beaches of the Salish Sea</i>