Saltery Bay near the city of Powell River: Scuba Diving Pictures

Alberthead Lagoon in Metchosin, B.C.
Bear Cove in Port Hardy, B.C.
Bob's Spot in the Plumper Island Group, B.C.
Braemar Ave in North Saanich, B.C.
Breakwater Island near Gabriola Pass, B.C.
Browning Passage near Port Hardy, B.C.
Browning Wall near Port Hardy, B.C.
China Creek near Port Alberni, B.C.
Clover Point in Victoria, B.C.
Copper Cliffs near Campbell River, B.C.
Daphne Islet near Brentwood Bay
Deep Cove near Sidney, B.C.
Discovery Island near Victoria, B.C.
Dolphin Beach near Nanoose Bay, B.C.
Elliot's Beach Park in Ladysmith, B.C.
Five Fathom near Port Hardy, B.C.
Forest Island (north end) near Sidney, B.C.
GB Church [ship to reef] near Sidney, B.C.
Gowland Point on South Pender Island, B.C.
Henderson Point near Sidney, B.C.
Madrona Point in Nanaimo, B.C.
Maple Bay near Duncan, B.C.
McKenzie Bight near Victoria, B.C.
McNeill Point aka Kitty Islet in Victoria, B.C.
Neck Point in Nanaimo, B.C.
Northeast Pearse Wall, Telegraph Cove, B.C.
Ogden Point in Victoria, B.C.
Porteau Cove Marine Park, B.C.
Port McNeil, B.C.
Rocky Point in Nanaimo, B.C.
Row & Be Damned near Campbell River, B.C.
Saltery Bay near Powell River,B.C.
Saxe Point in Esquimalt, B.C.
Sidney, B.C.
Ten Mile Point in Victoria, B.C.
Wall Beach near Nanoose Bay, B.C.
Whytecliff Park near Vancouver, B.C.
Willis Point near Sidney, B.C.

International
Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, USA
Kaui - an Island of Hawaii, USA
Aquatic but Non-Marine Life
Vancouver Island, B.C.

Scuba Diving Pictures from Saltery Bay near Powell River, B.C. Canada
These are medium quality jpegs. But I have the RAW images as well.
Email tjfidler@telus.net
Directions to this dive site can be found at the bottom of this page.
Type of dive: shore dive / boat dive
Rating for this dive site: 7/10 as could use more variety of life, but water is usually clear and a safe dive location
Parking: 7/10 near the Mermaid, and 10/10 at boat launch
Bathroom/Washroom/Toilet: Portable toilet near parking lot
Boat ramp: yes at the main parking lot for fishing boats
Ease of entry: 9/10 [Wheel chair access: At the Mermaid the best wheel chair access I have ever seen, boat launch area can be used by wheel chairs]
Abundance of life: 7/10
Attractions: clear water for the times I've been here, Chimaera in the shallows - best seen at night
Accommodations: There are several places in Powell River that you could find lodging at. Including Inns, Motels and Bed & Breakfasts.
Bottom and depth: lots of solid rock at Mermaid, with mixed rock mostly sand near the boat launch.
Facilities: washrooms
Hazards/Obstacles: some boat traffic
Sensitivity to tide/current: curent and tide do not seem to be an issue here
Terrain: mostly sandy with some rock and odd boulder near boat launch, solid rock near the mermaid
Tides, transportation and weather: Fisheries and Oceans Canada Tide Page., BC Ferries Schedule and Sailings. , The Weather Network

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The following images are thumbnails. If you click on them a larger image will open up and the picture will take up most of your screen. Again these are medium qualifty jpegs. Higher quality images can be purchased directly from me via paypal using my email address tjfidler@telus.net And many of these photos can be found for sale on Cafepress through the Calendar link and Photo CD link .

A few people have already asked me about "What is that pink stuff on the rocks in some of the pictures?" Well, they're usually Pink Rock Crust (aka Encrusting Coralline Algae) or in some cases might even be Encrusting Hydrocorals. They're eaten by a variety of animals - apparently as a good source of calcium.


The main parking lot and boat launch for Saltery Bay. This is actually the 2nd entrance when you arrive via the ferry. The first entry into Saltery Bay actually takes you to the overnight camping and Mermaid access.	The main place to dive here is unfortuneately straight down from the boat launch. If you follow it out, or take the buoy down, it puts you near a series of small and large boulders.

The other end of Saltery Bay and the Mermaid - one emergency vehicle - parking lot. Across from this parking lot are showers for divers, and an outhouse.	One of the few places that I know that has a real wheel chair access for divers. The Mermaid is just past the point on the left. See the next image for where the buoy is. About a 5 minute swim out from the wheel chair ramp.

Panoramic view of where the Mermaid is located. The red cirlce indicates the buoy that brings you within 30 feet of her. Click on the image for a larger picture.

Me and the Mermaid. She's looking a little rough due to the Calcareous Tube Worms making tubes on her.

Cephalopods

Pacific Giant Octopus. (October 8, 2006)
I did not try, and it did not volunteer to come out of its den for a better photograph.

Crustaceans


Blackeyed Hermit Crab (October 8, 2006)	Prawn (October 7, 2006)

Puget Sound King Crab (October 8, 2006)	Puget Sound King Crab (October 8, 2006)

Puget Sound King Crab (October 8, 2006) The teeth on these animals are oriented vertically. And consist of just two big teeth. Shaped almost like the large wire cutters. Not the kind that look like scissors, but instead like the kind that close like tongs.


Chimaera [aka Ratfish] (October 7, 2006) This photo can be found on the marine-life calendar 2009 for Fishes of the Pacific Northwest. North America 2009 Calendar v01	Longfin Sculpin near some Yellow Boring Sponge (October 8, 2006)

Ling Cod (October 8, 2006)	Northern Ronquil (October 8, 2006)

Northern Ronquil (October 8, 2006)	Painted Greenling (October 8, 2006)

Quillback Rockfish (October 8, 2006)	Quillback Rockfish (October 8, 2006)

Quillback Rockfish (October 8, 2006) These fish are fairly easy to photograph as unlike many fish they seem to be almost curious about divers.	Yelloweye Rockfish (October 8, 2006) This image can be found on the ocean-life calendar 2009 for Fishes of the Pacific Northwest. North America 2009 Calendar v01

Yelloweye Rockfish (October 8, 2006)


Moon Snail (October 8, 2006)	Sea Lemon [?] (October 8, 2006)


Giant Plumose Anemones (October 8, 2006)	Crimson Anemone (October 8, 2006)

Giant Plumose Anemones and a Vermilion Star (October 8, 2006)	Giant Plumose Anemones (October 8, 2006)

Tube Dwelling Anemones (October 8, 2006)


Rose Star (October 8, 2006)	Cushion Star (October 8, 2006)

Long Ray Star (October 8, 2006)	Painted Star (October 8, 2006)

Painted Star & Tube Dwelling Anemone (October 8, 2006)	Sea Cucumber (October 8, 2006)

Spiny Mud Star (October 8, 2006)	Spiny Pink Star (October 8, 2006)

Swimming Anemone (October 8, 2006) This photo also appears on the ocean-life calendar 2009 for Underwater Life of the Pacific Northwest. North America 2009 Calendar v03	Swimming Anemone (October 8, 2006)

Juvenile Sunflower Star (October 8, 2006)	Vermilion Star (October 8, 2006)

Vermilion Star - seems to be bloated with food (October 8, 2006)