Browning Pass is known world wide as one of the most desirable destinations for scuba diving, and it easily lives up to these claims! As an avid cold water diver and photographer, I have been fortunate to explore throughout the many islands, and inlets along the coasts of BC, and even up into the Bering Sea. When the opportunity to dive the infamous waters of Browning Pass came up, I couldn’t believe my luck! Needless to say my expectations were high, but nothing could have prepared me for the reality. As the visibility cleared around 60 ft, I was greeted with vibrant walls covered in a kaleidoscope of colours, and teeming with an abundance of species that call this paradise home. A juvenile wolf eel quickly greeted me, emerging from a crack in the sheer wall and and I watched as it’s long eel-like body (it’s actually a fish) twisted around anemones and sponges, before heading to depth and out of my reach. I could easily have spent the entire dive in a small area, and never run out of interesting creatures to photograph, as they continue about their rhythmic life, competing for the best spots amongst the crowded wall. Breathtaking. Humbling. A dream come true. The walls here in Browning Pass are an assault on the senses, it’s tough to take it all in!
Although these waters are known for rich biodiversity, it is becoming increasingly rare to find areas that have appeared to escape the impacts of humans. In these small areas of ocean where time seems to stand still, it is hard to imagine that the future of these beautiful areas is uncertain. With the changing climate and increasing pressures from humans, who knows what these areas may look like in a few decades? I try to take every opportunity to experience these underwater paradises while I can, and look for ways to reduce my impact, while giving back to the oceans that I love so much. This was the first dive into a lifelong relationship with this small part of British Columbian waters, and I know its beauty will have me returning again and again.
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