Octopus Release: Sherlock
In the summer of 2024, the Bellingham Marine Life Center released their Giant Pacific Octopus (GPO) named Sherlock 🐙 back into the wild. Sherlock, who was caught off of Smith Island as bycatch, was returned to the waters southwest of Bellingham by volunteers from the Port of Bellingham and the Life Center. I was joined by two of my fellow local volunteer divers who helped bring Sherlock back to the waters he had been out of for the last 3 months. Working with Sherlock was amazing, he was quite photogenic and curious right up to the end before we had to say goodby.
Octopus Release: Opal
In 2023, the Bellingham Marine Life Center released their Giant Pacific Octopus, Opal 🐙, back to the wild, where she was first found in the Salish Sea. I, along with my fellow volunteer divers from Gone Diving, were on board to help return her home and capture her release for the Port of Bellingham and the Life Center.
HCMS Annapolis
The Annapolis is located in Halkett Bay Marine Provincial Park. It is home to just one of the five artificial reefs created by the non-profit society Artificial Reef Society of BC (ARSBC). The ARSBC, driven by volunteers and based in Vancouver BC, strategically establishes artificial reefs to help strengthen the natural habitat within the waters of British Columbia and supports divers in making it a destination dive site.
Divers doing good
Every dive is a clean up dive, but with the help of my dive partner Andy, in 2023 we organized a clean up in partnership with Gone Diving dive shop, and Bellingham Parks & Rec. So, what can 11 divers pull out of just a small section of Lake Samish? You might be surprised…
