The fantastic diving afforded by these current-swept passes is limitless, although not always accessible.

Dodd Narrows
by Doug Pemberton

One by one the family of California sea lions interrupted their snoozing and barked their disapproval as we cruised by only a few metres away. Usually an opportunity to get close to large marine mammals would not be missed and we would have loved to stay a while but, in this case, the sea lions would have to wait. Our dive could not.

The coast of British Columbia is protected by a rugged maze of islands stretching from Alaska to Washington state. During tidal ebbs and flows, water surges through the narrow channels that separate them, fostering an amazing pyramid of marine life from small invertebrates to large whales.

The fantastic diving afforded by these current-swept passes is limitless, although not always accessible. But there are a few special areas around the southern Gulf Islands that offer some of the best current diving in the province.

For more on diving Dodd Narrows pick up a copy of the March issue of DIVER Magazine.