Cold Water Wonders at God's Pocket Resort

Port Hardy, BC, Canada

BP
Blue Planet Scuba
  • Email address verified
155 reviews
Sep 14 - 20, 2024
Group size: 11 - 11
Cold Water Wonders at God's Pocket Resort
Port Hardy, BC, Canada

Blue Planet Scuba
  • Email address verified
155 reviews

Sep 14 - 20, 2024
Group size: 11 - 11

About this trip

Join Blue Planet for our second adventure diving the cooler waters of the Pacific Northwest! Everyone had such an incredible time in 2022 that we couldn't wait to get back again. Experience raw, unfiltered Canadian nature and explore Browning Pass and see its incredible marine life! 

God's Pocket & Browning Pass 

This little slice of divers' heaven sits in a small cove on Hurst Island, a wooded wonderland in British Columbia. The area is known for cold, green water and strong currents which sustain prolific marine life of all kinds -- varieties of fish, huge anemones, urchins, crabs, sea stars and all manner of nudibranchs. Plus wolf eels, Giant Pacific octopus, sea lions and more! We'll swim through kelp forests and along walls absolutely covered in life. It's a photographer's paradise both below and above water. 

The Diving

Minimum dive certification/experience: Divers should be experienced in diving in cold water, current, and in their drysuits. Divers are required to have a minimum of 100 total dives and a minimum of 50 of those dives in cold water/drysuit diving. Enriched Air/Nitrox certification also required. Most of the diving along walls with free ascents and descents, currents, variable visibility, etc.


God’s Pocket does not offer an in-water guide so divers should be comfortable with independent diving planning after a thorough dive briefing from the knowledgeable crew. Some of our dives can only be safely experienced at slack tide which changes time every day, and some will be drift dives. We do not use reef hooks.


The first dive of the trip is always done in a protected and shallow bay with a soft bottom so guests can check out their gear, weights and get comfortable with our systems. The Captains and dive crew are very experienced and know our dive sites intimately, they will plan your dives for the best conditions at the time so you can enjoy the very best Browning Passage and the surrounding area has to offer!
 

We'll have 5 full days of diving with the opportunity to go out on 3 boat dives daily. Dives are typically 45 minutes to an hour long to match the slack tides, and when you’re done you’ll be hoisted up on the boat's dive elevator without having to take off a single fin.
 

Our package include the use of a 85 cubic foot LP steel tank and weights. All other gear you'll need to bring with you, including a dive computer and SMB. Nitrox (32%) is also included. 

Other Activities

If you have time between diving, there's kayaking, hiking, shore walks and wildlife viewing, including whale watching. Or curl up with a book and relax in the sun. 

God's Pocket Resort

God's Pocket Resort, operating for over 25 years, is a land-based diving location for cold-water divers of all levels. Accessible only by boat, it is a secluded wilderness spot surrounded by forested islands and the waterways of the Queen Charlotte Strait. Divers come to God’s Pocket to see and experience beautiful things in their natural settings, from whales and dolphins to tiny sculpins and tube worms.
 

Nestled in a protected bay, this rustic resort is immersed in nature. You will have access to National Geographic-style experiences, while enjoying a cozy space with a warm shower in every room and a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Their cook makes three healthy meals a day to keep you rejuvenated during your stay. There are heated, double occupancy bedrooms with an ensuite bathroom.  

Travel

It is recommended to fly into Vancouver (YVR) and then fly to Port Hardy (YZT) on Pacific Coastal Airlines. (Or you can drive from Victoria or Nanaimo.) An overnight may be required in Vancouver or Port Hardy to ensure we make the 4pm boat to the resort on September 14th. Same goes for the 9am return on September 20th. We'll share more details as we get closer to the trip dates. Please email or call the shop before booking any flights!   

Cancellation Policy

Upon cancellation of a reservation for any reason, the refund of the deposit and payments made or due will be contingent upon Blue Planet reselling the participant's reservation. Any refund may also be subject to a $250 cancellation fee and payment of any non-refundable fees imposed by the tour company, dive operator or any other contractor associated with the trip. 


Dive accident insurance is required for all divers on this trip. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your vacation investment. Contact us if you need more information. 

What’s included

  • 6 nights accommodation
    Double occupancy
  • 15 boat dives
    5 days of diving with 3 dives a day
  • Night dive in the bay
    Weather permitting
  • Nitrox
    Proof of certification required
  • All meals
    On-site at the resort
  • Taxes, etc.
    All taxes

What’s not included

  • Flights
    flights to Vancouver or Port Hardy
  • Scuba equipment
    Only tanks and weights included; rental gear available from Blue Planet
  • Tips
    Tips for the resort's excellent crew

Available Packages

Double Occupancy
Deposit:C$1,000
Sold Out

*Please note pricing is in Canadian dollars. Credit Card is the only payment option.* Double occupancy in room with 2 beds or 1 queen bed. Each room includes an en-suite bathroom. 

C$3,895
Deposit:C$1,000

Itinerary

Saturday
Arrival at the resort

We'll meet the resort staff in Port Hardy before 4pm to load our gear onto the dive boat and make our way to the resort. Once there, we'll settle in and have a hearty dinner and prepare for some fantastic diving!

Your Organizer


BP
Blue Planet Scuba
155 reviews
Blue Planet is a different kind of scuba diving organization — aimed at providing the best education and experiences to divers in the Washington, DC area and beyond, while harnessing the excitement and adventure of scuba diving to help protect our fragile oceans.

Reviews

This was our fourth trip with Blue Planet and it was another great one! They do such a wonderful job of handling all the trip logistics and picking out excellent dive shops. The local St. Lucian dive crew was one of the best we've had!
By Alan W for St Lucia: Coral Spawning Magic on Sep 06, 2024
JR
Had a great time diving with Blue Planet and Anse Chastanet dive crew. First time night diving and seeing 🐙!
By Jennifer R for St Lucia: Coral Spawning Magic on Sep 03, 2024
AM
Another great trip with Blue Planet! BP worked with the Aggressor office and the boat staff to ensure our safety during Hurricane Beryl. All guests were safe and we had a great time inland. Anthony provided a clear outline of next steps and options.
By Andy M for July 4th on the Belize Aggressor III on Jul 08, 2024
SF
This was my first livaboard experience, and the crew of the Aggressor III went above and beyond all expectations to ensure we had a great time in spite of having to put us ashore early on account of Hurricane Beryl. The diving was moderately challenging for me, forcing me to contend with some surface current, without seeming overwhelming. It forced me be more thoughtful and aware of what was happening, in order to anticipate the movement of the boat and get back aboard smoothly. After three days of excellent diving, including the Great Blue Hole, and other dive sites, during which I completed my Deep Specialty Certification, and encountered sharks for the first time, the captain was compelled to take us to shore by the Belizian government. There they set us up to shelter in a hotel in the Belizian highlands, along with two excellent crewmembers, Terrilyn and Ruth as well as a tour bus driver who proved the be especially knowledgeable about Mayan archeology. Our dive trip transformed into a jungle exploration trip! With the plan having been rendered irrelevant by present circumstances, the ship's crew members and the driver became not just staff taking care of us, but valuable team members for helping us navigate Belize. Ruth in particular proved excellent having grown up in the area where we sheltered. As the weather situation evolved, we set out into the jungle and went zip lining, explored the ecological richness of the Belizian wetlands and rivers, and admired Mayan ruins from afar. Adventures often do not go according to plan and the crew of the Aggressor III proved to be exceptional in their ability to adapt to uncertain and rapidly changing circumstances. In the course of doing so they provided us with what I would argue was a more rich experience than I suspect we'd have had if we'd only dove the whole time. Future liveaboard crews will have a difficult time exceeding the adaptability demonstrated by the Aggressor III's crew on this trip. I will miss them.
By Sarah F for July 4th on the Belize Aggressor III on Jul 08, 2024
MT
This trip was nothing but amazing! From the dive sites, the crew, and the fellow travel mates. Everything was well executed and such a seamless process. Definitely looking forward to my next trip with Blue Planet.
By Marie T for Maldives Liveaboard Adventure! on Jun 05, 2024
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References

Blue planet is absolutely spectacular - I try to go on at least one trip a year with them! They've taught me everything I know about diving and show incredible care and dedication to their divers. The trips are absolutely incredible; I wish it was possible to rate them six stars instead of five! I cannot recommend them highly enough and intend to keep diving with them for years to come.
By Rachel D on 25 Aug, 2024