by Tyler Zetterstrom

I didn't feel very well today and the weather started off pretty nasty, so we did not go training today and yesterday the weather was nasty all day, so same thing. At noon today the weather was a little nicer and I decided to go out and do some FRC and equalizing practice.

Swimming out a little ways, I suddenly noticed a circular object, that at first my mind saw as a cloud of dirt, then a giant jellyfish the size of myself, and then I finally figured out that the circle was the clear spot of water created by my fin, as it swept an area of red algae away. The whole area below two feet had a one foot layer of red tide. I have never seen it during the beginning stages. It was beautiful, looming, scary, incredible, and haunting. It was like looking down upon the clouds of an alien planet. A teaming, drifting mass of neverending red cloud.

I swam out to the drum, to add some comfort to my psychologically challenged mind, deciding the chain would provide a reference to placate the imagination. Arriving at the drum, I turned about and immediately saw a seal swimming slowly towards me. I found my feet were already becomming cold, with a surface temperature of ten degrees celcius, due to cold rains over the past few days, and decided I had better get my training dives in quickly. The seal dove. I dove.

Passing through the dense layer of red algae, I still found myself in the haze of a lighter layer of red algae bloom. fifteen feet later I slide through, entering the clear green waters, passing numerous jellyfish on my way down the life covered chain. I notice numerous nudibranchs have joined the excitement of Deep Stronghold. Looking down the chain, I am headed straight for another layer, this time consisting of forms resembling white gaseous strands. Breaking through this layer, I see these strands scattered haphazardly everywhere. Shortly afterwards there is another such distinct layer.

I have frequented Deep Stronghold so often, yet this day I found myself drawn into the imagination of being an entity capable of moving through space, passing through gas nebulae, witnessing the atmospheres of alien planets, and clearly distinguishing the formations of galaxies, drifting every so slowly upon the fabric of the universe. The resemblance was unmistakable and fascinating.

Returning to the mission at hand, I returned to the surface, revisiting the path through space-time. Shortly after surfacing, I see the seal pop up, further away and begin swimming towards me. I suddenly see another seal much closer, and then another. They all give me curious looks and begin diving. I dive. I follow the chain and do the journey once again. Before the first white layer, a seal comes into view, cutting along the chain fifteen meters below me. He looks at me briefly and then seems to decide I am a threat, and promptly plummets down the chain. I have a destination, just happens to be in the same direction as the seals heading. Ten meters later I see the seal again, and we repeat the encounter, this time the seal seemingly more certain to put a greater distance between us. I return to the surface.

After a series of training dives, as such, I decide to tend to my cold feet, and set out for the arm-stroke swim to shore. Arriving at shore, I remove my monofin and decide to do a few no-fin dives, with the slight intention of possibly finding a crab for dinner. I find my feet warming up and feeling comfortable after a few dives. I follow the shoreline down an area that I have dove along, time and time again. Upon reaching the bottom on my fourth dive, I see something unusual... a pile of dungeness crab shells at the base of a boulder. I have spotted scatterings of shells often at the bottom of these boulders but never full crab shells.

I maneuver myself to get a closer look. Sure enough I see a burrowing under the boulder, the mouth of which is the tragic location of crab remains. Moving quickly to look into the burrow, I see some movement and excitement fills me at the wonder of whether it will be the creature I so wish it to be. Peering in the dark opening, I can see a tentacle that has rests on the right and closer to the opening. It is an octopus, and a large one at that, judging from the thickness of its tentacle and the size of the suction cups.

I return to the surface and remembering that I brought my light for once, I turn it on and plunge back down. This time I get a good look at the host of the small den. The octopus rests with its side facing me and his eye shut. The thick tentacles are wrapped around, all throughout the den, and things look pretty cramped in there. Maybe this is a product of crab gluttony! As well on successive dives this wonderous creature, remains settled in his den, not a care in the world to demonstrate a thread of hospitality toward my company. Anyhow, I was very pleased to make its acquaintance and no matter how many times I see these creatures, their characteristics continues to draw my wonder; their textured skin, ability to change color, jet propulsion, suction action of tentacles, crab crunching jaws, and shape shifting feats, to name some. It strikes me as incredulous that so many have only thought of these creatures as nothing more than a great catch for dinner. I can not help but believe they are missing out on a wonderous perspective and experience. Or maybe it is just because I have drifted through space and time, to be one of the few that can see these mysterious aliens, for what they are. Whatever it is, I had my share of aliens and space today.

Well this just about completes my list of notorious creatures to see in British Columbia while diving, and quite suprisingly, this, I have seen all in but a little side pocket of BC, here in Tahsis.

Tyler Zetterstrom