Wet and Wild at Whytecliff Park

Lets go diving (and snorkeling)!

Start the summer how you wish to go on! For VQD that means diving and snorkeling!

We will be meeting at 11:30, with low tide at 12:24 pm. There should be no current while more of the underwater structure should be shallow and visible while snorkeling on the surface.

Scuba divers and freedivers are welcome also! We will split up into buddy groups and explore the under water world! You are also welcome to just hang out at the beach and stay dry! We won't judge!

Scuba divers are likely to only have time for 1 full tank dive, before everyone else is cold and leaving the water. If you want to complete another dive afterwards, we recommend you bring a willing buddy (or find one on our Discord).

After we are all content with the ocean time we might hang out and have a picnic together, weather allowing.

What will I need?

Late April we expect temperatures of around 10 degrees in the water.

You will need the following kit:

Wetsuit/Drysuit with Hood - we recommend at least 4/5mm wetsuit for snorkelers and freedivers, and at least 6.5mm 2-piece for Scuba Divers. You can purchase or rent a hood if you don't have one. Cold-tolerant snorkelers might get away with a 3/4 wetsuit.

Gloves and Socks/Boots - 5mm at least recommended

Mask and Snorkel - Any will suffice. On a budget you could use swimming goggles and a nose-clip in place of a mask for snorkeling.

Fins - Fins are recommended for getting around and safety

What can I rent?

For snorkellers and freedivers, we recommend the following rental packages:

Diving Locker Freediving Package - $60 - fins, 8mm wetsuit \w hood, 5mm gloves. You will need to buy socks, mask and snorkel

Diving Sports Freediving Package - $56 - fins, 7mm wetsuit \w hood, mask. You will need to buy socks, gloves and snorkel.

The freediving packages also include weights, but you can leave those if you don't plan to dive underneath the surface.

Rowands Reef Wetsuit Rental - $30 for 6.5mm 2 piece wetsuit. Hood and gloves rented separately for $10 each. Neoprene boots availabe to rent for $10. You will need to buy mask and snorkel.

Rowands Reef can rent 5mm neoprene boots for $10 which can help you avoid buying neoprene socks. Additionally IDC can rent Personal Gear Package (Boots, Glove & Fins) for $22.

Ocean Pro Divers in Surrey can rent mask and snorkel for $20.

All dive shops in metro-vancouver rent drysuits, tanks and all scuba gear.

Dive shops will want you to come over and get measured up for the rental kit prior to renting on the day of the event.

Discounts

Our Discord server has a whole section on gear rentals in metro vancouver with lots of recommendations and advice. We additionally have some discount codes at local shops (including some of the ones listed above). We will mail these out closer to the date to folks signing up for the event, but you can access them earlier on our Discord.

Quality of life gear and advice?

Sandals/crocks/flip-flops - these can be worn over your wetsuit socks, preventing you from ripping holes in your wetsuit socks. Whytecliff Park beach is a short walk from the parking area so this is highly recommended.

A large towel/poncho can help with changing in and out of the wetsuit.

Wearing swim suit under wetsuit helps with changing in and out of wetsuit in public.

Spare change of clothes. Just in case.

Water bottle is important as you can become quite dehydrated! There is running water in Whytecliff Park

Whytecliff Park has washrooms (gendered! Sorry.), as well as running water.

A snack for before and after the snorkeling will help you stay energised. There is a cafe at the park, but it isn't always open.

Camping stove with some tea bags is a good way to make some freshly brewed hot tea. We love ginger tea as it helps to increase body temperature. A thermos with brewed tea works great too!

If you are prone to sea sickness or car sickness, consider taking Gravol or other motion sickness medication.

If you own a large thermos (1.5L or more) you are in luck. Fill it with hot water to flush your wetsuit before and after going in the water. It will help you warm up!

A beanie or warm hat to wear afterwards is good if you are prone to ear infections/problems.

A waterproof bag to put your wet gear in. Ikea bags or those reusable shopping bags work great.

Waterproof torch/light is useful for looking deep into cracks or holes.

A paddle board or a boogie board for visibility as well as having an extra place to rest and relax if you are snorkeling. It will need to be attached to you in some way otherwise it will drift away into the Ocean!

A whistle in case of emergency.

Wetsuit lube makes it easier to put on your wetsuit. A good alternative is water mixed with natural hair conditioner. Dive shops sell wetsuit lube also.

A gopro or other waterproof cameras to capture and share what you find!

Safety

We are a loosely organised diving and snorkeling community, rather than a club with staff and a safety team. You should plan for and consider your safety to be entirely your responsibility. We will be sending out liability release waivers closer to the event.

The diving and snorkeling is unguided, but many of us have been to the location before and can offer advice about specific areas.

We will encourage attendees to group up into buddy groups of 2-3 people and stick together during the event. We will also run a quick briefing about hazards in the area and what to be mindful of.

Do I need to be a strong swimmer?

No. Wetsuits are bouyant so you will naturally float on the surface. While snorkeling, you will also tend to be in shallow water. Likely you will be able to touch the bottom with your feet and walk out to the shore if needed.

Breathing through a snorkel can take some time to get used to as you must breathe solely through your mouth rather than your nose (which will be in the mask/clipped closed). You can pactice on land before the event!

You will be wearing powerful fins which make it easy to get around using just your legs. Being comfortable flutter, breast-stroke or even dolphin kicking will help you make the most of your fins.

As always we recommend staying within the range of your abilities. We can recommend shallow and safer areas you can explore if you are worried.

Anything else?

Carpooling, parking and other questions - We have a thread for the event on our Discord server. We recommend joining to coordinate details like carpooling. Parking at Whytecliff is paid and can be limited so we recommend carpooling to save money. Better for the planet too!

Snorkeling Ethics - VQD is a no-exploitation and no-harm community. This means we do not exploit or harm the ocean in any way during our events. Please avoid touching, picking up or handing marine life. Just watch and enjoy!

In BC it is illegal to approach or interact with large marine mamals. If you see some curious sea lions, seals, dolphins or whales, you may be approached and interacted with by the animals, but you risk very serious legal consequences if you attempt to attract or approach these wild animals yourself.