Under the Waves

The sea in front of StudioCeta may look calm and mysterious from above, but beneath the surface it’s surprisingly colourful—and very busy.

Slip into the water and you’ll find red and green sea urchins, sea stars, sea cucumbers, large anemones and all sorts of other curious invertebrates tucked among the rocks. Kelp greenlings add flashes of colour, while rockfish and lingcod cruise the reef and schools of herring and other small fish move through the water. And, if you’re especially lucky, you might come face to face with one of our favourite neighbours: a Giant Pacific octopus.

The water here is cold year-round, so snorkelling requires the right equipment. We recommend a well-fitting drysuit, along with neoprene boots and gloves. If you plan to freedive, you’ll also want an appropriate weight belt. Summer is certainly the more inviting time to get in, but winter has its own reward: the water can be exceptionally clear, with wonderful visibility.

If you’re staying at StudioCeta and would like to snorkel, let us know. We’re happy to share advice about conditions, equipment and some of our favourite places to explore.

And you don’t have to get wet to discover what lives below the surface. The SIMRES Underwater SeaCam provides a live window onto a nearby reef, where you never quite know what will wander past next. Visit the SIMRES website to watch the SeaCam, or follow SIMRES SeaCam Observers on Facebook for favourite sightings, observations and conversations about the creatures appearing on camera.

Sometimes the best part of being by the sea is discovering just how much is happening underneath it.

images: Tom Fruin Photography