Wet and Wild at Ansel Point

Lets go diving (and snorkeling)!

September is here! Join us for a snorkel, dive & (maybe a) picnic at Ansel Point. A favourite spot among freedivers, with plenty to offer for freedivers and scuba divers also!

We will be meeting at 11:00 AM, with rising tide until noon which should offer us the best visibility and no current.

Scuba divers and freedivers are welcome, as well as snorkellers, and beach friends. After we are tired of the water, we might grab some food, hang out by the water or run home depending on the weather!

What will I need?

Late September we expect temperatures of around 14 degrees in the water.

We recommend the following gear:

Wetsuit/Drysuit with Hood - we recommend at least 5/4mm 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. Thicker is always better as you can always flush it. Cold-tolerant snorkelers might get away with a 4/3mm wetsuit or a thick wetsuit without a hood.

Gloves and Socks/Boots - 3mm 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. Fins allow you to easily fight current while snorkeling. Though we don't anticipate strong current, we cannot guarantee this.

What can I rent?

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

Sea Dragon Charters Freediving Package - $74.95 - fins, 7mm wetsuit \w hood, 2.5mm gloves, 2.5mm socks, mask, snorkel, weights.

Diving Locker Freediving Package - $80 - 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.

Most 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. Start planning rentals a few days in advance to avoid disappointment

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).

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. Ansel has a lot of stairs with metal grating which can rip neoprene socks.

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! Kelvin Grove does have running water.

Ansel has no facilities. No washrooms and no running water. There is a wooded area around the parking and the park.

A snack for before and after the snorkeling will help you stay energised.

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 Medic*tion. This might be particularly useful as we are diving between slack tides and so there may be some surf.

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. We have no staff and no safety team. All participants are attending independently so we cannot guarantee that anyone is first aid trained/will be able and willing to help in event of any accident. We assume no duty of care or responsibility for your safety.

You must plan for and consider your safety to be entirely your responsibility.

The diving and snorkeling is unguided, but some of participants have been to the location before and can offer their subjective advice about specific areas.

We do no verification of attendees qualifications, experience level or skills.

It is up to each participant to decide whether and how they wish to participate, but we always encourage everyone to follow diving best practices such a buddying up, pre-agreeing on hand-signals, dive plan etc.

What about my belongings

VQD is not responsible for theft or damange to your belongings while you are in or out of the water. Often all participants are diving/snorkeling, and there is nobody to watch/protect anyones belongings. We haven't had any incidents of theft on any prior events. Please plan accordingly.

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. Ansel has free parking for around 5 cars. There are more spots up the road but its a steep hill! Carpooling can help save some cash and helps the planet!

Snorkeling/Diving 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.

Info: Some dive planning to discuss everyones favourite areas, discovered hazards and time to buddy up.

Info: Get changed and grab some food back in Vancouver or have a picnic at the park depending on the weather.

Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in West Vancouver, Sports events in West Vancouver, Meetups in West Vancouver.