That first day (12 June) was pretty cold and visibility was poor.
I shivered all the way home
– A. Bryant

Things improved in July. Here’s a Pacific Sand Dollar (Dendraster excentricus) at Myrtle Rocks
– A. Bryant

20 July. A nice anemone at Frolander Bay (I don’t know the species)
– A. Bryant

20 July. Green Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus oregonensis)
– A. Bryant

25 July. Now THIS is camouflage! I suspect this is a sculpin.
– A. Bryant

28 July. My best photo of the year. The wonderfully and aptly-named Speckled Sanddab (Citharichthys stigmaeus) – my new favorite
– A. Bryant

28 July. A few Shiner Perch (Cymatogaster aggregata),
– A. Bryant

23 August. Red Rock Crab (Cancer productus)
– A. Bryant

28 Aug. Lots of Ochre Stars (Pisaster ochraceous) at Willingdon today.
– A. Bryant

30 Aug. Kelp crab (Pugettia producta) having a “bad hair” day.
– A. Bryant

1 Sept. Pacific Staghorn Sculpin (Leptocottus armatus)
– A. Bryant

10 Sept. Leather Star (Dermasterias imbricata)
– A. Bryant

by Andrew Bryant, 14 September 2022.

Even though mandatory mask requirements have been lifted…

I’ve been out snorkeling pretty much every day since 12 June.  I’m not a marine biologist.  The best part of that fact is that everything is still new to me.  Which keeps me excited about learning new things – and that happens pretty regularly.

There’s a whole network of local scuba divers who’ve helped me identify many of the species shown here – especially Sean Percy.  And yes perhaps one day I will find time to create an “underwater life-list”…but not today.

Because snorkeling season is not quite over yet!

I believe this is a Green Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus oregonensis).
-A. Bryant

This catch of the day (photographically speaking) was a handsome graceful crab (Metacarcinus gracilis)
-A. Bryant

This is a northern kelp crab (Pugettia producta
-A. Bryant

Yup…I’m starting to enjoy this
-A. Bryant

I was amazed to learn that jellyfish have been around since the Precambrian. That’s 4,600 Million years ago. This is the moon jelly (Aurelia labiata.
-A. Bryant

Happiness is a moon jelly in the morning
-A. Bryant

The purple sea stars (Pisaster ochraceous) are always nice
-A. Bryant

I even got a different perspective on Glaucus-winged Gulls!
-A. Bryant

by Andrew Bryant, 29 August 2021.

So, thought…well if I have to wear a mask anyways…

Why not make it a snorkel?  I’ve been out pretty much every day since 15 June.  I’m not a marine biologist.  And I’ve probably not even found the best local snorkeling spots yet.  Willingdon Beach is a marvellous Powell River asset.  You can always find a helpful child to point that “elephant-head” water feature at you and thus rinse off the salt.

My first encounter with a “moon jelly” on 21 June demanded that I buy a proper underwater camera.  The first camera was a bust.  The 2nd camera is a keeper.  Now I need to get over the fact that I know very little about what I’m photographing.

Yup.  I feel like I’m a non-birdwatcher showing up in Algonquin in May of 1984.  Again.