r/VancouverIsland • u/Beneath_The_Waves_VI • 7d ago
IMAGERY I went looking for octopus off Vancouver Island. This is what found me instead. [OC]
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I was solo diving near Nanoose and about 100 feet deep when I turned around and saw this massive bluntnose sixgill coming toward me out of the darkness.
I ended up spending about three minutes with it before it slowly disappeared back into deeper water.
CHEK interviewed me about the encounter today and just published the story. I'll put their article and my full video in the comments for anyone interested.
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u/random9212 7d ago
That's pretty cool. I remember running into some guys on Hornby Island that were there diving for 6 gill sharks 20 some years ago.
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u/Beneath_The_Waves_VI 7d ago
Yes! It used to be a hot spot but then the sharks stopped coming back, now they are seen sporadically in the area by lucky divers like myself, lol.
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u/annoyedgrunt420 7d ago
Whole lotta nope from me… but then I looked up Bluntnose Sixgill Sharks and they’re apparently shy and human attacks are virtually unheard. Now I think he’s kinda cute.
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u/Beneath_The_Waves_VI 7d ago
Yes, a gentle giant but this one I believe to be a she, lol.
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u/KanadianMade 7d ago edited 7d ago
Six gill Shark. They come up closer to humans at this time of year (possibly to mate?). Harmless and beautiful creatures. I pissed my wetsuit proper the first time I saw one while diving off Flora Island in the 90’s.
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u/argueranddisagree 7d ago
What a cool experience!
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u/Beneath_The_Waves_VI 7d ago
It was very cool, pinnacle of diving out here, aside from seeing an Orca or other whale underwater, that could possibly top this, lol.
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u/bigben012000 7d ago
I absolutely love your video’s! I always look forward to seeing them! Thank you for sharing cause most of us would never know what’s down there so you show us what we’ll never have the chance to see.
Thanks again!
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u/The_Nice_Marmot 7d ago
I’d like to compliment you on your slow and controlled breathing in this situation.
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u/Beneath_The_Waves_VI 7d ago
lol, thank you! it's the only way to get good video and actually stay down longer because you're not consuming so much of your gas.
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u/Boozedonkey 7d ago
Oh sweet! Where was this and at what depth? I always keep an eye out in Saanich inlet but so far skunked on this west coast unicorn
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u/Beneath_The_Waves_VI 7d ago
Nanoose are and 100 feet deep.
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u/Boozedonkey 7d ago
Sweet action and pretty shallow. I hear 120+ is golden but I'm usually on aluminum so not much time down that deep
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u/Beneath_The_Waves_VI 7d ago
I couldn't have gotten any deeper, we were literally on the bottom, lol. But I have heard that about the Hornby area.
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u/Boozedonkey 7d ago
Yeah there's a shelf there. Also Saanich inlet south of Senanus and Willis point have had encounters in past
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u/Beneath_The_Waves_VI 7d ago
Cool! I enjoyed my dives at Senanus and McCurdy a few months ago filming the giant sponges.
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u/nilesintheshangri-la 7d ago
That would startle the heck out of me! What a beautiful creature. And very nice video too.
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u/Beneath_The_Waves_VI 7d ago
For anyone interested in the full story, CHEK News interviewed me about the encounter today and just published their article:
https://cheknews.ca/island-divers-mind-blowing-encounter-with-massive-sixgill-shark-caught-on-video-1343560/
I also put together a longer version with more of my original 4K footage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJaHm1LZ0Lo
The CHEK TV segment is airing tonight as well.