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I was contacted by Jammer to expand on a statement I had made about the Sechelt Rapids being the world's strongest tidal flow. Here is a summary of the comments I sent to him in reply Tidal streams are so complex that there could be considerable difference of opion as to which was exactly the strongest. I believe Guiness actuall recognizes Nakwakto but both Sechelt Rapids and Seymour Narrows have similar currents. My refrence text "Oceanography of the British Columbia Coast - Richarrd E. Thomson -Department of Fisheries and Oceans - Ottawa 1981" is a semi bible for my concept of the oceans. In it there is a discussion to the tidal stream at Nitinat Lake on the west coast of Vancouver Island (Part II Chapter 3 Tidal Streams). Here is a quote from that section. "Similar situations are common in B.C. waters. The fast currents through Nakwakto rapids and Skookumchuck rapids (Sechelt Inlet) are two of the more dramatic examples." The Current Tables published by the Canadian Hydrographic Service, Department of Fisheries and Oceans has to be considered the ultimate authority on Canadian tidal information. They show maximum tidal stream at Nakwakto, Sechelt Rapids and Seymour Narrows as all being 16 knots. More than speed of the stream is important when judging the flow. The volume is also very important as are the objective hazards in and around the passage. There are several ways to get to dive in Nakwakto Rapids. Sechelt Inlet Lodge is very close and by all reports I've heard offers an excellent product. Many of the live aboards who work the northern waters also visit Nakwakto as well as offering an outstanding variety of dive sites in surrounding waters. Clavella, Exta Sea and Mike Lever all jump to mind as boats working there. Nakwakto would present quite a few difficulties as a night dive. The potential for a diver to be swept away is one that an operator must plan for. At Nakwakto a diver would wind up in the free water of the inlet and could be difficult to find. In Sechelt Rapids our preferred night dive sites all offer the opportunity to dive along a continous shore line and thereby some measure of security for the diver. I see no reason why Nakwakto couldn't be a suitable night dive with the proper preparations. Were I working in that area it is something I would certinally offer. .. -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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