Powell River, B.C., Canada
Is a 38 ft. diesel powered, 8 knot heavily laid up fiberglass displacement hull vessel built in 1980 to an Edwin Monk design as a west coast troller. Converted to a personal west coast exploration vehicle and day tour dive charter vessel in 2008-2009. GRADIENT operates on the North Sunshine Coast from her home port of Powell River. She moves between being based out of Powell River, Lund, Saltery Bay, Okeover Inlet and sometimes Pender Harbour. Gradient is a good stable dive platform with an easy to use custom dive ladder, large swim grid for cameras and gear, boom and lifting gear for 500 lb. and under ROV's and tech gear, that carries up to eight divers comfortably. Contact by email at bmckinn@telus.net for more information regarding rates and charter availability. We can also be found on Facebook as Bill McKinnon

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Sunday Aug 28 charter to MV Gulf Stream wreck and Emmonds Reef

Gradient Charters  
next scheduled monthly $75  charter is  Sunday Aug 28th, 2011
The self guided dive charter will be leaving from Powell River's north  harbour new floats (at far north end of North harbour north of  small boat launch) at 9:45 AM  for  the Gulf Stream wreck and  Emmond's reef (NOTE this earlier departure time  will allow advanced deep certified divers an NDL look at  the MV Gulf Stream at low tide) . The Gulf Stream will be a last minute call based on the group ( # s and experience ) and  weather . Alternate sites  may be chosen at time of charter. Please book and secure a spot by  paying in advance at Alpha Dive or  Suncoast Diving with cash. Please  make your intentions known in advance and secure a spot by payment in full or deposit by Friday Aug 19 afternoon. 




Sunday, July 24, 2011

A good day on Capilano wreck and Vivian wall

We had a great day of sun and very good sea conditions in the strait for a dive on the Capilano which was at about 134 feet to the bottom. Capilano was shrouded in the white plumose anemones and loads of rockfish of all types and many ling cod were around.
Second dive at the Vivian wall saw the rebreather guys viewing super sized cloud sponges and Yellow eye at around the 170 foot area.
It was good. Thanks to you all.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Red Flabellina's



 The visability has finally improved enough to take out the camera which has lain neglected for way too long. Visability still has a ways to go but i could not resist shooting the red flabellina's at the mermaid site who have been laying their egg ribbons for last couple weeks. We also saw plenty of fish and a freshly scraped mermaid who dodged the macro lens. Warm water , improving vis. Great afternoon dive.























Saturday, July 9, 2011

July 24 monthly scheduled dive club charter

Thought I would post an update for the last super cheap monthly charter.
Due to increasing fuel costs specifically and increasing overall costs in general we will be increasing the monthly charter to a still incredibly low $75.  for Aug and thereafter


Gradient Charters  scheduled monthly $65  charter for Sunday July 24
self guided dive charter will be leaving from Powell River's north  harbour new floats, slip # 29   (at far north end of North harbour north of  small boat launch) at 10:30 for  the Capilano wreck and  Vivian wall . The Capilano will be a last minute call based on the
group ( # s and experience ), sea state and  weather . Alternate sites  may be chosen at time of charter. Please book and secure a spot by  paying in advance at Alpha Dive or  Suncoast Diving with cash. Please  make your intentions known in advance and secure a spot by Friday July  22  afternoon. At this time there are 4 spots left available. For the monthly charters I would like to remind everyone that all   divers  are to be certified at advanced open water , deep diver or   equivalent with proof of recently logged cold water dives as a minimum  standard to help with  overall dive safety, matching site choices to a  larger group and to assist group dynamics on unguided charters.  All certification level divers are welcome to call  604 483 9554 and   ask about  arranging  site and group specific charters at regular  rates. See Scott and Kathy at Alpha or Rob at Suncoast for upgrading  your certification to participate in the monthly scheduled charters.


Wayne, Andy and I took advantage of the great weather and were out in the middle of Georgia Strait south of Mittlenatch explore diving in the middle of last week.
I just got in from a dive at the Mermaid with Scott and Helen.We saw a few red flabellina nudibranchs in the process of laying egg ribbons . Congratulations Helen on completing your decompression procedures course. Vis has improved in the last couple weeks and is fair at about 60 plus feet  under 25 feet with a bit of particulate suspended in clumps . 
Water temp a balmy 48 deg F at 150 feet. Its great to see the vis improving