Canadian Splash: Flipping our View on What Canada has to Offer
Mae Dorricott
Joey and Ali, from Dive Buddies 4 Life, tell us more about their latest dive project… diving into a location few would think to tread, but which holds an abundance of intruiging marine life.
“We want to show people there is more to Canada than just hockey, vast wilderness, and maple syrup.”
Hey Ali & Joey! Tell us a bit about both of you!
We are Joey and Ali a husband and wife scuba diving team from Ontario. Brought together by our love for being in the water, we have been proudly sporting a neoprene wetsuit for the better part of a decade. Following our passion, and taking advantage of our ability to work remotely, we no live a life less ordinary - working, traveling and scuba diving.
Joey and Ali, ready for the icy plunge. Photo: Canadian Splash
You guys have managed to dive quite a couple of locations worldwide… why is Canada next on your list?
As a couple of Canadian divers, no matter how big our log book grows from dives around the world, there is truly no place like home. Time and time again we find ourselves meeting and seeing the shocked and surprised faces of scuba divers abroad when we talk about diving in our northern country. It’s as if diving in Canada is forbidden and unimaginable.
Back when we first fell in love with scuba diving Canada was our playground. And now we want to inspire and encourage others to do the same. No matter where you are, no matter how cold it is, there is magic and beauty underwater - you just need to know how to find it!
Cold water life can be just as colourful as in tropical seas! Photo: Canadian Splash
So what is Canadian Splash all about?
The first time someone imagines themselves as a scuba diver, cold water never really crosses their mind. They picture coral reefs and tropical oceans filled with color. To think that some scuba divers layer on the gear, to brave the dark and bone-chilling waters is unimaginable.
Living in Canada, cold water diving has become our middle name. From the fishing villages of Newfoundland to the depths of Ontario's Great Lakes, there is something truly magical about seeing our country through the eyes of a scuba diver. Nobody pictures Canada as a diving location, yet with the longest coastline in the world and more freshwater lakes than any other country we are more connected to water than most people seem to think.
We want to show people there is more to Canada than just hockey, vast wilderness, and maple syrup! There is an incredible world below the waterline. Canadian Splash, is a carefully crafted 13-part project where we will dive and photograph every province and territory of Canada showcasing the beauty, wonder, and fragility hidden beneath its surface
Fish life beautifully camouflaged in a shingle reef. Photo: Canadian Splash
Which location have you been to so far that has surprised you?
While the project is still in the early stages, we have already tackled a few dives in the Maritime provinces. The Maritimes are our familiar favorites, as this is where we both have done most of our scuba certifications. We love the North Atlantic and find that every dive in this environment is a breath of fresh air.
When diving in the ocean you never know what you will see, and this neck of the woods is no different. I find myself constantly surprised by the new macro life we have the good fortune to see especially in the summer months when the water warms up and the Gulf stream brings up some seasonal visitors.
Every divers favourite, nudibranchs, even inhabit cold water…. In abundance! Photo: Canadian Splash
What location are you most excited about?
We are most excited about heading to the territories… after all, it doesn’t get more rugged and untouched than the great white north. Except for the biting cold, we have no idea what to expect when it comes to scuba diving in the Yukon, N-W, and Nunavut.
What do you want to achieve from this project?
When you first look out into a lake, river or ocean in Canada, it can be a bit unsettling. Darkness and less than ideal visibility are a few things that immediately come to mind. But you know what? There is a reason you can’t see the bottom - it’s because it’s so full of life!!
Through Canadian Splash, we hope to educate and empower people to explore the amazing underwater world. By diving, photographing and documenting animals, history and scuba opportunities across Canada, we want to captivate and inspire scuba divers across the world.
Just because it may seem murky, doesn’t mean there isn’t something to see… Mother nature keeps her best kept secrets… secret! Photo: Canadian Splash
What advice would you give to people who want to explore their coastlines?
DO IT!! Saltwater, freshwater, Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic, rivers, lakes, ponds... Canada is incredibly diverse when it comes to our coastline and the animals that inhabit them.
In a day and age where we aren’t sure what tomorrow will bring, we can’t stress enough how important it is to teach, learn and showcase what our country’s aquatic world has to offer.
The more connected people feel to water, the more conscious they will be about the lakes, rivers, and oceans that practically encircle Canada.
We couldn’t agree more with DiveBuddies4Life… The best way to appreciate our watery world is to get out there and experience it first hand for yourself. And you’ll be surprised to see what is lying there waiting for you on your doorstep!
We wish both Joey and Ali an amazing underwater trip around Canada!
If you’re keen to find out how their Canadian Splash goes, follow them here @divebuddies4life check out their website or download their leaflet here