Bones become Homes - Deep Cove Shipwreck

The sea conceals all. Once lost, things are rarely found. I've spoken a lot over the years about humans dumping garbage, waste products and other things into the worlds ocean to the detriment of the planet and the creatures that live here.

However I have also spent time diving many of the shipwrecks around the world and been inspired by the way that the marine life have changed these once mighty ships into homes for nature.

One of these such wrecks is the old barge at Deep Cove Marina northwest of Sidney on Vancouver Island. The wreck rests on the sandy bottom in about 20 meters (60 ft.) of water just off of the marina dock.

The history of this wreck is limited, but most people know it to be a railway barge that was being used as a breakwater for the marina before it sank due to poor weather conditions. The barge is mostly wooden with a steel bow, which is still intact. The majority of the mid section has collapsed and the wood is rotted. There are no points of penetration due to the poor condition of the wreck. Its is roughly 45 meters (150 ft.) long and 17 meters (50 ft.) wide. Parts and pieces of the barge can be found strewn about, especially at the stern. The marine life inhabiting this area is very impressive: large schools of rockfish and perch, along with lingcod and other greenlings are all around.

During the late spring, a huge biomass of hooded nudibranchs infest the entire area. This is a site to behold, and an amazing photo opportunity.

Be mindful of your trash and the trash that might end up in our oceans and waterways, but in some cases good things can come from stuff we have lost.

Thanks for reading.

Scott

For more stories and images - http://www.scottstevensonphotography.ca/