Since I've already had a look at the Southern side of Gonzales Point (for the wreck of the Falcon), I've been intending to dive the North/East side for awhile. Ideally, it would be in the Winter when the bottom isn't covered with kelp. I came out here again in the Summer Instead (Sept. 5, 2015). This side of the point is exposed to strong ebbing currents so I checked the Baynes Channel current correction (for lack of a better reference) and it showed a small flooding current during the morning. The wind forecast was also good so I took my boat out from the Cattle Point boat ramp and anchored in a small bay protected by a line of exposed reefs under the Royal Victoria golf course at Gonzales Point.
On the far side of the exposed rocky reef, the rocks dropped in ledges, walls and piles of boulders and rubble down to 40' deep. At the base of the slope, there was flat sand. Visibility was only 10-15'. I felt a slight current here pulling me towards the point (which told me the current was actually ebbing), but it wasn't strong enough to worry me yet. I didn't see any sign of wreckage although much of the bottom was covered with kelp and I couldn't see very far around me. In some areas, large clouds of tiny shrimp made the visibility even worse. I saw a few plumose anemones, fish-eating anemones and clusters of urchins. Overall, this isn't a spot I'd come back to to see marine life.
As I swam nearer to the point, the bottom was full of large boulders topped with stalked kelp. There were clouds of tiny shrimp (mysids?) here too. I didn't notice any wreckage here either, but again, the kelp and low visibility didn't let me see much of my surroundings.
I reached the area near the point. The visibility seemed a bit better here and the bottom was more clean-swept and less silty. There was also less kelp here (the higher current must sweep it away). I followed a wall near the base of the slope (around 35-40' deep). There was more colour here. The current was also pretty strong. It was sweeping me along and I knew I'd have to swim against it to get back to my boat. When I tried to stop, the current almost flipped me over. I knew it was time to stop being stupid and turn around while I could (maybe). I realized I couldn't swim against it so I pulled myself along the bottom with one hand while taking quick photos with the other hand. I still didn't see any wreckage. I eventually made it back around the corner into the shallow bay (dotted with golf balls) and back to my boat. Looking for wreckage here in the Summer (with all the kelp) is a silly idea. I might try again in the winter, but showing up here when the wind, current and visibility are cooperating can be tricky.
