Just off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, the meeting of the cool Labrador Current and the warm Gulf Stream creates an abundance of marine life that attracts thousands of whales, and provides rich nesting grounds for millions of seabirds. That, along with the clear and cool water, 10,000-year-old icebergs, and 500-year-old shipwreck history, makes this place a diver's paradise.
Shipwrecks
There are an estimated 8,000 shipwrecks on the sea floor around Newfoundland and Labrador. While many of the submerged vessels succumbed to perilous ice and storms, four were victims of German U-boats during World War II. Of those, the SS Lord Strathcona, located in Conception Bay near Bell Island, is just 89 feet from the surface and the most accessible. With visibility here at 80 to 100 feet, torpedo holes and other features are easy to see.
Marine Life
For divers who come for the diverse marine life, a completely different kind of experience awaits. In Western Newfoundland, near Gros Morne National Park, you'll find one area where both northern and southern sea species reach the limits of their range, making for a particularly abundant environment. Here you can view all sorts of shellfish and other sea life clinging to an underwater cliff, and practice underwater photography skills.
During the early spring and summer, you'll also find whales and icebergs crossing paths along these shores. Contact Ocean Quest AdventuresOcean Quest Adventures and arrange to snorkel alongside one of the thousands of humpbacks, or get up close to a giant iceberg drifting down Iceberg Alley on the northeast coast.
Thanks to Newfoundland and Labrador site
Kathy Dowsett
www.kirkscubagear.com
Sounds exciting! I've never been to Newfoundland but I'll definitely keep this in mind!
ReplyDelete