News
HMCS Annapolis finally down and open for divers

CANADA – Seven years since its original purchase, the HMCS Annapolis was finally sunk off the coast of Gambier Island in Halkett Bay Provincial Marine Park last Saturday (4th April).
More than two hundred spectators showed up in charter boats and personal crafts to watch the sinking firsthand, while hundreds more from all around the world tuned in online to witness the sinking.
“I feel like I’ve got 3,000 tonnes of weight off my shoulders,” said Howard Robins, president of the Artificial Reef Society of BC (ARSBC).
“It’s down, it’s over. The project is finished. It’s been delivered to the province and we’re very pleased. It’s a successful project — number eight — and now she’s going to be our living laboratory of study and research.”
The ARSBC has been working to sink the Annapolis in Halkett Bay since its purchase back in 2008. A drop in the value of recycled metal, changes to federal government regulations and environmental concerns over the toxicity of the paint on the Annapolis have all stymied the project along the way.
But the ship is finally at the bottom of the ocean, and according to Robins, the sinking went perfectly.
“It flooded from the bottom up, as we intended,” Robins said. “As that water kept moving upward, spreading out throughout the ship, she went down in a very even and stately manner and landed squarely on her keel. She’s completely upright underwater right now at the prescribed depth.”
Charges were placed inside the hull of the vessel, six on each side of the ship in various locations. Once detonated, water to fill the ship very quickly.
The sunken Annapolis will be used for a few different purposes. Primarily, it will serve as an artificial reef for marine life to make a home in. This marine life will be studied periodically by the ARSBC and documented on a website that is currently in development.
“This ship will provide dark recessed areas and act as a pinnacle, with cave-like settings suitable for rockfish species, notably yellow-eye, tiger and quillback,” Jeff Marliave, vice president of Marine Sciences at the Vancouver Aquarium, said in a press release.
As of Monday, Robins reported that a few of the more curious fish in the area are already beginning to check it out. Over the coming weeks and months, they will start to see more crustaceans and plant life making the Annapolis their home, he added.
Due to its close proximity to Vancouver, the Annapolis can also be used for search and rescue and small submersible training.
It is also expected to be a good tourism draw for recreational divers. This is the eighth ship sunk by the ARSBC, and many of the people who turned out Saturday to watch the sinking were divers excited for another wreck to explore.
Once the Annapolis had sunk, professional divers went down to check that everything had gone according to plan.
“They’re very satisfied that the ship is in great condition,” Robins said. “So at this point, we have declared the wreck open for recreational diving.”
Source: www.coastreporter.net
News
PADI and Scuba Diving Magazine Seek Incredible Underwater Photographs in Annual Photo Competition

Scuba Diving® magazine’s 21st annual Through Your Lens photo contest is underway and accepting images that highlight the incredible underwater world.
“Entering our Through Your Lens Photo Contest isn’t just about winning,” says Candice Landau, Content Director for Scuba Diving magazine. “It’s about beginning the journey of putting your work out there, sharing your unique perspective and realising just how much impact your images can have. With categories for all levels, including an amateur category specifically for newcomers, there’s a real chance to get noticed and inspire positive ocean change.”
“This year we decided to bring back a couple of tried-and-tested categories, as well as add two new ones. In total, photographers will be able to submit to five different categories: wide angle, macro, split shot, amateur, and cold water,” Landau says.
Scuba Diving has confirmed the return of highly esteemed underwater photographers Brandon Cole, Kate Jonker, Suzan Meldonian and Alex Mustard to assist as guest judges. Entry is free, and photographers can submit up to five entries per category.
The grand prize winner will receive a $1,000 USD cash prize and a weeklong liveaboard trip aboard the Komodo Aggressor. First-place winners for each specified category will receive an Aggressor Adventures liveaboard trip; second-place winners will receive a Scubapro regulator; and third-place winners will receive a SeaLife SportDiver S smartphone housing. Two winners in the Amateur category will receive a liveaboard trip from All Star Liveaboards. Select winners will also be given the opportunity to have their photos featured on PADI certification cards.
Past winners of the annual competition include colorful images of alpine newts on water lilies in Belgium, divers finning through a submerged Slovak opal mine, and an eye-to-eye encounter with a dwarf minke whale on the Great Barrier Reef.
“This contest is a chance to celebrate the artistry and passion of underwater photographers at every level. It brings the underwater world to the surface for everyone to see, and it’s always amazing to witness the creativity, dedication, and stories that these images tell,” says Landau. “It’s not just about taking a beautiful picture, it’s about capturing a moment that inspires others to dive, explore, and protect the ocean. Every submission helps us tell the story of the underwater world and why it matters.”
All winners and honourable mentions will be published in the September/October 2025 Photo Issue of Scuba Diving magazine, with the cover featuring one of the contest entries. Entries are open now until July 7, 2025 on scubadiving.com/photocontest.
About Scuba Diving Magazine
United in our passion for diving and the world beneath the surface. Scuba Diving is an inclusive print and digital forum to learn about, connect on and fuel a shared passion for underwater exploration. Our enthusiasm for the sport of diving, the stunning places we experience, the incredible marine encounters, and our purpose-driven commitment to ocean change keeps us connected and inspires one another to seek adventure and save the ocean. The ultimate, trusted source, we deliver expert insights on gear, safety, training, local diving, travel and dive professions – because, as divers ourselves, we care deeply about the same topics. Whether we dive once a year or for a living, we’re a single community of ocean lovers constantly encouraging those new to diving to join us.
About PADI
PADI® (Professional Association of Diving Instructors®) is the world’s largest ocean exploration and diver organisation, operating in 186 countries and territories, with a global network of more than 6,600 dive centres and resorts and over 128,000 professional members worldwide. Issuing more than 1 million certifications each year, and with over 30 million certifications to date, PADI enables people around the world to seek adventure and save the ocean through underwater education, life-changing experiences and travel. For over 50 years, PADI is undeniably The Way the World Learns to Dive®, maintaining its high standards for dive training, safety and customer service, monitored for worldwide consistency and quality. With a longstanding commitment to environmental conservation, PADI is leading the way for millions of people to actively explore, steward and protect the ocean through its course offerings and partnerships with like-minded, mission-driven organisations. PADI embodies a global commitment to ocean health with its mission to create a billion torchbearers to explore and protect the ocean. Seek Adventure. Save the Ocean.SM
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