Cold water diving is more gear-intensive than warm water diving, but the diversity of marine life and panoramic beauty of the world below the water line are a delight to explore. Try the shallow waters of BC's Hornby Island for a cold water shark dive where spiny dogfish zip around like short fused rockets and you have a good chance of spotting a blunt nosed six-gill shark. Or visit Sund Rock in Washington State, a marine protected area sheltering wolf eels, sea whip beds, various shrimps and crabs and the occasional wandering giant Pacific octopus. When it comes to quality and quantity of wrecks to explore, the Northwest is a diver's playground with warships, cargo ships, and wooden ships dating back to the 1800s. Diving is not limited to coastal areas either, with Montana and Idaho offering opportunities for freshwater adventures just watch out for the 30 to 40-foot Mackinaw Ness Monster!

In The Northwest Dive Guide, master scuba dive instructor and Northwest diving tour guide Mike Hughes shares over three hundred dive sites in BC, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, including drift dives, wall dives, freshwater dives and wrecks festooned in plumrose anemones and patrolled by huge rockfish.

With training tips and gear appropriate to cold water diving, indispensable information on local dive operators and shops, and useful dry land advice such as where to go for a meal after the dive plus nearby attractions for non diving travelling companions The Northwest Dive Guide is sure to enhance the enjoyment and safety of recreational divers in the Northwest, whether they've logged hundreds of hours underwater, or they're just getting started.