reef

Log This Dive

Wreck of HMAS Voyager

Romulus Reef, tucked away in the often-overlooked cold waters of the Pacific Northwest, truly stands out. Forget your preconceived notions of what "coral reef" means; here, we're talking soft corals and anemones that explode with colour against the muted tones of the Pacific. Drop down and you're immediately greeted by the sway of metridium anemones, often so dense they form a ghostly white forest. We’ve had incredible luck spotting giant octopus here, sometimes just their observant eyes peeking out from a den, other times lumbering across the rocky bottom. Look closely amongst the anemone stalks for the bright red of a California Spot Prawn or the delicate branches of a Four-Spined Squat Lobster. Our favourite time to dive Romulus is on a slack tide, usually an hour before or after high or low, when the currents mellow out and you can really take your time admiring the micro-life. Visibility can vary wildly, as is common in this region, but even on a greener day, the sheer density of invertebrates makes for fascinating exploration. It’s a site for those who appreciate the subtle beauty of temperate waters, for divers willing to slow down and scour every crevice. We’d suggest bringing a good torch; the light often doesn’t penetrate far, and the colours really pop under a beam.