Divers exploring off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, have shared the amazing discovery among a 28-year-old shipwreck that is now teaming with life once more.
Diver Carl Sorensen, 44, who has been exploring British Columbia’s waters for four years, recently documented a remarkable dive along the starboard bow of HMCS Saskatchewan off Nanaimo, Vancouver Island.
A retired Canadian warship, the vessel was intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef. In the last 28 years, it has transformed into a thriving underwater sanctuary—teeming with plumose anemones, rockfish, and towering cloud sponges.
HMCS Saskatchewan was purchased by the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia and extensive preparations were made to convert the vessel into a safe and accessible artificial reef for divers. It was sunk in 1997 and what once served in the Royal Canadian Navy now rests at 130 feet below the surface.
In amazing footage from a recent dusk dive, Sorensen has shared what lays below the water’s surface, capturing vast fields of plumose anemones in full bloom.
Plumose anemones, known for their feathery tentacles and vibrant colors, are vital components of marine ecosystems. They filter plankton and small particles from the water, contributing to the amazing clear water surrounding the wreck. They are also an essential form of shelter and food for various small marine organisms.
Sorensen described the moment he descended through the murky top layer, recalling the surreal appearance of the 366-foot Mackenzie-class destroyer emerging from the depths. “You get a sense of how massive the ship is—imagining how many sailors once called it home is unreal,” Sorensen told Newsweek.
Beyond the anemones, the wreck is bursting with other marine life, hosting species like Cabezon, Lingcod, and Quillback rockfish. “The underwater world is like discovering a new planet,” Sorensen said.
As well as sharing this video clip on Reddit, Sorensen uses expensive camera equipment to create YouTube videos of his diving trips, including long ambient ocean films and shorter clips.
“I share all of my videos online because most people will never get to see this stuff with their own eyes,” he explained, offering an insight to how amazing the underwater world is. “You can travel the world and and see everything topside but the minute you get underwater and see some of these dive sites you will realize that what we see in our daily grind is just a tiny fraction of what is out there and the underwater world is like discovering a new planet.”
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