MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Fall 2017

100 ML BLUE FALL 2017 We could easily envision the rock line as the furthest extent of a glacier’s progress as it scoured the bottom of the basin many thousands of years ago, pushing millions of tons of dolomite before it up against the Escarpment to form the shallow cove. sand bottom is clean and devoid of rock. Looking back at about 7 metres’ depth we were awed by the panoramic view of a sharply demarcated boundary of large dolomite rocks and boulders, stretching almost infinitely into the distance on our right and left. With this perspective, we could easily envision the rock line as the furthest extent of a glacier’s progress as it scoured the bottom of the basin many thousands of years ago, pushing millions of tons of dolomite before it up against the Escarpment to form the shallow cove. After 90 inspiring minutes in this submerged Paleolithic paradise, we turned the dive and made our way back to shore. There, over a thermos of hot tea, we agreed that we had to return soon to continue our exploration of this amazing site. In April we contacted another dive buddy to join us on a return trip, and the party of three set out for Tobermory once more. After four months of winter the water temperature, 2.8°C, was colder than November. However the spring sky was sunny, with ambient light flooding the cove’s shallows, highlighting colours in the rocks and providing a dramatic interplay of light and shadow for Jerzy’s camera. We extended our exploration of the former glacier’s edge to the west, spending almost an hour swimming along the rock boundary at 12 metres, pristine sand to our right and a 6-7 metre wall of rocks rising immediately on our left. The return leg was spent at various depths between 6 and 1.5 metres, finning around, under and on top of the massive boulders, providing a good test of our buoyancy skills. Packing up our gear once back on shore, we determined to plan many more such dives into prehistory in the waters of Georgian Bay. See more of Jerzy Kowalczuk’s work at underwaterpixels.com