Our first Dive Site Spotlight features one of Ocean Quest's favorites: The Clapper.

Named after the above surface rock formation that resembles a Bell's Clapper (there is a nearby site with a huge rock formation that we call the Bell), this site is on the south western end of Bell Island, just a short distance from the PLM-27 and Rose Castle sites.

Once you exit the boat to the site, you'll find yourself in 20 feet of water. Near the Clapper is the major draw for the site: the sea tunnel. This channel goes into Bell Island for over 200 feet, ending with a small chamber in which a diver can stand up. The channel provides a great swim through exposed strata, without providing an enclosed overhead environment and the surface is accessible at all points. It certainly gives the impression of cave diving, without all the training and risk. While it is shallow and safe, it is a tight squeeze and rough conditions may prevent entry.

This week, we have a couple of guests from Europe, one of which is visiting North America for the first time. Once their first day of diving on the Bell Island wrecks had been completed, they stumbled across a pod of Minke whales as they headed back into Foxtrap Marina. Their return, needless to say, was delayed so everyone could spend some time viewing these beautiful creatures.

The minke, while a smaller whale, is still an incredible sight, coming in at half the length of our MV Ocean Quest!

So while Hurricane Bill blew out the first day of diving, the ocean made up for it in a big way!

Click the link to see all the photos!

Click photo to enlarge

We really wish we could take credit for this... we do this kind of stuff with our guests all the time! But this is a story about ordinary Newfoundlanders showing a bit of their world renowned hospitality. Fortunately, this kind of stuff is so common, rarely does a visitor not have story like this.

Pierre and Nicole are from Quebec and are experienced divers. They have rebreathers and take their diving seriously. They finished up their diving tour of Newfoundland here at Ocean Quest, staying a few nights with us. This past Saturday, they skipped the boat charter in favor of taking part in one of the Newfoundland diver's favorite past-time: collecting scallops!

Dildo, Newfoundland is a hot spot for scallops, and everyone knows it. In fact, if you are diving off the wharf in Dildo, not a few fisherman will ask if you are going for scallops. And then they will promptly tell you where to go for them!

Pierre and Nicole picked a spot and noticed it was near private property. They asked a lady who resided there if it was okay to go for a dive. The woman gave a particularly Newfie response: "It's the ocean, we don't own it, of course you can go diving!"

She did, however, asked the couple to keep an eye out for a camera her friend had dropped in the water.

They didn't find the camera, but they found scallops aplenty. They soon discovered, however, that they weren't on the menu. When they had finished, they saw that the woman they had chatted with had cooked them up a feed of fish and chips!

As if that wasn't good enough, the rhubarb wine was broke out, a drink that thoroughly mystified the Quebecers. They had never seen such a thing, but it was certainly appreciated and enjoyed!

Eventually, more locals showed up, and a party was had, right there on the beach. They couldn't believe how warm, friendly, and accepting these people were. They were taken in as one of gang! Before it was all said and done, it was 9:00pm, much later than they had originally anticipated their return!

Pierre was beside himself while telling this story to us the next day. He simply couldn't believe how much fun he had and how unexpected it was. We were certainly not surprised, but no less happy that one of our guests got such a great taste of Newfoundland hospitality (and fish!)

If you are tuned into our Facebook fan page and our Twitter Page (and if you haven't, what are you waiting for?!), you will have come across this spectacular video shot by one of our guests in July.

This was a rare treat. Dolphins and humpback whales are common in Newfoundland waters during summer, but to see them together is certainly a spectacle! This film was shot on one of two days of whale diving with an American group of guests. Both mammals were seen on the other day, just not together. It is hard to disappointed by seeing whales and dolphins, but when you know your buddies saw them TOGETHER...

Here's the video, and we hope you are as impressed as us. It some of the greatest shots that have gone through our hands. And thanks to Dan Wright for nabbing the shot!

The only question now is: What are YOU doing next July? You better decide soon... space is filling up very, very quickly!

And hit our Youtube channel for all of our fantastic videos!