The Journey: Diving and Exploring the Northwest's Underwater Treasures

No less an authority than the late Jacques Cousteau called Puget Sound one of the world's best places for scuba diving. This film gives viewers a glimpse of some of the aquatic life he so highly esteemed: giant octopi, which can grow to 8 feet in diameter, wolf eels, sea anemone and urchins, and an abundance of fish. Here, master divers tackle six different spots in the Sound, in both Washington and British Columbian waters. Their first attempt at Deception Pass in western Washington illustrates why these dives aren't for novices: whirlpools and a fast current force a wise re-scheduling. Viewers will also see dives to two Canadian destroyers which were capsized to create artificial reefs (footage of one of the sinkings adds an interesting touch to the production). While the divers occasionally become too self-conscious, recording even their day-off cookout as if it were essential to the film's objective, this will likely appeal to divers anywhere. (Cataloging note: the title shown onscreen is Puget Sound/ The Journey. The label on the video reads Northwest Diving: the Journey; and the title on the box is The Journey: Diving and Exploring the Northwest's Underwater Treasures. Good luck.) Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Reagan)