Chantelle Blanchard

Ontario, Canada
chanb@wegodown.ca
www.wegodown.ca

Diving Qualifications

  • PADI AOW
  • PADI Nitrox
  • GUE Tech 2+
  • GUE Cave 2
  • NAUI Trimix II
  • GUE Cave DPV

Diving Experience

  • 2000 + Dives
  • 500 + Cave Dives
  • 400 + DPV Dives

Training

  • PADI: OW, AOW, EANx
  • GUE: Fundamentals, T1, T2+; C1, C2
  • NAUI: Trimix II
  • NAS: NAS-1
  • DPV Cave/DPV 2
  • Future Training:  RB80

Drysuites

  • Santi – E.Motion
  • DUI – TLS 350

Other Stuff

  • Save Ontario Shipwrecks (SOS) ~ Board of Directors (former)
  • GUE Ontario ~ Co-Founder
  • Articles and photographs in Quest Magazine
  • Photographs in other publications

Hobbies

  • Competitive Darts
  • Singing
  • Horses
  • Underwater Photography
  • My Dog

I did my first dive in Venezuela, in 1988, and loved every minute of it. Upon returning back home, I didn’t actually think that there was diving in Canada, so I never pursued it. In 2004, I had a trip planned to Cuba, and decided to give it another shot. I did a resort course, and although I enjoyed what I saw, I couldn’t get over being so seasick on the ocean. The following year, I decided to get certified. I did my classroom work in the Great White North, and did my check-out dives in Key Largo. I went to Cuba again, this time able to do more dives… and yes, still seasick. In the fall of 2005, it occurred to me that people actually did dive in Canada, and found some people to dive with.

It turns out that this freshwater diving was definitely for me. I was hooked. I went back down to Florida in February of 2006, where I did my AOW and EANx. I then hooked up with the fine folks at Northern Tech Diver, in Kingston, where I took GUE Fundamentals in a single tank (eventual recreational pass). Then came the winter diving, double tanks, and more diving. I went back for the technical pass in September 2007, and completed my Tech 1 in August 2008.

In November 2008, we headed down to Mexico for Cave 1. This was a magical experience, and a great way to spend a honeymoon. We even had a few friends join us for the course.

In August 2009, I did NAUI Trimix II, and really enjoyed it. In November and December of 2010, we ventured back down to Mexico, for the GUE Conference, and ended up taking Cave 2. What an incredible experience. This is probably the best course I have taken to date.

In March/April of 2012, Steve and I went back down to Mexico, and did a DPV Cave workshop. This.Was.Awesome. I never imagined that I would be comfortable carrying three scooters and four bottles into the depths of the Mexico caves. It was an incredible adventure!

In June of 2o12, we traveled to Truk Lagoon, where we had the most amazing experience, and spent a week on Elena Konstantinou’s M/Y Blue Star. I’m not sure anything could top this one.

I do like photography, and mostly take shots under the ice. I shoot with a Nikon D100, 10.5 Fisheye lens, and an Aquatica housing, as well as a Nikon D200, with Aquatica housing. I am new to the whole “strobes” thing, and am just having fun with it. I am by no means any kind of “pro,” but under the ice shots seem to be my niche.

When diving in the St. Lawrence, I will also bring my little Go Pro, to make fun little videos, which are strewn about my Bloggy Thing.

In 2012 and 2013, we started participation in the MCEP (Mexico Cave Exploration Project), in the Mayan Riviera. This has been a fantastic learning experience for us, and we look forward to getting back down there, every year.

In 2014, GUE Ontario started a Project Baseline, on the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence River!

In August, 2014, my buddy, Eric Bourque, and I completed our GUE Tech 2. We were supposed to take it in 2013, but the stars did not align. Finally, we did it. Then came the upgrade to T2+.

We plan annual adventures, during the Brockville Canadian Invasion, that started in 2008, which have brought our GUE brethren from all over the world, for Diving Goodness!

I thank you for taking the time to read our diving adventures! See you in the water… or at the Invasion!