MARMORA SCUBA PARK

Our Amazing Dive Training Site & Skills Practice Area

It's a beautiful spot in a park with easy access. Underwater it's max 35'deep with a current on the far side. Lots and lots of lumber from it's days when lumber was transported downriver. Pike, bass, crayfish, etc. Coming back to the entry site is easy as the current lets up on the east shore and is shallower, Yellowish water, Lights are recomended. Visibility is usually 10-20 feet.

HUMBER BAY DIVING

A popular shore dive for divers year round. This nice spot offers a gorgeous view of the city and a shallow escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday Toronto life.

Visibility ranges from 5′-60′ visibility both in summer and winter. There are lines run to various underwater attractions including large concrete storm drain pipes that you can swim through, as well as a small boat.

Divers swim and scooter this popular spot.

Very popular winter time dive spot as Humber generally doesn’t freeze.

Humber Bay Park West Dive Site Map

P.B. LOCKE WRECK

A 136-foot schooner, built in 1873, converted to a barge, hauling stone and sank in a storm in October 1912.

The wreck sits in approx. 75 feet of water. One of our favorite dives, and a usually spot for our wednesday night weekly charters in the summer months. 

Certification Requirement: This Charter requires "Advanced Open Water Diver" certification.

WELLAND SCUBA PARK

Welland Scuba Park offers some fabulous shore dives for the beginner diver and diver who wants to work on skills in a shallow, and controlled environment.

The Old Welland Canal has been a free alternative for divers wishing to get a quick, easy, shallow dive in with nothing really to see….Until now. The great thing about the Old Canal now is the addition of a training platform, as well as lines run throughout the platform area over to the cars, 

On May 23rd, 2009 the city of Welland in co-operation with our local diving community sank a small steel boat in the canal as well.

Our favourite spot in the Canal has been the Welland Swing Bridge. Plenty of dock pillars and fish, as well as generally better visibility.

A great night diving spot too.

Visibility is usually 25-35′, water temperature is the same top to bottom most of the year, there is plenty of fish life and there will be much more happening at the canal over the next little while, so keep checking our site for more details.

The Old Canal has 3 main spots divers dive:

1 - The Main Scuba Park area:  Here you have the platform, the boat and a giant “U-Boat” (a propane cylinder with a propeller and a conning tower added to it)

2 - Swing Bridge:  Just off Fourth St. (off King St.) you can access the Welland Swing Bridge.  This spot is one of the nicer spots for things to see featuring a number of dock pilings to practice swimming through, three sections of docks, shopping carts, bikes, and whatever else people throw off a bridge is usually here.

Visibility is usually the best here as there aren’t platforms or a boat for divers to kneel on, requiring better buoyancy control.

3 - Lincoln St. Bridge:   There is a line from the platform at the Scuba Park that takes you up to the Lincoln St. Bridge.  Here you have a very cool bridge with big pilings to swim through and the normal junk that people tend to toss into the water.

Welland Scuba Park Maps

GEORGIAN BAY WRECKS & CHARTER

Join us for a day trip to Georgian Bay on the Georgian Explorer or Georgian Ranger boats. These are some of the most popular charter trips we offer. The boat is fully equipped for safe, fun, enjoyable diving with an experienced captain.

These trips feature a 3-dive day on the shallow wrecks near Christian and Hope Islands like the Marquette, Michigan and Mapledawn (the 3Ms!). The water is warm and clear, and you get to dive on three great shipwrecks such as the following:

Mapledawn - Steel Freighter, sank 1924

Saucy Jim - sank 1910

Michigan - sank 1843

Lottie Wolf - Schooner, sank 1879

Marquette - sank 1867

Make sure you book early as these trips sell out fast!

Available for ALL Dive Levels including Open Water Divers.

BROCKVILLE DIVING

Canada’s Caribbean as it’s been called unanimously, Brockville is located on the St. Lawrence Seaway which runs from the Northeast corner of Lake Ontario just east of Kingston through the Thousand Islands region and ending at the Saint Lawrence River joining the lakes to the Atlantic Ocean eventually.

Brockville and its surrounding areas of Gananoque, Rockport, Ivy Lea, etc., are the home to the warmest water Canadian Diving has to offer. The temperatures in the summer time months range from 68-75 degrees top and bottom.

The shipwrecks are bigger and better than most places, as well as in better shape with a lot of larger canal freighters and lakers making for more interesting dives for advanced divers to swim around and certified and experienced wreck penetration divers challenging themselves with some good wreck penetrations.  Visibility averages 50-60 feet most of the year and 60-100 towards the fall season.

Currents keep the water circulating making the sites more challenging for divers who have little or no experience in diving with a strong current.

Try some basic drift dives if you can before diving brockville, Signup, for our PADI Drift Diver Course, or opt for some of the easier more open water friendly sites (avoid the Daryaw until you’re more comfortable)

The presence of a thermocline is usually non existent in the river, so generally speaking the surface and bottom temperatures are within a couple of degrees of each other.

Shore Diving Sites:

Centeen Park, Downtown Brockville.
Canada’s First Underwater Sculpture Park was formed as scuba divers set the first five statues in place on Friday July 11th, 2014. Created by Dave Sheridan’s Thousand Islands Secondary School students, the Sculpture Park is a new diving attraction in the city of Brockville. The park serves as a memorial for all the divers and sailors lost in or on the river.

The Rothesay Shipwreck 
One of our choices for advanced training, the wreck is located on the outskirts of Brockville heading east from downtown  on Highway #2.   Look for a parking and picnic area with a staircase to the river’s edge leads you to a shore entry to follow the rope system to the site.
193 ft. x28.8 ft. x 7.9 ft. twin side-wheeler was relocated to service the Montreal to Prescott run where she met her fate September, 2 1889 when she collided with the American tug “Myra”.
In 1901 a group from the Royal Military College, Kingston used this wreck for explosives practice which flattened her mid ship section, leaving the stern/bow sections still fairly intact. There is a rope from shore that is tied off near the paddlewheels. Current is often minimal and there are weeds in the shallows.
Depth is 25-35′.

KINGSTON WRECKS & DIVING

Home to some of the most pristine, beautiful and intact shipwrecks in the World, Kingston, Ontario offers great wrecks both wooden and metal.
Home to over 20 popular wrecks, this area has become one of our favourite places to dive.
Visibility ranges from 30-100 feet with temperatures typical of Lake Ontario diving, with bottom temps being 39-41 degrees Fahrenheit.

The George A. Marsh one of the prettiest schooners around, the Marsh is reminiscent of the famed Tobermory shipwreck Arabia, but warmer, shallower and more intact.

The George A. Marsh rests in 85′ of clear Lake Ontario water and sank enroute to the US side of the lake to deliver coal to a hospital that was in need of it in 1917.

The George T. Davie is a steel barge that sank in 1945 off Simcoe Island, near Kingston, carrying coal enroute from Oswego, NY to Kingston.

She capsized and sank on her starboard side down in 95′.

The Wolfe Islander was a working ferry used to transport people between Kingston, Wolfe Island and Garden Island from 1945-1970.

In the 1980’s divers showed interest in sinking the wreck and cleaned and prepped it for sinking.

On September 21st, 1985, the Wolf set out on her final voyage under tow.

The Wolfe was retired in a max depth of 80′ with divers hitting the stern section in 45′ and the bow of the ship in 60′.

It’s a great dive for intermediate to advanced divers.

The Munsun is a dredge that started to take on water in 1890 on its way back to Collins Bay.

Many of the artifacts still remain on this ship, please leave them where they lay.

Max depth is 112′.

The Comet is one of the most popular shipwrecks in Kingston.  The steam driven 175′ paddle wheeler that remains largely intact in about 75′.

Olive Branch She sank on the night of September 30, 1880 near False Duck Island, on one of the Pennicons in 100′ of water, taking the lives of the captain and crew. She is sitting upright at the base of a shoal. This wreck is intact, much of her equipment remains on board – deadeyes, steering wheel, anchors, blocks.

Maximum depth 95′.

City of Sheboygan 3 masted schooner 135′ x 27′ x 10′. Built in 1871. She sank on September 25, 1915 by foundering in a violent storm with a cargo of coal; the crew of 5 perished. She sits upright in 95′ of water on a hard bottom near Amherst Island. Masts, rigging, blocks, deadeyes, etc. adorn this beautiful, well preserved wreck.

Maximum depth 105′.

Katie Eccles sank 1922, off Timber Island.  This beautiful 95′ long x 24′ wide 2 masted wooden schooner has one of the most photographed bows in Lake Ontario, with the anchor chains streaming down cascading off the wreck to the lake bottom.

The ships bow rigging can be found on the bow, the mast rigging midship.

She sank in 1922 in a maximum depth of 100′

Kingston Trimix Wrecks: There are 3 steel steamers laying in 240-260′ off the cement plant between Kingston and Picton.  Visibility is usually 100′ or better, but dark as there is no ambient light.

The Funnel: A cool dive site Captain Pat’s Dive Charters take our groups out to.  This neat dive site is basically a random pit in the middle of the lake with a max depth of 150′, it’s a great scooter dive and a fun mid range technical dive.

FATHOM FIVE NATIONAL MARINE PARK: TOBERMORY, ONTARIO

Fathom Five is Canada’s first national marine park. The park protects 20 islands at the mouth of Georgian Bay, and a main ecosystem that extends from the surface water down 200 meters.

Twenty-two shipwrecks are found in the park’s waters. If you don’t dive or snorkel, you can see shipwrecks from glass-bottom boats or visit Flowerpot Island where you can camp, see the island’s namesake rock columns, visit a lighthouse and explore a cave.

On the mainland you can explore the wonders of Bruce Peninsula National Park. Join us on a trip to Canada’s Dive Capital.

Tobermory is truly one of the most picturesque and beautiful areas you can dive, with water as clear and as blue as you’d see down south, but with prettier rocks and walls and slightly colder water temps, beautiful shipwrecks and a great Northern feel.

Our Tobermory trips are legendary and a better deal for you to participate in our trips in most cases then to go there on your own, as we add the most value packed trip cost and itinerary into a trip you can’t do for less of a cost yourself with the same lodging and number of boat dives (plus we feed you really well too!).

SHERKSTON SHORES QUARRY SHORE DIVE

Located on the coast of Lake Erie on the outskirts of Port Colborne is Sherkston Shores, a summer time resort featuring attractions including summer homes, camping, golfing, water park, mini-golf, paintball, a summer time community with stores, restaurants and of course a great dive site!

Sherkston quarry became a dive site in 1917 when the water pumps quit working one night after the workers went home. The next morning the workers showed up at work and knew they were out of a job!

Sherkston is a great place to dive when conditions are right. The best diving is spring and fall. The diving conditions are the worst during the peak summer months due to high seaweed and black algae, which chokes out all visibility. Once the Black algae arrives it’s a navigation and visibility challenged dive.

There is quite a bit to see including lots of fish, walls, train engines, rocks, a pump house, training platforms for students, a haunted tree, golf carts, boats and a great community atmosphere.

Maximum depth 40ft. Visibility ranges from 0-65 feet.

Sherkston Shores Map

BURLEIGH FALLS SHORE DIVE

Situated between Stoney Lake and Lower Buckhorn Lake, Burleigh Falls is approximately 170 km/106 mi from Toronto. This makes it easily accessible from the Toronto area.

With its clear waters, a plethora of marine life and an underwater cable for mobility and guidance, Burleigh Falls is a safe and rewarding experience for new divers. Although there are rumors of wreckages, none seem to have been found.

If you’re looking for a fresh site to tick off the list, then Burleigh Falls won’t disappoint. Located just north of Peterborough and west of the Kawartha Lakes area, there’s plenty to see and do for a day’s outing. The falls themselves are a sight worth seeing.

Check in with local dive experts to learn the protocols to follow. The current can be strong here, so follow the cable for safety. 

J.C MORRISON WRECK SHORE DIVE

Located in Lake Simcoe, Ontario, this three-year-old pleasure cruise steamer (steam powered Paddlewheeler), shipped people and supplies around Lake Simcoe. She caught fire on August 4, 1857 and sank down 30 feet, a few yards east of the present day Centennial Beach. She was cut loose to save the dock she was tied to and it drifted away. The remains are located approximately 200 yards from shore between the Rotary Water Fountain and the boardwalk at the City of Barrie Marina. 

The J.C. Morrison Wreckage is one of the most popular dive sites in the Southern Ontario region. It is an approximate 10 minute swim out to the wreck guided by a line that runs from the shore of Centennial Beach. Caution should be exercised. The paddle wheels, smokestack, anchors, boiler, and many small artifacts remain at this site.

The Morrison is marked by a small white jug approximately 300’ directly off the harbourfront in just 30’ of water. The shallow water allows for plenty of bottom time and the line that runs to the wreck makes it easy to avoid the surface swim. Don’t expect to see much on the swim along the bottom aside from the occasional crayfish, but when you hit the wreck you will know it. Both the line and the jug are tied to the same portion of the bow section with the remainder of the wreck extending perfectly parallel to the shore. All surfaces are rather well covered with zebra mussels but they have done wonders for visibility which now exceeds 25’ on particularly calm days.

This is a great night dive, and that is when the fish - mostly smallmouth bass - return to the shelter of the wreck structure.

Like most wrecks, this one has a jewel, and it is not something you can see every day. The paddlewheel (which has had a life of its own) sits on its side near the middle of the wreckage. It is still pretty impressive even though there is only about 1/4 of it left intact. If rumours are to be believed this is due in part to it being hauled away from the wreck by boaters who kept hitting their keels on it when it was vertical, but magically reappeared nearer the debris again laying on its side in 1997.

The wreck lies just off Centennial Park which is a narrow shoreline stretch of grass with ample parking for all but the busiest weekends. You enter by ambling over a strip of large rocks (erosion stoppers) to get to the water which is only a few paces from the parking lot. The marker jug will be straight out from the tree stump to the right of the parking lot (as you look at the water). The 1/4" line along the bottom starts at a small cinder block about 30’ offshore which has a tendency to collect weeds so may take a little searching to find it.

WAOME WRECK AND ELEANOR ISLAND!

Ojibwa Indian word meaning Water Lily. Originally named the Mink, the Waome now lies underneath the serine waters of Lake Muskoka. On the morning of October 6, 1934, en route from Port Carling to Beaumaris, a freak storm caught her broadside and left her on the bottom of the lake just west of Keewaydin Island. In about 70 feet of water, this 78’ steel hulled wooden steamer is sitting upright and is still almost fully intact.

Sitting upright and intact in dark, tea-colored water, the vessel’s original white paint still clings to her wood in places. The subtle glow of the bit of light that makes it to this depth reflects eerily off the Waome’s 78' hull. Penetration of this wreck is possible; from the upper deck past the wheelhouse, the diver can descend down the stairway to the lower deck or head towards the fantail. The cargo doors on the second deck are open on both sides allowing divers to swim through from one side to the other. There are many other areas to be explored on this vessel. We recommend minimum Advanced Certification for this dive. Maximum depth of this dive is 70 ft.

Experienced divers may penetrate this wreck. Lights and a wet or dry suit are a necessity. Visibility is from 10 – 15 feet.

Next to the dock is a beautiful parkette, with washrooms, picnic tables, and a sandy beach. Bringing a picnic lunch makes for a full day of fun and excitement for divers and non-divers alike.

NIAGARA RIVER DRIFT DIVING SITES

Many different Drift Dive sites are located in the upper Niagara River, as well as the lower Niagara River.
Be mindful of boat traffic and make sure you have a dive marker or flag with you always.

International Train Bridge to Frenchman’s Creek.  Average depth 25′, this moderate drift starts off fast at the bridge for the first 7-10 minutes and once you settle into your diving groove you’ll settle into a nice pace where you can start looking around for lots of big fish, bottles and enjoy the relaxed pace of this drift.

Divers Enter at Niagara Parkway & 12-15 Jarvis St. (you’ll see a parking area on the river) and drift down the Niagara Parkway exiting at the Frenchman’s creek shipwrecks in a parking area with a brown shed 2.3 KM’s East downstream of the river ending at 1283 Niagara Parkway.

International Train Bridge to Frenchman’s Creek Drift Dive Map

Frenchman’s Creek Drift

Enter in at the exit point of the above dive, drift downstream 2.6km.
This easy drift is one of the lesser dived spots, so there are more chances of bottles and big fish encounters.

The Frenchman’s Creek Drift

The Barge at Black Creek

One of our favourite little wreck dive dives is the Barge at Black Creek.  A 65′ 35′ barge in 20′ of water.

There are usually catfish and a ton of other fish around this wreck.

Visibility is usually good.

The most accurate way to get to the wreck is going in at the storm drain and facing into the current going across the current over the shallow weeds and dropping down, crawling out and not drifting.

The Barge isn’t really much of a drift, you enter an exit in the same place.

Access to the site is between 2505 and 2507 Niagara Parkway and Cairns Crescent, Fort Erie.

The Barge at Black Creek

Netherby Road Drift Dive:

A cool old prehistoric reef, a ton of golf balls and a nice lazy current and a shallow 25′ max depth make this dive a favourite among our local divers.

Netherby Road Drift

Thompson’s Hole to International Train Bridge

An Advanced drift dive just east after the Peace Bridge in downtown Fort Erie.  Enter at the hydro lines before South Sides Restaurant and drift down to International Train Bridge.   Max Depth 70′.

Thompson’s Hole Drift Dive Directions

Peace Bridge to Downtown Fort Erie Drift

Extreme current, dangerous construction debris, the Peace Bridge is a challenging and dangerous dive.  Max Depth is only 11′ until you get through the bridge where you can hit depths of 20-30′.

Peace Bridge Advanced Drift Dive Map

Navy Hall Lower Niagara River 

This intermediate to advanced dive can be dove 2 ways in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  Option 1 you enter and exit in the same area.  Option 2 you drift down into the mouth of Lake Ontario and get out at the Niagara-on-the-Lake gazebo.

Depths range from 20-40′, 45′-65′, or as an advanced/technical decompression drift at a max depth of 98′.

Navy Hall visibility can be good after periods of no rain or low wind, however, average visibility is 8-10′, 15-20′ is considered above average.

The fall and month of November are the best times to dive Navy Hall as the sturgeons come in to spawn during that time of year.  Sturgeons are incredible prehistoric fish that are endangered and can grow to lengths of up to 7-12′.

Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake

CONESTOGA WRECK SHORE DIVE

Depth: 28 feet (at stern)
Current: 1 knot
Entry: Shore entry, slightly downstream from the wreck. From entry follow dive line 25 metres to the wreck site.

Getting to the site:

Follow Regional Road No. 22 (Shanley Rd.) south to Cardinal. Continue straight toward the river, follow the road past the Legion out onto the dirt road on the causeway approximately 1 km. You will see the engine protruding from the water. There is a parking area. Although the wooden portions of the Conestoga are still in good condition, the upper areas are badly ice damaged and all metal is rusted and deteriorating. Conestoga has suffered greatly from looting and wreck-stripping by sport divers. One blade of the 14-foot propeller was broken off by an exploding dynamite charge during an unsucessful salvage attempt.

About the Wreck:

Two hundred fifty-two feet long, sixteen feet deep with a gross tonnage of 1,226, Consetoga was powered by a steeple compound engine capable of a speed of 8 knots. The upper portion of the steeple engine protrudes above the river, marking the site.

She sank on May 22, 1922 outside Lock 28 of the Old Galop Canal, one mile east of Cardinal, Ontario. A fire broke out in the engine room while awaiting passage at the lock. The ship was flushed from the Lock and allowed to ground and sink in her present position. Loss was estimated at $200,000.00. She was carrying 30,000 bushels of wheat, much of which was salvaged.