follow-up to diving near Guelph

[Crush]

Hello,

Thanks to those who responded to my earlier query about diving near Guelph. The info was excellent, but I may not haul my gear onto the plane for the noted sites.

Second part - is there any interesting diving near Craigleith?

Many thanks!

 

[cdarroch]

Hey mpetryk!
To be honest, other than the obvious Great lake sites, I don't know if there's anything worthwhile diving around Guelph. I know Guelph lake is shallow and dirty...
I'm from Fergus-Elora, and though I live in Panama now, I'm coming home for a vacation June 12th to July 3rd... maybe we can come up with a site while I'm there, if you need a buddy!
Cheers!

 

[helimvee]

Cdarroch is correct. There is water close to Guelph but if you are looking for interesting (depending on how you define that) you are pretty much out of luck.

Oakville Divers (about an hour from Guelph depending on traffic) does some wreck charters in Lake Ontario. There was a recent post about the operation:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ontario-fresh-water-freaks/243949-shore-dive-mississauga-oakville-6.html

BTW I am not sure you are even allowed to dive in Guelph Lake.

 

[shoredivr]

Craigleith is pretty shallow, but if you're up as far as that, go to Wiarton, south shore of Colpoy's Bay, there's a little roadside park 10 km east of town called cedar hill, lots of local divers use this shore dive for training and dive tune-ups. The water's clear and cold, you can get some decent depth there too.

PM me if you want more details.

 

[shoredivr]

Here's Cedar Hill above water, looking over Colpoy's Bay, mpetryk, as per my pm.
Other pic is water clarity in the shallows.

Have fun whatever you decide!

 

[cdarroch]

BTW I am not sure you are even allowed to dive in Guelph Lake.

right you are - I just remembered. As far as I know, all GRCA waterways are off-limits

 

[helimvee]

Cedar Hill is indeed a very easy dive. Lots of parking and a picnic shelter and tables to gear up. There is a Time Hortons at the turn off in Wiarton.

There are a few objects underwater to check out. If you do go, there is one object you shouldn't miss. Head straight off shore and when you hit 35-40' of water hang a right and swim a couple of minutes. You will see some smaller objects, but you will know when you hit the big one. I would tell you what it is but it is better to be surprised.

Be very careful of the boat traffic in the area. They use dive flags for target practice. Make sure you surface close to shore.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Wiarton, Ontario - Cedar Hill - Diving My Way

Some information on Ceder Hill. There is very little diving around Guelph and I have looked. This is far from complete, but some information can be found here:

Dive Sites - Diving My Way
and here:
Diving My Way - Google Maps of Potential Dive Sites (some of these are existing sites that I simply have not dove and some may not even be diveable)

It has been a while since the site was set-up so there are additions that are needed but it gives you a place to start.

 

[Groundhog246]

If you have a boat, there's there are the remains of the Mary Ward just off Craigleith. Not deep, I'm told about 15 feet. I haven't done it yet myself. It's on the agenda for this summer, but I need a very calm day to thread my way in and anchor.
Cedar Hill is fun, drops off quick enough to get some depth.
Also not too far, if you have boat access is the Marquette off the East side of Hope Island. Nearly intact hull of a 135' schooner barge in about 30 to 35 feet of water, an anchor at the bow, capstan, centerboard trunk. Always been great viz when I've been there. Just a bit further North off the lighthouse is pieces of anouther schooner barge, but it's shallower in the 15 to 18 foot range and the ice has broken it up quite a bit. Make a nice second or third dive and you can get an idea how the vessels double planked hulls were built.
I keep a boat in Meaford (just a bit West of Craigleith) and have done some dives on the North side of the breakwall. There are the remains of the original dock, which ran out at least another 200 feet from where it ends now. Lots of rock and cribwork along with other artifacts. Sometimes some fish, last summer we ran across a huge sheepshead (what an ugly fish).

 

[Groundhog246]

right you are - I just remembered. As far as I know, all GRCA waterways are off-limits

They used to allow diving by prior arrangement and before regular swimming hours at Elora Quarry. I've heard there's not much to see, not all that deep and vis is so so.
The Guelph, Waterloo, Kitchener & Cambridge area is a nice place to live, except for those of us addicted to boats and/or diving. :depressed:

To the original poster. In case you're not aware, Georgian Bay is COLD!