Divers Den Tobermory, Canada - Upgraded to Adventure Tobermory 2025. New Dive Operator(s) Welcome! We Look Forward to Diving Again!

[Stoo]

It was described to me a few years ago by a friend who dove there as "A pile of sticks".

Ya definitely... nothing but piles of sticks here.

@Stoo South Carolina, actually, but in terms of temperature it's about the same.

Welp, not exactly. I was in NC last June in a 5mm and was plenty warm. I haven't been in a wetsuit here in 40+ years.

As mentioned, the shallows can be in the mid-60s on August. By shallows, I mean the top 15 or 20 feet. Mid water can be ok. but below 70', the water rarely gets above 42° in summer. On occasion, it can drop into the low 30s even in the summer. Of course the best wrecks are in deeper water.

The pile of sticks on the left is Arabia... 105' or so. The pile on the left is Forest City which bottoms out at 155'.

Having said that, lots of folks dive wet here, even on the deeper wrecks. If you're sticking to NDLs, then not an issue. Most of my dives tend to be longer so it's nice to be comfy.

Cost wise... I think a 1/2 day charter is $145 CDN. In peak season, hotels can be pricey and often have a 2 or 3 might minimum on weekends. Consider coming mid-week in September. The water is as warm as it ever gets, and many non-diving tourists have gone home. There are also AirBnB options (including (shameless plug) mine... ;-)

 

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

@Stoo To clarify, I meant NC and SC are about the same, but I can see how the wording would've been confusing lol.

As for the rest...well, the charter prices are cheaper than I expected, so that's good news. I have not tested my suit to anything below 56, and I was slightly chilly when I wasn't moving around, but that was for a pretty slow paced dive that lasted well over an hour (in about 15 feet of water). I might could tolerate the cold water for the shorter dive duration you'd expect at 70-100 feet. That being said, do you know if drysuit rentals are offered? Beyond that, with the cold water temps you're talking about, I'm starting to get a bit worried about my regset. It's rated to 39 F, and from what you're saying, it may well get colder than that.

All of this would be several years down the road at very least, so not something I'm worried about right now, but it's good information to have. I especially appreciate the tip about going in September, that's good to know, and if I ever do plan a trip, I'll take a look at the airbnb situation .

 

[Stoo]

@Stoo To clarify, I meant NC and SC are about the same, but I can see how the wording would've been confusing lol.

I believe that drysuits will be available to rent. The previous owner was just sarting to do that I think, and the new ones will likely expand on it.

A good cold-water reg is all you need. When we dive in Newfoundland, the water is about 33/34 at depth... Tob is soupy by comparison!

 

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

@Stoo I've been considering buying a hog, which has environmental sealing that I believe should do the job, though I'd obviously check the exact specs before I buy one. Frankly would've already gotten one instead of my current reg if the diveshop owner hadn't done a rather good job making me doubt their parts availability. Seems to have been purely a scare tactic to get me to buy a more expensive regset, but ah well, what can I say except that I was new to scuba gear. Yet another reason why I no longer trust anybody selling me dive equipment, sadly.

 

[Stoo]

@Stoo Yet another reason why I no longer trust anybody selling me dive equipment, sadly.

LOL... Lot's of good shops here. When you come up, I can hook you up and you can smuggle it back. ;-)

 

[rhwestfall]

My wife and daughter dive HOG in Tobermory waters...

 

[Stoo]

My wife and daughter dive HOG in Tobermory waters...

Yup. Apeks seem to be the "go to" for a lot of us, but there are lots of good cold-water regs now.