Moray Mike:
I'm heading to Toronto for a wedding at the end of June this year and wondered whether it's worth taking my dive gear. I've had a spin through the threads on this section of the Forum and it seems that the Picton, Kingston and Thousand Island areas are both easily accessible from Toronto and seem popular.
Trouble is I know nothing about the scene in Canada...
Is it drysuit or wetsuit water in June?
Is it shore based or boat diving?
What's under the water in Lake Ontario and The St Lawrence?
What's the viz generally like?
Can I hire tanks and weights?
Is Nitrox available?
Any advice would be much appreciated. Cheers! :happywave
Mike, I think my friends on this board have been abit too restrained....
You are in for a TREAT!
Ontario has some of the best freshwater wreck diving in the world, bar none. Fresh cold water means the wrecks are intact.
I have a British friend I have dove with, and know abit about your diving in the UK from her. The viz here is generally better than the ocean. Secondly, the lakes are quite cold in June as they have not warmed up yet so a dry suit is a must.
Thirdly, most of the diving is via boat charter. It is often difficult to just walk on these boats during high season (July to September) but in June it might be OK.
Tobermory on Lake Huron at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, and Kingston/Picton on Lake Ontario are arguably the top spots for scuba diving in Ontario, with Brockville on the St. Lawrence and the towns on the North shore of Lake Erie also excellent. Tobermory waters are quite cold (2-4C at shallow depth) during in late June and a 3 1/2 hour drive from Toronto so you may not have the time, although it has some must do wrecks and is a very scenic spot for divers and non-divers.
The boats do not supply equipment nor tanks nor weights but you can get these either from a Toronto shop or from the dive shops at the dive sites, which are all out of town. You will need transport from Toronto and sometimes you can hook up with other people by checking out some dive shops.
You can bring your own kit and rent tanks at the dive centres. Make sure to bring a card if you want EANx. Most dive operators in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) offer Nitrox fills.
You must get on the Internet and line up some weekend dives beforehand (at the end of June there is some but not alot of mid-week commercial charters - e-mail the operators the week before you arrive to get their updated schedules).
Tell them what you need and also try to get a buddy. I have found getting a good solid buddy the main problem in doing walk-on dives on boats in Ontario.
One wreck which is absolutely worth doing and is close to Toronto is the "Tiller" wreck only an hour or so drive from Toronto. If you check my website I will be organizing a dive to the Tiller wreck this Summer. It is at 105 feet, an 1850's century 2 masted schooner in excellent condition. It will be cold down there any month of the year. But for a Brit it will be no problem. Make sure if you rent a dry suit, to do a pool checkout for fit before you get on a boat. All the best.
