Tobermory, July 4th Weekend Report

[Diver Lori]

Just got back from 3 days of diving in Tobermory with GS Watersports. Had a very good time....relaxing too. We did 6 dives total, 3 deep, 3 shallow. The two dives that were the most worthwhile were the Niagara II and the Arabia. We plan to head back and do those again and add to that the Scovill and the Forest City for sure.

We headed up Thursday....took us 12 hours to get there from Cincinnati due to the 2.5 hour wait to cross the bridge from MI to ON at Sarnia. Geez, was that a waste of time! We checked into the A-frame we rented for the weekend from Bruce Anchor motel....very nice and spacious with plenty of deck space for drying wet gear.

We had the typical deep/shallow 2 dive combo each day. Since we were the first to book the boat, we got to choose the sites. Given this, we brought 40cu tanks to be redundant given the ice cold water/depth. The lowest temps we got at depth were 38 degrees. Fine for my buddy and I in our drysuits, but our friends in wetsuits were looking for the sunny spots on the boat between dives. They want to return to do the dives in paragraph 1, but they definitely want drysuits by then. I put hand warmers in my drysuit gloves and they were very thankful I donated them to them on the trip back to the harbor. They were cold, but they said it was worth it, especially given the Niagara and the Arabia. I didn't even feel the cold on the Arabia....I was so excited exploring the upright wreck. The water was clear....vis 60 to 80 feet, fantastic.

Claus was our captain on the "Lark". Very helpful and a very capable captain. He took good care of us and had plenty of stories to share. When we return again, we will definitely request Claus.

Tobermory is most definitely a tourist community.....small, cute and quaint. Typical. We enjoyed walking around in the afternoon after a late lunch, ice cream cone, and given the opportunity will return again with a little more time and may even do some hiking or kayaking in the afternoons next go round.

We lucked out with very calm water as I have a tendency to ralph if the conditions are iffy. I was happy, no, ecstatic to see practically placid conditions all three days. I couldn't have planned the weather better if I was Mother Nature! The weather topside was great too...mid 70's and NO HUMIDITY! Great sleeping at night with a late 9am morning boat...can't complain one bit...except for maybe the ferry whistle at 6:55 every morning......

 

[rickydazla]

You really did have an amazing weekend weather-wise. I'm looking forward to my first visit next month and am hoping for the same.. 38 degrees, though! BbbrrrrrrrrrRRRR!

 

[dab]

Sounds like you had a great time. Tobermory is such a nice, friendly place to visit and the diving really is excellent. You might also consider a night dive on the Niagara, as I recall that is a lot of fun too.

 

[divingbuddy]

We were up there with a group as well - we dove from the Teak Isle (which was docked next to the Lark). You couldn't have asked for better weather or flatter water. Surface temperatures were over 60 F, and yes...at depth on the Arabia or Forest City its in the 30s or low 40s pretty much year round. Great dives though! Glad you and your group had a great time. Cheers!

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Thanks for the trip report! Tobermory is my favorite place to dive and G&S's boat "Joseph Simon" is my favorite dive boat ever.

I can't imagine driving up on a holiday weekend though

After we cross the bridge at Sarnia we always drive down to the park on the Canadian side and get food from one of the chip trucks, YUMMY!

The Fish-n-Chip place is my favorite restaurant in Tobermory. We discovered it's less expensive to split a family meal between two people, you get the same amount of food you would if you ordered two single orders.

The pizza place with the fire baked pizza is another "must try". I can't remember the name but it's on the same side of the harbor as the Fish-n-Chip place but a few doors closer to the Tugs shore dive area.

I'm going to miss not going up there this year.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Busdiver]

Next time take the ferry at Marine City and avoid the bridges. It will save you the 2.5 hour wait. The ferry is quick and very, very easy.

Glad you enjoyed Claus. I have had problems with him in the past. (And no I will not elaborate, G&S is a good op and I am glad others have not had issues). We will be diving with Devil's Den in September.

 

[Diver Lori]

The Fish-n-Chip place is my favorite restaurant in Tobermory. We discovered it's less expensive to split a family meal between two people, you get the same amount of food you would if you ordered two single orders.

The pizza place with the fire baked pizza is another "must try". I can't remember the name but it's on the same side of the harbor as the Fish-n-Chip place but a few doors closer to the Tugs shore dive area.

Ber :lilbunny:

We rented the A-frame with kitchen and I would have preferred to do lunches in the house, but given the short week opted for eating out for lunch & dinner. We ate at The Fish and Chip Place, The Pub, The Sub Shop, The Coffee Bar, The Leeside and the Pirate Restaurant. All in all, the food was good, and somewhat reasonable, but the "everything fried" got old real fast. We looked at the fire baked pizza place twice while passing by, but figured it was takeout only....couldn't see anyplace to sit given it shared the same house as a craft gift shop. We will consider it for the next trip after our buddies break down and get those drysuits!!!

 

[Steve_Dives]

Ahh, Toby. I was reminiscing over our trip last summer as I flipped through my log last weekend. It was nice having a group of buddies going up together. (Thanks Ber for letting me tag along! ...and for not feeding me to a pool drain, indigenous wildlife, or the ferry.)

I'd like to go back sometime. It's a neat town, and you can walk just about everywhere. The ice cream became something of a ritual.

The Niagra and Arabia were my two favorite deep dives. The Tugs, Sweepstakes, City of Grand Rapids, and City of Cleveland were my favorites on the shallower end.

 

[Steve_Dives]

Oh, forgot the Wetmore as a neat shallow dive.

And yes, the "everything fried" was getting to me. We ate the pizza right across the road at the picnic tables. I recall them having some seating, but I don't think it was intended for dining, just waiting.

 

[shoredivr]

Just got back from 3 days of diving in Tobermory with GS Watersports. Had a very good time....relaxing too. We did 6 dives total, 3 deep, 3 shallow. The two dives that were the most worthwhile were the Niagara II and the Arabia. We plan to head back and do those again and add to that the Scovill and the Forest City for sure.

Glad you enjoyed yourselves! Tobermory is a great dive location in Ontario, the water clarity is great. I need to get up there soon...only 3 hours for me, though.

The Forest City and the San Jacinto are on my favourite great wrecks list, as is the Arabia. I haven't dived the Scoville yet, this year maybe.

The San Jacinto is outside of the Fathom Five Marine Park boundary, about a two hour boat ride, it's usually combined with the City of Cleveland. Click on the map to see any of the wrecks.

Divers Den - Shipwreck Map

As far as food goes (that's not fried), you can also try the Grandview Restaurant, just by the Tugs shore dive site Tobermory+motel+ontario+Bruce Peninsula,+Accommodation,+Dining

or the Crowsnest also has non-fried things on the menu The Crowsnest Pub Tobermory Ontario

I've not had a chance to try the Stone Orchid yet, but it looks promising for Indonesian food http://www.stone-orchid.com/so_menu.htm

Anyway, come on up on a non-holiday weekend, or try that ferry suggested earlier...