Wanting to dive in Midland/Penetang

[scuba newbie]

I'm looking for new dive sites in the Midland/Penetang area. Is there any good shore dives in the area. Is the "Reliever" near Methodist Point accesible from shore? Or how easy is it to get to the "Mapledawn" off of Christian Island? Any help would be awesome!!

 

[Groundhog246]

I have yet to find and dive the Mapledawn. Too many rocks too close to the surface for my comfort (I don't want my boat to become another dive site). I wouldn't go back there without being in an inflateable (and preferably someone else's). The Marquette off the East side of Hope Island is a nice dive and the Littie Wolf just up the shore is not bad, but pretty flat due to ice effects in shallow water.

You say new dive sites, so I'm guessing new to you? What have you dove already?

 

[JAK]

I think Groundhog gave you pretty much what is available in the area. Unfortunately, none are accessible from shore...unless you want to swim for six hours to the sites (just kidding). The Mapledawn is accessible by boat, it took me about an hour to find it once I got in the area. I took my dinghy and did a search (the marker was gone). Once I found it, I brought my boat closer to it. Yes there are rocks and I would suggest you do it on a calm day...which doesn't happen often because of its location (west side of Christian island). The vis is usually pretty good.

You may want to check the following two sites for more info on what is available in the Penetang area:

http://www.adb.ca/scuba/ontdive.html

http://www.vaxxine.com/nda/divesites/pentang.html

Good Luck and safe Diving

JAK

 

[Groundhog246]

I did overlook Cedar Point which is a shore dive. It IS on aboriginal lands, beside where the ferry crosses to Christian Island. I've never dove it, but I understand it's been used by shops for checkout dives. I've been told there may be a fee to park.

 

[crankin]

There is a fee to park...I believe it's 10.00. I've chartered a group up in that area and you pretty much need a boat at some point or another to get to the sites. Whether it's to get to the islands or the wreck itself. If you can get out to Hope island you can do the Lottie Wolf from shore but the Marquette is just a little too far out to do as a shore dive. The Maple Dawn is close to shore (Christian Island) but, when I was there I didn't see any sign of life near by. Your best bet for a boat in the area would be something with very little draft because it goes from 200+ feet to less than 10 with boulders everywhere in less than a second. I'd imagine there would be some great wall dives around the area but talk about a butt puckering experience chartering around there.:mooner:

 

[Groundhog246]

You need a boat to dive the wrecks, but I know some folks do a shore dive to the West side of the docks. It's just a sand beach, with not much to see. And while you might be able to the Lottie Wolf as a shore dive, you need a boat to get to the island anyway (the ferry only crosses to Christian). And if the bands patrol boat comes around, they charge you a fee for going ashore (at one time they tried to charge to anchor, but that didn't hold up, so anchoring is currently still free) since it is reservation land.