What is your favorite dive spot in Ontario?

[artw]

I prefer the St Lawrence River between Cornwall and Ivy Lea

 

[scuba newbie]

Thank you all for responding...Kingston and along St.Lawrence seem to be the hot spots. I'm doing my OW June 11/12 in Kingston, 1st day shore dive, 2nd day charter. I never heard you had to buy a dive tag for Tobermory, what can you do... I live on Lake Scugog, 20 min. north of Oshawa, but I can't imagine diving in it...1/2 mud, 1/2 water. Is there any dive spots that aren't as glamorous as Kingston but would be good for a newbie? I've heard about Fenellen Falls (excuse my spelling on that if wrong), Marmora River..Stoney Lake and Lake Simcoe I've heard about but not sure where good spots on lake would be..if any other than having fun just diving.

Thanks

 

[Groundhog246]

Couple of spots on Lake Simcoe.
The most popular is the wreck JC Morrison. Accessable as a shore dive from Centennial Park. A lot of boat traffic around, we find a loud person on shore to yell at them 'helpful' .
Not sure if the Marine Railway at Jackson's Point is still diveable. There was talk of expanding the marina at the cost of destroying the submerged portion of an old marine railway. We did it a couple of summers ago and while a shallow dive, we very much enjoyed it.
Then there's Big Bay Point. You can get some serious depth on this one, but there's a public wharf (it's the entry point) and a lot of boat traffic and you have to cross a fairly wide area of very shallow water.

 

[electric_diver]

There are lots of great spots in Ontario for diving.

As a new diver you might want to consider a day trip to dive the Rothesay (just out side of Prescott, Ontario) and the Connestoga (Cardinal Ontario). The advantages of these sites is that they are shallow (<30 feet), easy to find shore dives which means they are free. Another good beginner site is the Prescott water front. There are a couple of anchors and a small wreck in 40 feet to see. It will take you about 3 to 3.5 hours to drive there from Oshawa.

As you build experience check out the Wolfe Islander II in Kingston (40 to 80 feet) and the Aloha and Effie May (55 feet).

Then when you get more comfortable you'll want to see the Lillie Parsons and Gaskin in Brockville. The Gaskin could be done sooner as the current is light. However the Lillie will have current.

Every Ontario diver should do a trip to Tobermory at some point in their careers. $15 is cheap for an annual park fee.

Adrian

 

[Groundhog246]

The Connie is a great wreck, the current can be a bit much for a newbie though. I'd recommend finding someone who's done it to buddy with the first time. Only did the Rothesay once and between current and poor vis, did not see much nor particulalry enjoy. I should give it another go.

 

[electric_diver]

The Connie is a great wreck, the current can be a bit much for a newbie though.

I would disagree with that. Many of the instructors in Eastern Ontario use the Connie for the 3rd and 4th checkout dives in their open water classes. So many open water classes are taught there that it is best to avoid the Connie on weekend mornings in the summer. The place is overrun with students! Either get there early (before 9am) or late (after 3pm).

Rothesay is fantastic as a night dive on a full moon. Many fish inhabit this wreck.

Adrian

 

[Groundhog246]

I suppose the current might offer the benefit of flushing away the silt from the students. My wife lost her mask to the current on our first dive there. Fortunately she had enough dives under her belt to be able to remain mid water, float with the current, put it back on and clear. I'd worry about 2 newish divers, NOT accompanied by an instructor, DM, etc if similar occured. Thus my recommendation to buddy with an experienced diver the first time. For those of us who trained in lakes, the current can be a bit of a 'shock'. OTOH, I can understand local shops exposing their students to the current as part of their OW training.
We dove it a Saturday morning mid-summer (for the first OFWF get together) and only a couple of other divers around before our group descended upon it. Of course 3rd and 4th dives would likely be Sunday.

 

[R Shannon]

If you want a good dive close to Toronto try Oakville large boat big ladder and $35/dive Oakville Divers Scuba Centre :: Sales | Service | Instruction or 905-842-8881 tuesday and thursdays at 7 pm ..sat and sunday one and two tank dives starting at 0800am.

cheers R

 

[ryshannon]

We have some good Shore diving in the St Clair River in Sarnia, also lots of Wrecks that can be done from shore.

 

[Xaryo]

I prefer the St Lawrence River between Cornwall and Ivy Lea

I agree with you. Have you seen the turtles at Ivy Lea? Last weekend, I was there. Got in the water at the boat ramp, swam across to the small rocky island and then in the current. There was many turtles. then we got out at the small wharf, walk across to camping site #105 and went back in the water to see the small wreck and finish by a drift upto the beach. At 70 ft deep, we could saw the bridge at the surface.


[Oops, just saw that the post was 4 years old]