Muskoka, Ontario Canada Wooden Boat Diving

[underH2Oman]

I have read the the guidelines and rules quit a bit. The heritage act does not state anything about salvage of recreational vessels lost on inland lakes. We had to jump through hoops trying to get a permit to locate the Jane Miller lost somewhere in Colpoys Bay.

Not sure if you have read up for the Canadian side, but it it is abandoned on the bottom it would be considered wreck.
if you were wanting to go look for a lost wreck a permit is required from the Ministry of Culture.
If you stumble across a wreck when diving, Great but it is illegal to remove or disturb what could be a heritage site.
Getting a permit to recover even artifacts from the area is difficult to impossible.

If the owner of the wreck has not abandoned it recovery is possible with permission.
Here is a simple image outlining what to do if you find a wreck.

 

[Jared0425]

The OHA specifically states that the wreck has to be an object of historical value. Even so, the province of Ontario must PROVE that the object is of heritage and historical value. As I said before, when we went searching on your side of the lake we had to jump through some pretty tough loops just to get a permit to survey and then a 2 hour lecture on the matter of OHA.

Anyways for wooden boat enthusiasts, here is a great article about another wooden boat raised from the depths of Muskoka.

The Raising and Restoration of the “Wa Chee We” – The Original Written Story | Classic Boats / Woody Boater

 

[underH2Oman]

While the OHA's primary focus is to protect heritage properties and archaeological sites the act may require it to be of historical value. but they are only one government organization that oversees wrecks.

Transport Canada who currently holds the receiver of wreck position does not require a historical value designation and defines wreck as;
A wreck can be a vessel, ship, boat or aircraft, or anything that was part of or was on those craft, that has been wrecked, stranded, in distress, derelict, aground, sunk or partially sunk.
They state;
Any person taking possession of wrecks (i.e. salvaging) must report a found wreck to the local ROW. Salvors are entitled to reasonable salvage costs and expenses for their efforts. The owner will pay these expenses. If the owner cannot be found, the salvage award may be the wreck, or all or part of the proceeds of its sale, but may not exceed the value of the wreck.