Boasting Time and a real Question!

Ontario Diver · Sep 9, 2002

There is a new diver in town. He is known far and wide as SOOD! (Son Of Ontario Diver). (OK some bad English humour!)

Ian did his final cert dive on Sunday in Mallorytown. He also got dinner at the "Keystorm" in Brockville. For those who don't know Ian - he is 11 and I am very proud of him. (BTW - I do not want to start another "how old before cert discussion")

I want Ian to keep diving but as a junior diver he is restricted to 40 ft. So here is my question.

What dive spots are in Southern Ontario that are suitable for a Junior diver? (40 ft max depth, something to see, no major current or other dangers. )

I know of the Morrison, Big Bay Point (Boring!) and of a couple of sites up in Parry Sound - but what else is out there?

JimC · Sep 9, 2002

They are a bit far from Toronto since I dive out of Ottawa, but all <40ffw.

Shore Dives:
Anchors and Stacked Hulls (The hulls are a LONG swim, and 50ffw.. but the anchors are close and ~20ffw), Kingston Marine Museum, Connistoga, Rothesay, Morisburg Waterworks, Lock 23, Arnprior Bridge (low vis), Red Pine Wreck (low vis). Then there is drift diveing all down the old waterfrount (like Morisburg). And if your real brave, just find a lake and get wet.. expect to see lots and lots of clams doing this one.

Boat Dives:
?? Can't think of much that shallow.

Rooster1 · Sep 9, 2002

The Tugs in Toby, the Sweepstake( I think any kid would love). If you dont mind crossing the border there are 3 quarries in Ohio just about an hour and 15 mins from the border of Windsor/Detroit and they are great for beginners with much shallow diving.

Butch103 · Sep 10, 2002

Offer my congrats to Ian......I know the feeling of being a proud father watching your son (or daughter) get their water licenses..........ah but then to my chagrin...their loyalties fall elsewear, girls , four wheeling, girls, cars, girls, drinking (argghhhh) (but not drinking and driving), girls and last but not least girls..................

bigz · Sep 10, 2002

Shallow, close to T.O. and a good way to learn what a wreck looks like: The Juno, Bowmanville, ON. Check out the Scuba 2000 web site for current info on location, etc. under the Dive Travel - Great Lakes thread.

sparky30 · Sep 10, 2002

There are a few spots in the Niagara Region you might like.
Sherkston Quarry, Port Colborne - A few old trains, ore cars, a pump house, and lots of fish..
Windmill Point Quarry, Fort Erie - A boat and all kinds of junk
Upper Niagara River - Drift Dive. An easy dive that's pretty shallow. There is an old wreck near frenchmans creek.
Chippawa Creek - Another nice drift dive. Really easy, and all kinds of stuff to look at.
Old Welland River - I've never done this one, but I heard its fun.
The Raleigh - Lake Erie Wrck in 25 ft of water neat Sherkston/Port Colborne.

Groundhog246 · Sep 17, 2002

My wife did OW certification this past summer. One of her early dives was Jackson's Point (Lake Simcoe, just north of Keswick), late Aug. Not very deep (I think we maxed at 14 feet), remains of a marine railway, a lot of fish. Supposed to be remains of a couple of lifeboats, but we never found them. Temps were low 70's, vis was 15 feet or more. Lots of small bass and a mid size pike. I'd do it again.

tinman · Sep 26, 2002

I would recommend

1) Kirkfield - great for his bouyancy practice with a silt bottom. Max depth I think is about 25-30 feet. Need 4 divers and access cost is $5/head (min charge of $20). A few interesting submerged items - cars, trucks, boats etc.

2) Burleigh Falls - but not on the cable. Remind me to talk to you about a couple of alternate routes when we get together next Tues. that bottoms out about 40 feet and has a couple of interesting things to see.

Congrats Ian and welcome to the underwater world. Unlike the world above water, occasionally it's a good idea to listen to what some of the Old Farts have to say (but you already know that if you got through your cert course - good job!)

Boasting Time and a real Question!

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