Best diving in the St. Lawrence/1000 Islands

[Tim Ingersoll]

At the urging of various members of the boards I am about to take the punge into fresh water diving. I am making plans for next summer. What's the best area to dive in the St. Lawrence/1000 Islands region? Can anyone steer me to a good dive op. Will a 7mm do it? Thanks for the help.

[JamieZ]

Alex Bay and Rockport area get kind of toasty in the summer. It ranges between 40f in early Spring to 73-75f towards the middle to end of summer. I would say if you want to dive up there or in your area all year long get a Drysuit but if your going to be a Summer diver in Alex Bay buy a 3mil. If you like the idea of also getting in to doing some of the wreck dives in Kingston in the Summer a 5-7mil will be good, thermoclines up that way.. All the area's up in the 1000 Island Region have awesome places to dive. Check out the post on the main club page for best wrecks. Personally I dive dry and only dive on Canadian Charters up there. They have tons to choose from and the exchange rate makes diving up there alot cheaper. :)

[taz22]

Tim Ingersoll once bubbled...
At the urging of various members of the boards I am about to take the punge into fresh water diving. I am making plans for next summer. What's the best area to dive in the St. Lawrence/1000 Islands region? Can anyone steer me to a good dive op. Will a 7mm do it? Thanks for the help.


I live just outside of Brockville in the good ole' 1000 Islands and I dive in my 5/7mm Henderson year-round, in the winter I add a 3mm hooded vest that does me fine.

I suggest that you check out the following weblink and look under the Brockville and Kingston section. Personally I recommend Limestone Diving for Charters in the Kingston area and Diver's Paradise, Abucs and Sea n Sky charters in the Brockville area.

http://www.scubaq.ca/ontarioscubadiving/

I will also note that I have my own boat ( pleasure boat not charter ) and my cottage is mere yards from the Daryaw wreck. If you ever get up this way let me know ( PM me if you wish) and I'll see what I can do in getting any additional info you might need.

[Coyote]

taz22 once bubbled...



I live just outside of Brockville in the good ole' 1000 Islands

Where outside of Brockville? my parents live in Johnstown

[GTADiver]

Tim Ingersoll once bubbled...
At the urging of various members of the boards I am about to take the punge into fresh water diving. I am making plans for next summer. What's the best area to dive in the St. Lawrence/1000 Islands region? Can anyone steer me to a good dive op. Will a 7mm do it? Thanks for the help.

How can any diver living in Rochester not have gone diving in the 1000 Islands? If I was in Rochester I would be diving in Kingston or Brockville every weekend for sure. Late August and earlySept is the best time for anyone that does not like the cold. Wet suit is optional that time of the year (for Canadians anyways).

Most respectable charter operators will not let attorneys wear spedos on their boats.:D

[taz22]

Coyote once bubbled...


Where outside of Brockville? my parents live in Johnstown


Just outside the Brockville city limits. My cottage is at Hudson Point just to the West of B-ville.

[Tim Ingersoll]

GTADiver once bubbled...


How can any diver living in Rochester not have gone diving in the 1000 Islands? If I was in Rochester I would be diving in Kingston or Brockville every weekend for sure. Late August and earlySept is the best time for anyone that does not like the cold. Wet suit is optional that time of the year (for Canadians anyways).

Most respectable charter operators will not let attorneys wear spedos on their boats.:D

Lets get this straight:
1) I do not, never have and never will wear a "speedo" on a dive boat.
2) I am spoiled rotten by the diving that I do (and yes, I appreciate how fortunate I am). I work 70 hours a week to spend three to four weeks in the Caribbean every year so the jones to dive is never overwhelming. I have trips to Cayman Brac, Provodenciales and Cozumel coming in the next four months. Its hard to justify donning a drysuit and taking the plunge in 34 degree water to look at your odd lake trout.
3) Cold water is cold.
4) Did I mention cold water?
5) Lastly, and most importantly, my assimilation is just beginning. The only divers I have known prior to joining this board have been fellow Caribbean divers. Since joining the board I have a sudden strange and growing urge to dive in fresh water.

So. . . .back off man, I'm a diver!

[GTADiver]

Hi Tim,

Spedos are required diving apparel in the Province of Quebec under their new diving regulations. I wouldn't joke about something like that.....LOL

When you venture up let me know and I will take you to some good dive sites.

We will assimilate you.

[Tim Ingersoll]

It must be the French influence. The only speedo I have ever seen on a dive boat was on Fifi a owner/operator in Provodenciales. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. (Great dive op by the way - Caicos Adventures).

[GTADiver]

Hey we should start a thread on spedos....they must be leopard skin and you must have a Molson gut.

[taz22]

Tim Ingersoll once bubbled...


Lets get this straight:
1) I do not, never have and never will wear a "speedo" on a dive boat.
2) I am spoiled rotten by the diving that I do (and yes, I appreciate how fortunate I am). I work 70 hours a week to spend three to four weeks in the Caribbean every year so the jones to dive is never overwhelming. I have trips to Cayman Brac, Provodenciales and Cozumel coming in the next four months. Its hard to justify donning a drysuit and taking the plunge in 34 degree water to look at your odd lake trout.
3) Cold water is cold.
4) Did I mention cold water?
5) Lastly, and most importantly, my assimilation is just beginning. The only divers I have known prior to joining this board have been fellow Caribbean divers. Since joining the board I have a sudden strange and growing urge to dive in fresh water.

So. . . .back off man, I'm a diver!


Humm....I can just picture your typical work week!

25 Hours spent chasing Ambulances

10 Hours spent going over paperwork at the local Dunkin Donuts

30 Hours spent doing plea-bargings at Hooters over a few beers

5 Hours cursing the Judge who won't give you a recess


LOL!! :D

[Tim Ingersoll]

You forgot 10 hours per week checking the new posts on Scubaboard!:D

[GTADiver]

You are not assimilated yet if your only on line for 10 hrs a week.

[Tim Ingersoll]

Too much Scubaboard = Too few clients = Less money = Less diving.

[GTADiver]

Do you American bottom feaders....I mean lawyers not use contingency fees?

[Tim Ingersoll]

Contingency fees are for personal injury lawyers. Everyone else uses hourly fees. Personal injury lawyers are the ones who give the rest of us a bad name.

[canuckdiver]

pretty much directly across the lake in kingston is the best diving in the great lakes IMHO ;)
let me know when you are coming, possibly we can hook up and I can help play tour-guide :D

[Jimmy B]

have a look at this website

www.northerntechdiver.com

[GTADiver]

its his first time in fresh water....we have to be gentle with him...cant expose him to a thermocline the first time. lets put him in the river on something like the keystorm for day 1 and then the marsh in Kingston on day 2.

[DivingGal]

GTADiver once bubbled...
its his first time in fresh water....we have to be gentle with him...cant expose him to a thermocline the first time. lets put him in the river on something like the keystorm for day 1 and then the marsh in Kingston on day 2.

only two wrecks? hehehe, the more the merrier!


Keystorm + Kinghorn (aka Rockport) or...
Marsh + Comet or....

[taz22]

Might I suggest we start him off slowly and have him do the Gaskin and Muskie on day one and then the Keystorm and Kinghorn ( too bad bout the idiot that dropped the anchor on her ) for day two.

[GTADiver]

Diving Gal, you cant do the keystorm followed by the kingshorn without going to shore first and clearing in with Cdn customs. You would have to do the kingshorn first if you want to do the keystrom the same day (from the charter operators perspective). The Kingshorn is in Canadian waters and the Keystorm is in American waters. The normal way it is done since sept 11th is dive the kingshorn and then go to US customs then up to the keystorm then back to cdn shore and call canpass.

Most divers diving the Keystorm for the first time want to do it twice just because of the size of the thing.

[Bubble Boy]

taz22 once bubbled...
Might I suggest we start him off slowly and have him do the Gaskin and Muskie on day one and then the Keystorm and Kinghorn ( too bad bout the idiot that dropped the anchor on her ) for day two.
Are you not thinking of the anchor in the A.E. Vickery?

[DivingGal]

GTADiver once bubbled...
Diving Gal, you cant do the keystorm followed by the kingshorn without going to shore first and clearing in with Cdn customs. You would have to do the kingshorn first if you want to do the keystrom the same day (from the charter operators perspective). The Kingshorn is in Canadian waters and the Keystorm is in American waters. The normal way it is done since sept 11th is dive the kingshorn and then go to US customs then up to the keystorm then back to cdn shore and call canpass.

Most divers diving the Keystorm for the first time want to do it twice just because of the size of the thing.

What's been happening is if you're diving in the morning you'd do the Kinghorn 1st then do the customs then the Keystorm. Or with an afternoon charter you'd be doing the customs then the wrecks you wanted.

I agree the Keystorm is worth a 2-dive visit.

[Bubble Boy]

DivingGal once bubbled...


Or with an afternoon charter you'd be doing the customs then the wrecks you wanted.
.

SOMEONE IS BREAKING THE LAW!!!!:copper: :copper: :copper:

[canuckdiver]

hmmm, well, the wolfe islander is a good intro dive, not usually much concern of a thermocline there! and no customs to worry about.

Then off to the marsh .......;)

[Bubble Boy]

The wolf is another good two dive wreck..... Its also good for those nasty days when you dont want to go out to the city of Sheboygan out of fear of chumming the fish or becoming a wreck yourself.

[canuckdiver]

tend to be my fall-back wreck if things turn rough, we can go there.
ended up there 4 or 5 times this past summer .... ;)

[DivingGal]

Bubble Boy once bubbled...


SOMEONE IS BREAKING THE LAW!!!!:copper: :copper: :copper:

can you explain this? It's what was happening this past season. With customs not opening until 10 (ish) you could do a morning dive on the Canadian side, then go to customs, then the Keystorm. Or if you waited until customs opened, you could do 2 dives over on the Keystorm after.

If something else was happening, it's news to me.

[GTADiver]

I think what bubble boy is refering to is your statement "Or with an afternoon charter you'd be doing the customs then the wrecks you wanted"

The rules are quiet clear.....to dive on an american wreck you are deemed to be entering the US.......you "must report" to US Immigration. You cant simply dive the wrecks you want as you have to advise them where you are going. If you dive on an American wreck in the afternoon ie the Vickery you can not just go and dive on the Kingshorn on your way back. You must go to a designated port of entry to Canada and clear through customs or use canpass

[DivingGal]

GTADiver once bubbled...
I think what bubble boy is refering to is your statement "Or with an afternoon charter you'd be doing the customs then the wrecks you wanted"

The rules are quiet clear.....to dive on an american wreck you are deemed to be entering the US.......you "must report" to US Immigration. You cant simply dive the wrecks you want as you have to advise them where you are going. If you dive on an American wreck in the afternoon ie the Vickery you can not just go and dive on the Kingshorn on your way back. You must go to a designated port of entry to Canada and clear through customs or use canpass

got it, thanks. I knew that you had to clear customs coming and going, I should have phrased my previous post a bit clearer.

[Jimmy B]

The Kinghorn, Isn't that a shore dive?
The Keystorm, Nice choice.
The Marsh once you dive a Kingston wreck, you'll surely be spoiled.

Jimmy B

[Bubble Boy]

Kingshorn is a nice shore dive....as long as your buddy is not an air pig. Kingston wrecks are great!

[Jimmy B]

If he's that much of an airpig, send him on a fundementals course with Dan Mackay,better safe than sorry.

Jimmy B

[sparky30]

I am an air pir myself and I doubt that any course is going to reduce my lung capacity :)
Some folks just have bigger lungs (and higher air consumption) than other folks....

[Tim Ingersoll]

We are thinking of renting a house that sits on an island very near Alex Bay. Is that convenient for diving? What dive op would you recommend?

[GTADiver]

Alexandria Bay is good and close to the Vickery. Its also close to the Jodrey(if you want to do technical diving) and I think Moe Hunt runs out of A Bay.

Not that I am trying to sell you on Canada but your US dollars will go a lot further from the Canadian side. There are lots of nice cottages between Brockville and Kingston. There are also a lot more charter operators to pick and choose from. I am sure that most of them will take your US $$ at par to if you ask them. LOL:D

[pderk]

In my opinion the best charter operator in that area (I suspect many people on this board would agree) is Wayne Green who runs Thousand Island Pleasure Diving. His phone number is 613-659-3943 or his email is plsurdiv@1000island.net. He has always been great with us when we are up there. He runs a small boat (8 divers max) and is extremely knowledgeable about area wrecks or drift dives.

Derk

[HIDBOY]

In my opinion Wayne greens boat is to small for comfortable diving he usually takes to many peaple on board his little aluminum boat creating a cattle boat ride. If you look further you can find larger charter boats that have a more comfortable accomidations and facilities on board.

[HIDBOY]

The Jodrey is closed and will remain closed for the 203 season so don't even think about diving her. The US coast guard has over and over and over told all of us that its officially off limits to divers until further notice which I dought will come with in the next two years.

[Jimmy B]

Jod was reopened in Nov, check www.techdiver.com for details, as for charters I use Walter or Harold out of www.northerntechdiver.com, both class acts. Also there's at least three wrecks in the 250 foot range in Kingston that no-ones been diving yet

Jimmy B

[taz22]

HIDBOY once bubbled...
In my opinion Wayne greens boat is to small for comfortable diving he usually takes to many peaple on board his little aluminum boat creating a cattle boat ride. If you look further you can find larger charter boats that have a more comfortable accomidations and facilities on board.


It is easy to find fault and sit behind your little computer keyboard dispensing your opinion. I give you that opportunity now.

Tell me HIDBOY since your seem so knowledgeable, what charter service do you recommend in the Brockville to Kingston area????

[Coyote]

taz22,

What lds do you recomend in the Brockville area? I stopped in to the one in Prescott to look around and they seemed friendly enuff.

[taz22]

Coyote once bubbled...
taz22,

What lds do you recomend in the Brockville area? I stopped in to the one in Prescott to look around and they seemed friendly enuff.

Your correct! Kevin does run a nice operation in Prescott.

So, military eh? I assume your at Gagetown, what unit are you in?

My brother in law use to be in the Princess Louise 8th Cdn Hussars, but is now with Lord Stratcona Horse in Edm.

[GTADiver]

HIDBOY once bubbled...
If you look further you can find larger charter boats that have a more comfortable accomidations and facilities on board.

Yes its nice to have a head on board.