Shore diving in Midland, Penetang area

[Norberto]

Does anybody know a good spot for shore diving in Midland or Penetang area ?
We are also looking for any charter operators running around there.
Cheers
Norbert
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[ScubaSteve]

I am interested in the answers here because I will likely be looking for shore diving in Midland this year.

[simcoediver]

This whole area is shallow for a ways out, thats probably why you are not getting any responses from anyone on good shore dives. There are none.I think theres a burned out wreck of a hull right in Midland harbour in low vis near the marina and docks but I would have to look it up.
Theres plenty of good wrecks if you have a boat.

[simcoediver]

Ok looked it up, according to Cris Kohls book theres 2-3 shore dives with wrecks. the Reliever ,the Luckport and the Midland City. The Reliever is about 100'off of Ways Point in about 12 ' of water.
The Luckport is 200' out just west of Sawlog Point, but its all private land so getting out from shore might be a problem.
Midland City is in Tiffin Basin just east of the easternmost dock in 3-12 ' of water.
So yes all shallow shore dives and all 3 were burned down to the waterline.
If anyone dives these let us know how it goes.

[Groundhog246]

I know there's been a shop or two use dive around the area where the ferry crosses to Christian Island for checkout dives. I don't know if there's anything of interest there. I do know it drops off fairlu quickly, so there might be a rock wall. I just had a quick look at my chart. Hard to judge with the scale, but it doesn't look very far out to get 22M and a bit beyond that it's 44M. Do keep in mind that the land there is aboriginal (reservation). They may charge for parking. I know they charge $10 per boat per day if you anchor of the islands and go ashore. They have stopped trying to charge just to anchor.

[simcoediver]

Boat launching is expensive too at $35 + $10 for parking and they are the only place in the whole area to put a boat in unless you go all the way around to Pen or Midland.
Its a real money grab.

[Groundhog246]

There's little enough for income sources up there. It's their land, so it's up to them what to charge. Look what it costs to enter a Provincial or Federal park. And the folks at Killbear Provincial Park also charge to go ashore and also have tried to charge for anchoring.
I've always thought it would be a good location for a marina. If they could find a way to finance it, they could put in 200 to 400 slips and as long as the fees were reasonable, they'd fill em in no time flat. Would creat quite a few jobs in the construction phase and a fair number of longer term jobs when complete to staff it. Add some service facilities, lift out and winter storage and you could end up with year round jobs. There's a marina up on aboriginal lands on the East side of Georgian Bay at the top of 12 Mile Bay called the Moose Deer Point Marina. Quite a few boats berthed there. We stayed overnight a few years back. I'd consider a slip. It'd be a longer drive than where we are now, but it's protected enough that it'd be a rare day you couldn't sail. And instead of a 5 hour plus crossing from where we are now, I could be off the dock and anchored in a cove in a couple of hours or less.

[R Shannon]

I ran two 46 ft charter boats for Aqua Systems and Mississauga Diving Services up there since the 1970's I moved them to Oakville a few years ago.

your best shore dives are off Awenda Provincial Park diving what little is left of the Reliever. If it blowing a hard nw or nnw don't dive. The only fatality ever in our area was a guy diving there on a rough day. Ok for openwaters nice geological formations and interesting history.

Diving off cedar point you must stay eastward of the ferry route. Most people dive to the westward of the ferry dock {very dangerous}. Now the water is low it is a real danger in the shallows you have the Indian maiden passenger ferry and the car ferry to worry about and island boat traffic.
You must pay parking and if you are a shop make sure your customers pay or pay out of your own pocket if you ever want to go back.

I have many good friends who live there nice people great place to dive but you need a boat. I think there still is a part time dive shop in Bay Moorings Penetang or better just phone the harbour master .

Also the log salvage operation used to do charters. I also have a buddy who is thinking of doing a live aboard again so I will tell him to post you.

good luck

Rob Oakville Divers

[R Shannon]

Local Dive Shop for charters and Air fills.


Neptune's Locker Inc
31 Main Street, Unit 2
Penetanguishene, On
L9M 1S7
(705) 549-6444
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cheers

Rob

Oakville Divers
Underwater Specialists for Over 30 Years

12 Lakeshore Rd W, Oakville, Ontario L6K 1C5 | 905-842-8881 | info@oakvilledivers.com | Oakville Divers Scuba Centre :: Sales | Service | Instruction (http://www.oakvilledivers.com)

[Norberto]

Thanks for the info.
Cheers
Norbert