Diving Big Rideau Lake

[RecklessAmateur]

I'm looking for info on diving Big Rideau Lake. I'll be up there with family and friends next week and will probably lug along the scuba gear if it seems worthwhile. Any suggestions for particular spots, or where to get fills, would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

David

[taz22]

I did some diving in Big Rideau Lake last year. Your best bet is to dive between the groups of Islands in Portland Bay that separate the Northshore of the lake and that are on the south side of the Rideau Canal system channel.

You won't find any air filling stations out that way so your best off to get the tanks filled in any of the shops in the Kingston-Brockville area.

I can tell you that the vis is great. You will find zebra mussels that are huge! Some are about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, they are much bigger than the zeb's you'll find in the St. Lawrence River given the fact that the Rideau system lags behind the St. Lawrence system in regards to the infestation of zebra mussels.

If I can be of anyother help, feel free to PM me.

[artw]

Yep - clear water, lots of fish, no current but be prepared for a thermocline around 45 feet. we dove at Murphys Point camp ground (off the day beach). there is a wall that goes around the point down to about 80 feet.

[taz22]

artw once bubbled...
no current but be prepared for a thermocline around 45 feet. \


I should have mentioned the thermocline. Quite the difference from the surface temp to the temp below 45ft