Howdy... I have just taken up scuba diving in Ontario, and have my open water check out dives this weekend in Gulliver's lake. I am doing my check outs with a good friend of mine who is just as new to diving as I am.
We would like to try and get as much experience as we can at the Open Water level and plan on getting our PADI Advanced next spring. We are in no big rush and prefer to gain as much experience at each level before venturing on to the next. With that in mind, we are trying to find good enjoyable locations within driving distance from us where we can start gaining some safe diving experience under our belts. To be precise we live in upper Hamilton (Binbrook area).
In staying with accordance to good safety practices we only plan on diving in any new place with other more experienced divers that are familiar with the area with the exception of Gulliver's lake which we plan on going to just review our newly learned skills a few more times after our open water checkouts and probably every spring prior to the main diving season.
We both own a 7mm wetsuit, fins, mask, boots, gloves and very soon dive computers. This year we will need to rent a jacket BCD, regulators and tank. If we manage to keep it up we will invest in our own BCD/Reg/Tank next year.
So for the big questions, keeping our physical location in perspective, what locations do fellow Ontarian divers recommend for beginners like us? We were both given the impression that there is not much out there for open water level divers and we would need to have at least the advanced level of certification to enjoy diving in our area. From my part I did some research on the main locations, in order of proximity to us and this is what I came up with.
Millgrove Ontario (Gulliver's Lake) 30 min drive
Frenchman's Creek (Niagara River) 1 hour 10 min
Barrie (Lake Simcoe) 2 hour drive
Kingston (Lake Ontario Collin's bay area) 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive
Brockville (St Lawrence River) 4 1/2 hour drive
Tobermory (Lake Huron) 5 hour drive
I also read up on the various differences in both temperature and current of these locations. I am hoping that Frenchman's creek and Barrie offer diving opportunities for beginners as they are reasonable in terms of distance. The other locations will have to be full weekend type outings with a stay over at some B&B.
Tips, advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated, we are also looking for good trustworthy dive clubs or buddies that meet up in these locations on weekends and that would welcome beginners.
Thank you in advance.
We would like to try and get as much experience as we can at the Open Water level and plan on getting our PADI Advanced next spring. We are in no big rush and prefer to gain as much experience at each level before venturing on to the next. With that in mind, we are trying to find good enjoyable locations within driving distance from us where we can start gaining some safe diving experience under our belts. To be precise we live in upper Hamilton (Binbrook area).
In staying with accordance to good safety practices we only plan on diving in any new place with other more experienced divers that are familiar with the area with the exception of Gulliver's lake which we plan on going to just review our newly learned skills a few more times after our open water checkouts and probably every spring prior to the main diving season.
We both own a 7mm wetsuit, fins, mask, boots, gloves and very soon dive computers. This year we will need to rent a jacket BCD, regulators and tank. If we manage to keep it up we will invest in our own BCD/Reg/Tank next year.
So for the big questions, keeping our physical location in perspective, what locations do fellow Ontarian divers recommend for beginners like us? We were both given the impression that there is not much out there for open water level divers and we would need to have at least the advanced level of certification to enjoy diving in our area. From my part I did some research on the main locations, in order of proximity to us and this is what I came up with.
Millgrove Ontario (Gulliver's Lake) 30 min drive
Frenchman's Creek (Niagara River) 1 hour 10 min
Barrie (Lake Simcoe) 2 hour drive
Kingston (Lake Ontario Collin's bay area) 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive
Brockville (St Lawrence River) 4 1/2 hour drive
Tobermory (Lake Huron) 5 hour drive
I also read up on the various differences in both temperature and current of these locations. I am hoping that Frenchman's creek and Barrie offer diving opportunities for beginners as they are reasonable in terms of distance. The other locations will have to be full weekend type outings with a stay over at some B&B.
Tips, advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated, we are also looking for good trustworthy dive clubs or buddies that meet up in these locations on weekends and that would welcome beginners.
Thank you in advance.