Tobermory for a pair of new divers (questions)

[TheMunchkin]

A friend and I are looking at diving in Tobermory. He has been a diver since 2008, but has only gone out maybe 15-20 times. I am a new diver (and will be doing my open water course at the end of June).

I was wondering what are (if any) some good beginner dive locations in and around Tobermory once I finished my open water dives. Are charters the best way to go? Are there good locations we can simply swim out to?

Any advice and recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

 

[Bubbles McGee]

A friend and I are looking at diving in Tobermory. He has been a diver since 2008, but has only gone out maybe 15-20 times. I am a new diver (and will be doing my open water course at the end of June).

I was wondering what are (if any) some good beginner dive locations in and around Tobermory once I finished my open water dives. Are charters the best way to go? Are there good locations we can simply swim out to?

Any advice and recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Where are you located in Ontario? I would recommend looking into trips with your local dive shop. My Wife and I have PADI advanced open water certs. I have 25 dives and she has around 40. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable going out on our own just yet, but that's me. There are great shops like SCUBA 2000 in Richmond Hill, Dan's Dive Shop in St Catherine's, London Scuba Centre and Tri-City Scuba in Kitchener just to name a few. You get to go out as a group and learn from experienced divers and make a few friends along the way.

Happy Diving.

 

[Scuba-74]

"Diver's Den" shop is really great in Tobermory. They run their own charters, and go to plenty of shallow wrecks suitable for the beginners. Me and my then 11-year old son went with them a few years ago and had a great time.

For an easy shore dive you can do "The Tugs" - four little wrecks very close to each other and to shore right in the harbor.

 

[Dogbowl]

Has your friend ever dived cold water? And will you be getting certified in cold water? I ask that because Tobermory is cold water diving and it’s a totally different beast (yes, “beast”) than warm water diving. You will be extremely buoyant due to your exposure protection (min. 7mm wetsuit, hood & gloves) and as a result, you will be carrying a lot more weight than if you were diving warm water. If either of you have experienced cold water diving, you will understand what I’m saying but if not, do not underestimate the difficulty of it.

I say this as I have asked the same questions as you several years ago, got recommendations to do the shore dives at the Tugs and Lighthouse, and it was a disaster. Lost fin, unable to descend, got wound up in the dive float line, dive aborted, etc. That was day 1. On day 2, we went into Divers Den, hired an instructor to go out with us and it was night and day.

I would suggest that you hire a DM to help you with tips and tricks during the first few dives, or you could even take a specialty course or even AOW.

We now have around 50 and 60 dives each in warm water and would still hire someone to take us out if going to Toby. It’s simply an environment we’re not used to diving. Note that their charters do not have DMs in the water. You’ll be on your own.

 

[TheMunchkin]

Thanks for all the replies. I am doing my open dive in the same location as my friend had, however it is "cold" water, but I dont think its as cold as tobermory (going to Marmora).

I think based on the feedback I will wait and go with the diveclub there in Oshawa (they go once a year, but unfortunately they are going the weekend before I take my open water). This will give me time to get a bit of experience and make sure I am going with a good group of people that are also going to want to make sure my friend and I do well (we both just spent a lot of money there as well lol).

 

[Scuba-74]

Tobermory is not that cold! My 9-y-old snorkeled the Tugs in a 3mm shorty! Evidence attached

 

[Canajan]

I too would like to do some Toby diving, timing is everything, work vs time off.
As said, scuba 2000, Aquarius, and others do trips up there.
I’m in Mississauga, and want to dive as much as possible

 

[grf88]

Aquasub has 4 weekends planned
Local dive trips