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Diving in Ontario
- Kingston
Dive site characteristicsDiving notes
Types 
Conditions 
Services 
Planning 
Entry points
Note: the page is under construction. For the time being, the information is approximate.
Except for some few exceptions, most of the wrecks in the area are in deep waters. Divers have to use the services of a charter. A charter might do on average 2 to 3 excursions per day, according to the requests, the last one is usually for a night dive. The service costs can vary from 50$ up to 80$ for two dives (for more details please consult the "Divers services" down below). You have to make a reservation for your dives and sign a waiver.
For the dives on remote sites away from the Kingston area, it is largely known that South-Westerly winds arrive every afternoon and can carry waves of more than 6ft high. Dive on remote sites is a morning activity with a very early departure, boat usually leaves at around 8 o’clock (please get informed).
For most of the dives, departures are done from the quay indicated by the charter (ask for the rendez-vous as well as the parking localization). The travel duration for a dive is about 4 hours, but can vary according to distance and weather conditions. Think to bring a quick lunch, water and a sun screen (ask your charter). For the localization of sites, most of the popular dive sites are marked with a buoy.
The dive is done by a descent and an ascent along the anchor line. There is no current (except on some sites, like on the Wolf Islander II site where it is nearly non detectable).
Water temperature is around 60°F. For most of the dives in a lake, a thermocline can be observed most of the time. There is no exception to the rule. The presence of a thermocline can be noticed between 30 and 40 ft where the temperature drops of 10°F. One of the Great Lakes characteristics is the presence of a second thermocline at around 60-70 ft where temperature drops of an additionnal 10°F. It is mostly recommanded to use a 7mm wet suit with a hood, gloves and boots. A dry suit is also recommended with thermal underwears.
About the visibility, it increases under the thermocline. About luminosity, it is recommended to bring a lamp having a good intensity.
Note: directions are accurate as possible. It is recommended to go with someone who knows the site.
Road directions
Site Depth Characteristics
Weather To display on Google map, click on
.
1- Munson 93-111′
6 miles West of Kingston, just off Lemoine Point near the Kingston airport.
2- Effie Mae 55′
Off Nine Mile Point on Simcoe Island. Sunk by local divers near the Aloha.
3- Aloha 55′
Schooner barge sunk in 1917 off Mile Point, Simcoe Island, West of Kingston.
4- Horace Taber 20′
Three masted schooner barge sunk in 1917 off 9 Mile Point, Simcoe Island.
5- Dredge Islander 50′ Near Snake Island. Location is indicative.
6- Dupoint Salvage Scow 75′ Near Snake Island. Location is indicative.
7- Schooner Barge Augustus 60′ Near Snake Island. Location is indicative.
8- K.P.H. wreck 65′
Wreck located near the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital (KPH).
9- Portsmouth Olympic Harbour At about 600′ (185m) from shore, you will find anchors on the first site and a Stacked hulls. Watch your air due to the distance to make in order to reach the site.
10- HMS St.Lawrence 30′ Shipwreck of 1812 located at wharf of Morton Street. At the right facing the lake, a bottling site and further on the right an old wharf.
11- Museum Wreck 50′ Facing the lake on the right of the parking lot, a bottling site can be visited. From the right corner of the parking lot, a old barge can be visited at a depth of 30′. From the left corner, a site of anchors can be visited at a depth of 35′. Near the shore from the parking lot, an old sunken wharf can be visited at a depth of 10 to 21′ deep.
12- William IV Abandonned near Garden Island.
13- Hercules Fire destroyed at Garden Island.
14- Highlander Fire destroyed at Garden Island.
15- Hiram A. Galvin Fire destroyed at Garden Island.
16- D.D. Galvin Fire destroyed at Garden Island.
17- Prince Regent 30′
Located at Deadman Bay. Watch the intense boat traffic during summer.
18- Psyche 30′
Located at Deadman Bay. Watch the intense boat traffic during summer.
19- Wolfe Islander II 40-85′
3 miles East of Kingston.Diver’s services
Approximative travel time : 3:00 hrs From highway 401, watch and take one of the exits 617 up to 619 leading to Kingston.
For help, use the city map of Kingston.
Services Address Phone Description Divercity Kingston 613 384-7074 charter Northern Tech Diver 4052 Bath Rd
Kingston613 634-8135 dive shop, rentals, air & charter Big Jims' Dive Charters 4 Bishop St.,
Kingston613 389-4965 charter Dive Kingston Ontario 4000 Bath Rd.,
Kingston613 321-6536 charter Limestone Dive Center 61 Yonge St.,
Kingston613 547-3483
800 286-3483adive shop, rentals, air & charter Archives and Collections Society 2, Gladstone Ave,
Picton613 476-1177 maritime history and conservation Marine Museum of the Great Lakes 55 Ontario, Str,
Kingston613 542-2261 maritime museum
© Copyright 1999-2010, Michel Robitaille. All rights reserved.
