Neptune: diving in Ontario, Manola

Dive site characteristics

Types

Conditions

Services

Planning

Diving notes

Built in Ohio in 1890, the Manola was a steam boat of 311 feet long. It was saled and splitted in two parts. While heading to Montreal during a severe storm and towed by the Michigan, the Manola sank killing 11 crew members. The bow was bought by Canadian interests and served for the contruction of a new boat, the Mapledawn, which sank too six years later in the Georgian Bay.
The Manola sits upside down. There are two anchors and debris can be seen all over around. It is possible for divers well equipped and trained with experience to do penetration dives.
The depth, the bottom dive time and the cold are factors to take into consideration while planning the dive. A dive lamp is highly recommended to see all the details of the wreck.
Like all the shipwrecks in Ontario, the shipwreck is Ontario’s Goverment property and therefore it is stricly forbidden to take any objects.

Entry points

Note: directions are accurate as possible. It is recommended to go with someone who knows the site.

Site Depth Characteristics
Weather To display on Google map, click on .

1- Cabine & habitat
30′ You make the entry from behind the dive shop. You make a surface swim and descend along the buoy line.

2- Echo
22′   N43 56.19 W76 49.54
The wreck is located at about half a mile of Gull bar near False Duck Island.

3- Banshee
18′   N43 56.14 W76 50.04
The wreck lies between Timber Island and Duck Island not very far from the Echo.

4- Florence
40-50′   N43 57.49 W76 49.00
A about 300′ off Timber Island.

5- Annie Falconer
67-78′   N43 57.945 W76 48.126
The wreck lies at 1.5 mile norht of False Duck Island.

6- Kattie Eccle
102′   N44 00.626 W76 44.587
The wreck lies to the northeast of False Duck Island.

7- China
104′   N43 58.581 W76 46.446
The wreck lies to the northeast of False Duck Island.

8- Alberta
106′   W76 53.054 N44 05.822
The wreck lies opposite Prinyer’s Cove, East of Picton.

9- Fabiola
55′   N43 56.52 W76 47.38
The wreck lies to the Southeast corner of False Duck Island.

10- Manola
45-82′ The wreck lies to the southeast of False Duck Island.

11- Olive Branch
90-101′   N43 55.901 W76 44.230
The wreck lies to the southeast of False Duck Island.

12- Oliver Mowat
105′   N43 55.40 W76 44.05
The wreck lies to the southeast of False Duck Island.

13- John Randall
20′ The wreck lies in the School House Bay of Main Duck Island.

14- Atlasco
43′   N43 52.76 W76 58.90
The wreck lies South Ostrander Point, near Point Traverse.

15- R.H. Rae
105′   N45 53 03 W76 50 51
The wreck lies South of Point Traverse.

Road directions

Approximative travel time : 4:00 hrs
From hightway 401, take one of the exits from 522 up to 566 and take a South direction toward Picton, follow the road signs.
To get to the Duck’s Dive shop
From Picton, heading South take road 8, then take road 17. At the end, turn left on road 16. At the end, turn right on road 13. Follow up to the dive shop which will be on the left side (a dive flag can be seen).

Diver’s services

Services Address       Phone       Description

Duck's Dive Point Traverse RR#3
Picton 613 476-3764 boat charter, air, rentals (call before), cottage rentals

Archives and Collections Society 2, Gladstone Ave,
Picton 613 476-1177 maritime history and conservation

Mariners Park Museum Road 10 & 13 junction,
Picton maritime museum