Dive Review of
Dive Tech in
Canada/Brockville, Ontario

Bonaire, Key Largo, New Providence Bahamas, North Carolina wrecks, Sail
Rock Thailand

Dive Conditions

[Unspecified]  

[None]  

Overall Rating

You go here (1000 Island Park area of St. Lawrence River near Brockville
Ontario) to dive wrecks - nothing more, nothing less.  In August for about
4-5 weeks each year the normally frigid St. Lawrence River warms up to 70
degrees and divers flock here.  The diving was pretty interesting:  the
water was 68-70 degrees (plenty warm with a wetsuit) and the six wrecks we
dove in three days were unique.  Three of them were old 19th century wooden
schooners – which normally disintegrate by this time in salt water oceans,
but the cold, fresh water has preserved remarkably well.  Even the metal
freighters we dove were OLD (all pre WW1 I think - which was unique). 
Unlike most wrecks that are dived (which tend to be artificial wrecks
deliberately sunk) - everything we dove were real wrecks after they struck
a shoal in the days before GPS. You can definitely see the damage on the
wrecks and the results of the not so graceful sinkings.  Water was pretty
clear (40 feet of visibility) - thanks to the gazillions of zebra mussels
(which are on everything!).  Not a ton of fish - but were some bass,
sunfish/brim, walleyes, and a few other species - many of which were not
shy about checking us out. The current was pretty strong - but not out of
control (did have to go up and down the anchor line - hanging like a
flag!).  Though one dive was a VERY fast drift dive (i.e. - you drop in,
and fly by the wall/wreck and rapidly go downstream until you run out of
air, where boat picks you  up).  very fun!  some dives required
"advanced" certification - but not all (maybe 3 of the 6).  We
stayed at a fishing lodge very close to where the 1000 Island bridge
crosses over the river from US.  Two of the days, we casted off from a park
in west edge of Brockville.  The third, we casted off from our own dock
where we were staying.  We also went to visit the "castle" on
Heart Island across the river in NY (very impressive!!). The last wreck we
dove was actually in NY waters (had to go through customs at Heart Island
before we went there - which was kind of funny).  Went into Brockville
proper a few times to poke around and eat – seems like a nice, quiet town. 
We did hear some freighters out in the shipping lane underwater while we
were diving - wow, they make a TON of noise!!
Overall:  not a bad place to dive old interesting wrecks for a weekend in a
unique environment.
 

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