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Dive into Adventure at These 10 Thrilling Scuba Spots in Ontario
There was this one time I was convinced the most exciting adventure was a simple road trip up the coast—nothing too crazy, just a scenic drive. But as I ventured further into Ontario’s rugged beauty, I discovered a whole new world beneath the surface.
Turns out, Ontario is home to some of the most exhilarating scuba diving spots around. From vibrant underwater ecosystems to shipwrecks that date back centuries, the province offers an adventure for both seasoned divers and curious beginners.
What I thought would be a quick dip in calm waters turned into an unforgettable exploration of mysterious underwater worlds. If you’re ready to step into the depths, let me guide you through Ontario’s thrilling scuba diving locations!
Tobermory
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Location: Bruce Peninsula
Tobermory offers one of the most exhilarating scuba diving experiences in Ontario, with its blend of natural beauty and intriguing underwater history. Its clear waters provide an unforgettable view of the sunken treasures below.
Known as the “Shipwreck Capital of Canada,” this spot is famous for wrecks like The Sweepstakes and City of Grand Rapids. The crystal-clear waters of Fathom Five National Marine Park make it a favourite for divers seeking adventure.
Here, divers of various experience levels can explore unique underwater rock formations, including Flowerpot Island’s iconic sea stacks. The park’s careful conservation efforts allow visitors to experience these preserved sites.
Pro tip: The waters here can be chilly, even in summer, so a thicker wetsuit or drysuit is recommended for comfort during deeper dives. Also, early morning dives often offer the calmest conditions and the best visibility.
Niagara River Drift
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Location: 1197 Niagara River Pkwy
The Niagara River Drift dive is an adventure diver’s dream, offering an incredible range of experiences along its swift, current-driven path. Flowing through Fort Erie, the river’s underwater world is home to everything from vibrant fish to unexpected finds.
The experience feels like a treasure hunt, with every twist and turn revealing something new, all while the river’s current carries you downstream.
For those seeking a bit more of a challenge, the advanced drift near the Peace Bridge packs in an extra thrill with faster currents, deeper depths, and scattered debris. The slower Netherby Road drift, on the other hand, is a shallow site loved by locals.
Pro tip: If you’re after a unique experience, try the Navy Hall drift in autumn. During November, the river becomes a temporary home for spawning sturgeon, an ancient fish that can grow up to 12 feet.
Eastern Lake Erie
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Location: Lake Erie
Eastern Lake Erie is a wreck-diving paradise with a unique collection of underwater sites that attract divers of all skill levels. With over 20 shipwrecks, including the Raleigh, Tonawanda, and Finch, the area offers rich maritime history in each dive.
The Raleigh, a 235-foot steamer near Sherkston Beach, lies in shallow water, making it ideal for beginner divers. This wreck offers everything from boilers to a preserved driveshaft, giving divers plenty to explore amid a vibrant fish-filled habitat.
For those looking to dive a bit deeper, the Tonawanda and Finch provide engaging mid-depth sites at around 45 feet. Both wrecks tell stories of the perils faced by wooden vessels in Lake Erie storms.
Pro tip: Dive during off-peak hours to avoid the heavy boat traffic, especially near popular wreck sites. Early morning or evening dives can offer calmer, safer conditions and better visibility.
Lake Ontario
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Location: Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario offers an incredible range of scuba diving adventures, from accessible shore dives to technical wreck explorations. One of the highlights is an unknown two-masted schooner sitting off Port Dalhousie.
Closer to Toronto, Humber Bay Park West is a beloved shore dive site that’s both scenic and convenient. With varied visibility and lines connecting intriguing underwater features, it’s a fun site for divers to explore with scooters or on foot.
For those venturing by boat, the Sligo wreck and Lyman E. Davis are must-see spots. The Sligo, a well-preserved schooner lying in 70 feet of water, has visibility reaching 50 feet on a good day, providing a clear view of its 19th-century hull.
Pro tip: For the best experience, invest in a drysuit if you plan to dive these deeper, cooler sites in Lake Ontario—staying comfortable makes all the difference!
Sherkston Quarry
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Location: Sherkston Quarry
Sherkston Quarry, tucked along Lake Erie’s coast near Port Colborne, is a unique diving destination packed with history and charm. The quarry, now submerged, became a dive site over a century ago when its water pumps failed overnight.
Its diverse underwater features, including old train engines and even a “haunted tree,” provide endless exploration opportunities for divers of all levels. For those looking to explore Sherkston’s depths, October through June offers the best visibility.
However, summer months bring dense seaweed and black algae, making navigation more challenging and reducing visibility. Despite this, Sherkston remains a popular spot year-round due to its community-oriented vibe and array of surface attractions
Pro tip: For the clearest conditions, try diving during the off-season when visibility is best and the water is free of algae—you’ll appreciate the uninterrupted views of Sherkston’s sunken treasures!
Windmill Point Park
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Location: Ridgeway
Windmill Point Park offers a unique blend of scenic diving and a laid-back camping atmosphere. This quarry, restocked yearly with fish, has an inviting, clear water environment perfect for divers of all experience levels.
This site is known for its quirky underwater landmarks like a sailboat, a pickup truck cab, and even a bathtub! For those interested in night diving, Windmill’s shallow depths and well-placed objects create an exciting but manageable nighttime experience.
Windmill Point isn’t just a dive site but a gathering place where students and seasoned divers come together, often camping overnight. It’s an excellent spot to explore and improve diving skills in a friendly, well-equipped environment.
Pro tip: If you’re camping at Windmill, bring a waterproof flashlight for night dives—it’s great for spotting fish and underwater structures in the low-light conditions.
Welland Scuba Park
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Location: Old Welland Canal
Welland Scuba Park has a welcoming environment for beginner divers and those looking to refine their skills. This dive spot is loved for its calm, shallow waters and unique underwater attractions.
The main Scuba Park area includes platforms, a U-Boat, and an old boat, making for a fun and varied dive. Just off Fourth Street, the Swing Bridge offers divers plenty of fish, dock pilings, and some interesting “urban” finds like shopping carts and bicycles.
The visibility here is often impressive, reaching 25 to 35 feet, especially around the bridge where divers can test their buoyancy. This area is especially magical at night, with the bridge providing shadowy spaces for nocturnal aquatic life.
Pro tip: If you’re diving at night, bring an underwater light to illuminate the unique features of the Swing Bridge and spot the nocturnal fish that come out after dark.
Brockville
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Location: Brockville Harbour
Brockville, often called Canada’s Caribbean, is famous for its warm waters and historic shipwrecks. Located just east of Kingston, Brockville boasts summertime water temperatures that range from 68 to 75 degrees.
This area is home to remarkable wrecks, making it popular for divers of all levels looking to experience Canadian underwater history. The clear visibility often reaching 50 to 60 feet, enhances the thrill of exploring larger canal freighters and lakers.
If you’re newer to diving in currents, start with a drift dive to get accustomed before tackling the more advanced sites like the Daryaw. Experienced divers can explore further, especially in the cooler months when visibility peaks.
Pro tip: Fall is an excellent time to visit Brockville, as cooler weather brings the best visibility. Also, practice drift diving in gentler currents before tackling Brockville’s more advanced wrecks.
Kingston Shipwrecks
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Location: Kingston
Diving the shipwrecks of Kingston, Ontario, is a journey through time, offering some of the world’s most pristine and intact wrecks, both wooden and metal. With over 20 popular dive sites, Kingston’s waters showcase historical treasures from different eras.
The visibility here ranges from 30 to 100 feet, though bottom temperatures in Lake Ontario can drop to 39 to 41°F, so a drysuit is recommended. The range of wrecks here is impressive, suitable for both intermediate and advanced divers.
For those looking for a deeper dive challenge, the area’s trimix wrecks offer thrilling depths of up to 260 feet. The site known as “The Funnel” is an unusual pit reaching 150 feet in the lake, perfect for technical diving and scooter adventures.
Pro tip: Plan your dive during late summer or fall for the best visibility, as these months often offer clearer waters, making the dive sites even more breathtaking.
North Channel Lake Huron
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Location: Algoma, Unorganized, South East Part
Visiting the North Channel of Lake Huron is like stepping into a hidden world of sunken treasures and dramatic underwater landscapes. The Northwind shipwreck lies off Clapperton Island, upright and surprisingly well-preserved for a wreck dating back to the 1920s.
Divers often comment on the surreal quality of the clay-covered lake floor surrounding the wreck, lending it a lunar vibe.
This dive spot caters to experienced divers due to its challenging depths, with areas reaching down to 140 feet.
With visibility peaking around June and July, conditions range from 20 to over 100 feet, especially within the wreck’s confines. Although the waters can be dark and cold, the lack of invasive zebra mussels means divers can see the wreck in its original state.
Pro tip: The North Channel’s waters are often chilly, so pack a drysuit and take time to adjust to the low-light environment. Bringing an extra dive light can enhance visibility inside the wreck and reveal intricate details of this preserved maritime relic.
