Scuba Diving

the Caribbean of the North

Scuba diving in the Ottawa area

By Chuck Beattie Photos by: Rudi Asseer

SCUBA DIVING

Sunken plane in Morrison’s Quarry, Wakefield, QC.

The rocking boat makes it hard to put on my diving equipment. It’s heavy, and in the summer’s heat, my wet-suit is hot. But the moment I step off the boat and plunge into the cool water, all is forgotten. My wet-suit fills with water, cooling my body. I feel ecstatic.

The weight of the equipment becomes negligible, and I start swimming along the surface toward the float, supporting a line that reaches down to a wreck on the river’s bottom.

The surface current fights my movement, but with an extra push I reach the float. My dive buddy follows right behind. At the float, we exchange a quick glance, then a thumbs-down hand signal indicates it’s time to descend below the surface.

My breath quickens slightly. Once underwater I relax; my focus changes. I can feel and hear the bubbles from my exhaust. My buddy moves down the line before me. His bubbles race past me towards the surface. My eyes start adjusting to changes in the light. Slowly, images on the bottom come into view. In moments, the wreck appears, sitting where it has for the past century.

Did you know that within a few hours drive of Ottawa close to 300 shipwrecks are just waiting for someone to explore? Scuba (self contained underwater breathing apparatus) divers discover more shipwrecks in the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario every year.

For hundreds of years our local waterways have been used as major trade routes and recreational areas. The wrecks lining our river and lake bottoms have become a world-class scuba diving playground. And it’s all in our own backyard.

Divers from around the world flock to this area, called by some, “Caribbean of the North.” Thirtymetre visibility and warm water temperatures (23 degrees C) are only part of the draw. You’ll find 200-year-old schooners and ships of all descriptions resting on our river and lake bottoms; most are in terrific condition. Some are in almost as good shape as the day they met their watery fate.

Although you’ll find interesting dive sites here in Ottawa, most of the larger shipwrecks lie along the St. Lawrence River and in Lake Ontario. Still, these are close enough for Ottawa divers to make an easy day trip.

The King’s Horn is an excellent example. A wooden vessel almost 50 metres long, she sank near Rockport (20 minutes west of Brockville) in 1897. The King’s Horn was one of seven barges under tow when a furious storm caught the boats in the open. Foundering, she went down in 28 metres of water.

Safety considerations: don’t take risks

Unlike participants in other adventure sports, scuba divers need certification before they can buy or rent tanks. In fact, a diver can’t even get air tanks filled before proving he or she is a certified diver. This safety measure ensures a degree of safety for those taking part in the sport.

At one time diving was strictly a macho activity, but changes in attitude and equipment have made this sport accessible to virtually everyone, including the physically challenged.

No one should go diving without first receiving training from a certified instructor. Don’t let a friend who dives take you on a scuba adventure; it’s just not safe.

Most dive shops in the Ottawa area offer “come and try” nights when you can dive under the supervision of an instructor. These nights are usually free and give you a feel for the sport before you pay for a full course. Entry-level courses provide a fun introduction. They cover the range of topics you and your dive buddies need to know before exploring shipwreck graveyards in the Ottawa area.

Courses include both classroom and confined water (pool) components, as well as several open water sessions. Most new students love the open water sessions, after spending so much practice time in the pool. Open water sessions introduce some local dive sites, and allow instructors to observe a new diver’s skills in a realistic environment.

Following your entry-level training (approximately six to eight sessions), the real adventure begins when you take more specialized courses on your specific interests. These may include: • Underwater archeology • Wrecks • Deep dives • Rescue diving, and others.

For relaxation, the weightless sensation of gliding almost effortlessly through water can’t be beat. There’s nothing quite like descending onto a wreck, gliding down to see what most other people will never visit.

Fascinating dive sites

A locally owned quarry near Wakefield offers a great place for a picnic, and an interesting place to scuba dive. Here, the quarry owner sank a small plane and a boat for your diving pleasure. The owner charges a small fee, but it’s worth it.

Most Ottawa divers flock to either the St. Lawrence River or Lake Ontario to satisfy their diving appetites. Both areas offer a variety of dive challenges and sites; skill levels range from novice to very advanced.

Usually, novice divers seek places to dive directly from the shore, or charter trips offered through a club or commercial operation. Shore dives are the least expensive choice; a great variety of dive site are accessible from shore.

The shipwrecked Conestoga at Cardinal, Ontario, or the many wrecks around Brockville, offer novice divers many excellent dive sites on which to practise their new skills. Whether you’re interested in underwater ecology or in bottle collecting, scuba diving offers something for everyone.

The City of Brockville has built two entry points designed specifically for divers exploring the St. Lawrence River bottom. Several years ago I found a 200- year-old, clay ginger beer bottle with writing pressed into its clay. There’s a lot to see underwater, including a diverse array of freshwater fish.

Visit local dive shops or clubs to learn the latest details about interesting sites.

Ottawa river diving

What about the Ottawa River? It offers a variety of challenges. High mineral content causes the Ottawa River’s tea-like colour, and limits underwater visibility. Although it varies, average visibility in the Ottawa is three to three and a half metres – about as far as your light can shine. Waters in the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario are much clearer.

A strong current tugs constantly at divers in the Ottawa River. This discourages beginners, but attracts divers with advanced skills and experience.

Thinking about scouring the waters off the Royal Canadian Mint in the Ottawa River? Are visions of gold coins and sacks of precious ingots exciting your imagination?

Many others have shared your dream, but have found nothing. A dredging company worked the area for several years and failed to unearth any significant treasure. But hopes that buried treasure hides below the water surface draw many divers to the site.

Several shipwrecks exist in the Ottawa River near the entrance to the Rideau locks. The constant boat traffic here, as vessels approach and leave the lock systems, poses a serious hazard to divers. These sites are not safe to dive on.

The “Bruce” wreck is another site worth visiting. Built in 1862, this 87-tonne, 30-metre long, wooden paddlewheeler sits in about nine metres of water slightly downstream from

Technical divers assisting in a search for a young clown fish.

Diver with scooter exploring a shipwreck.

the rowing club, off Sussex Drive in downtown Ottawa. The ship burned right down to the waterline, and sank at the foot of Entrance Bay in the Ottawa River. Later, it was moved to its current location by scuba enthusiasts. Two other wrecks lie on the bottom of the Ottawa in the same vicinity: the Ivy and the William King.

St. Lawrence diving

The St. Lawrence River served as a commercial waterway before Europeans arrived in Canada. It is hard to imagine that working sailboats and barges once plied the waters, moving goods and people throughout Upper and Lower Canada. Now, trucks speed their cargoes along Highway 401.

In days gone by, navigating and choosing correct channels often proved too much for a vessel’s crew.

Capricious weather also made these waters treacherous for boats. These factors produced the world’s best wreck diving. Vessels from the early 1800s to the 1970s wait for you to explore. Ships sunk in fresh water (like this part of the St. Lawrence River) don’t experience the type or level of microbial action that destroys wrecks in salt water. In fresh water vessels remain virtually untouched by decay.

One of the most popular wrecks in the St. Lawrence is the Keystorm, near Mallorytown (just west of Brockville). Built in England in 1910, she sank just two years later after running aground at Scow Shoal. The wreck lies on an underwater incline in depths varying from nine to 35 metres. This large, steel freighter provides a home for a rich variety of aquatic life. You can even fi nd fresh water sponges here, although you have to know where to look. The Keystorm lies in U.S. waters, but many Canadian dive charter boats visit her. The wreck’s size and range of depth make it accessible to all skill levels of scuba divers: from beginner to more advanced.

A number of wrecks around Brockville are accessible to more experienced divers. The Gaskin, a triplemasted, iron-rigged, wooden bark, was launched in 1863 and eventually rebuilt into a salvage vessel. She sank three times. In 1889, while the Gaskin attempted to salvage a train ferry, one of her salvage pontoons broke loose and punched a hole through the vessel, sending her to the bottom for the last time. Divers can even swim through that infamous, huge hole – I’ve done it many times.

Take your pick: local clubs

Most scuba shops have associated clubs, offering new divers a chance to meet people who share aquatic interests. Clubs organize trips and rent boats. Shops organize trips too, to warmer climates when winter ice covers our riverine playgrounds.

Ottawa hosts a number of organization clubs, including the RCMP Beavers Scuba Club and the (Canadian) Forces Sub-Aqua Club “FSAC.” Such groups avoid the commercial trappings found in shop-based clubs. But store-based clubs usually offer members discounted prices – a real benefi t in a sport rife with gadgets. Regardless of the club you choose, you’ll find challenge and adventure.

When should you start?

Spring is the best time, but summer and fall are also good times to learn.

Some people may think scuba diving is beyond their grasp – too hard to tackle – but how hard can it be with the motto: “Never hold your breath”?

Try it. You’ll be amazed at the adventure awaiting you underwater. —Chuck Beattie is a member of the Canadian Forces and is certifi ed by the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). He has taught diving for 18 years.

Web information on local charter diving operations

Interested in diving in the Ottawa area? Check out these two web sites: www.countrydivers.com and www.stlawrencecharters.com.

Scuba training in the Ottawa area

Many facilities teach scuba diving in our area. Here’s a short list: • Adventures in Diving,

Gloucester • Burton’s Dive Service, Ottawa • Dolphinos, Ottawa • The Dive Center, Stittsville • Diver’s Wearhouse, Nepean • Kanata Diving Supply, Kanata • Sharky’s Scuba Supply, Ottawa • Forces Sub Aqua Club • Ottawa Beavers SCUBA Club

Before you decide where to learn, find out exactly what type of training you’re paying for. Make sure it involves more than simply watching a “how-to” video.

The length of time you spend in pool instruction is also important–the more time, the better.

Riverkeeper responds to threats on local waterway

By Angie Brown & Ryan Brown

Question: What is the name of one of the great rivers in the world? Need a hint? It is over 1,200 km long and it contains more fresh water than all the rivers of Britain combined. It was called the “TransCanada Highway” long before cars were invented. Ok, your last hint — we get our drinking water from it. Answer: The Ottawa River!

We have one of the world’s great rivers right in our backyard. For hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years the Ottawa River was the main trading route for native people who travelled it in their canoes. The fur traders travelled the Ottawa into the interior of Canada as they pursued thicker and richer pelts. After fur came logging and hydro as our ancestors made the best use of the river at the time.

Now there are more than a million residents along its shores, numerous sewage treatment plants and a lot of recreational use. Here’s the good news — we now have an Ottawa Riverkeeper to watch out for the Ottawa River.

The Riverkeeper is a person who took a lot of science (like biology) in school and understands how the whole river watershed works. She knows that if you put fertilizers on your lawn, this can effect the health of the river. Rain can wash the fertilizer into the storm drains on your street, which can eventually empty into the river. It can cause the plants to grow too vigourously and rob oxygen from the fi sh.

This summer, you might see the Riverkeeper patrolling up and down the Ottawa in a boat, on both sides of the river.

You can learn more about this important job by visiting http://www.ottawariverkee per.ca. If you see something that you think is a threat to the river, you can call the hot line at 888-9-Keeper. Calls are logged and will receive a response.

See you on the Ottawa!

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