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Dive Review of Dive Tech in
Canada/Brockville, Ontario

Dive Tech, Aug, 2004,

by Mort Rolleston, VA, US . Report 1508.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments 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.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 51-100 dives
Where else diving Bonaire, Key Largo, New Providence Bahamas, North Carolina wrecks, Sail Rock Thailand
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 68-70°F / 20-21°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 30-45 Ft/ 9-14 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 1 stars
Small Critters 1 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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