Page 34 - AlertDiver_Winter2013

32 | WINTER 2013
LOCAL DIVING
long boat ride home brought me back to
the surface. Despite the two-hour ride to
the site, the City of Cleveland should not
be missed.
Each new site I visit in Tobermory
brings a new favorite shipwreck. After
three awesome days of diving, I jumped
in on the fourth day above the Forest
City. A three-masted wooden schooner
later transformed into a steamer, the
ship sank in June 1904 in a dense fog
after striking nearby (and aptly named)
Bears Rump Island. I’ve often thought
descents down mooring lines in the lakes
are like elevator rides: straight down.
But on the Forest City, it was as if I was
taking an escalator down the top of the
broken wreck, gradually following the
island’s rocks down onto the ship at 60
feet and then down the broken decking
to the stern, which sits at 150 feet. I
chose to limit my dive to 120 feet, but
I don’t think I missed anything by not
going all the way to the bottom. With
excellent 50-plus-foot visibility, I could
easily observe the ship’s stern railings, the
wreck’s signature feature.
Another similarly situated ship is the
Fathom Five National Marine Park of Canada is a 45-square-mile area consisting of 20 islands and
22 shipwrecks. Several other dive sites exist outside the park. Divers must register in person at the
Parks Canada visitor center in Tobermory before diving within the park boundaries. Nominal fees
support a mooring buoy system, research projects, marine emergency services and the Tobermory
hyperbaric chamber, which is located in town. Three companies — Divers Den, G & S Watersports
and Tobermory Aquasports — offer charters, air fills and other dive services out of Little Tub Harbour
in Tobermory. For more information, visitwww.pc.gc.ca/fathomfiveor call +1-519-596-2233.
Conditions: In general, the dive season runs from May through October; depending on the
season, temperatures range from 40°F at depth to nearly 70°F on the surface. Wind and weather
conditions can impact access, but because of the many islands sheltering the dive sites, it’s rare to
not be able to dive.
Getting There: Tobermory is located at the tip of Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula along Canada’s
Highway 6. Americans, don’t forget your passports.
On the Surface: In addition to offering a variety of options for shore diving, Tobermory radiates a
fun small-town vibe. Several motels and places to camp are available, but book early. Tobermory is
a popular vacation destination, and rooms fill quickly. Other popular activities include hiking, biking,
kayaking and glass-bottomed boat rides. You might get lucky with wildlife sightings, too. We saw a
beaver swimming in the harbor while waiting for evening fireworks on Canada Day and a porcupine
waddling down the road as we traveled toward town. The Fish & Chip Place serves an awesome
signature dish, and try the poutine, a traditional Canadian dish consisting of fries covered in gravy
and cheese curds. Also, don’t miss the opportunity to devour a pastry at Beavertails, which creates
memorable desserts by adding toppings to fried dough.
HOW TO DIVE IT
Ontario
Arabia
Forest City
Lake
Huron
James C.
King The
Caves
Niagara II
Tobermory
City of
Cleveland
Opposite: A diver peeks into a cabin
on the Niagara II, located just outside
Fathom Five National Marine Park
in the beautiful but frigid waters of
Georgian Bay.
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