1,000 Islands

St. Lawrence River
Brockville, Ontario, Canada

August 9 through August 12, 2024

Trip Leaders: Jim Vafeas & Mary Davis

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Dive the Canadian Caribbean

Each year in August Jim Vafeas has been running our East Coast Dive Tour trips. The annual trip is to the 1,000 Islands area to dive the incredible wrecks of the St. Lawrence River. Visibility in these 70°+ waters can reach 60 feet this time of year, and the currents cause the lake to have no thermoclines – even to depths of 130ft – earning the name Canadian Caribbean. This trip is perfectly suited for all levels of divers.

The 1,000 Islands are as beautiful underwater as they are above water. The irregular bottom contour provides many shallow shoals that surprised unsuspecting ships, leaving them scattered about the lake bottom, but remain in excellent condition due to the freshwater. From paddlewheel steamers of the 1800’s to contemporary freighters, this river has them all awaiting us.

Diving Canada since 1999.

Our first trip to Canada started back in the Fall of 1999. 7 of us drove up and dove Saturday and Sunday. Since then we've made regular trips to the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario.

Sailing on the best of the river …

We’ll be diving off some of the most spacious boats available featuring enclosed cabins, wide, easy to board ladders, an indoor head and an upper deck for relaxing between dives.

During this trip, you’ll have the opportunity of diving some of the best and most unique wrecks in the area. These wreck sites include:

Rothesay

The Rothesay is a 19th Century wooden twin side wheeler (193′ x 28.8′ x 7.9′) built in 1867.

Today, the bow and stern of Rothesay is still very much intact, including the paddle wheels, the rocker arm and the twin boilers. Having sunk only 90 metres from shore, the river bottom here is firm clay with weed growth between the Rothesay and the shore. Bring a light to see into the chain locker and hold. Prepare for a 1 to 2 knot current along the surface. There is hardly any current at depth of 30 feet.

Robert A. Gaskin

The Robert Gaskin is a double masted iron rigged wood barge that was built in Kingston Ont. by Charles W. Jenkings in 1863. She is 113' x 26', 3332 ton "carvel" and has a square stern, but no galley or figurehead.

She sits on a firm bottom (with light silt) approximately 400' off shore, with her bow facing inland at 65'-70'.

The Gaskin's upper deck is quite open allowing ample ambient light for easy penetration throughout the wreck. A great wreck for new wreck divers!

Lillie Parsons

The Lillie Parsons is a 131 foot long double masted (fore & aft) retractable centerboard schooner built in Tonawanda N.Y. in 1868. On August 5th, 1877, She was being used to transport 500 tons of coal when a squall shifted her cargo, pushing her into Sparrow Island. She started taking on water, capsizing, and sank off the west side of Sparrow Island.

She lies upside down, against the side of the island (in a quick current) with her bow downstream in about 70' on a rock slope. The Stern and its impressive rudder lies upstream at about 20' depth.

Keystorm

The area's most popular wreck, the Keystorm was a 256' steel laker built in 1908 that went down in October, 1912 after it struck Scow Island's outer shoal. From swimming through it’s immense cargo holds, to the spectacular photo opportunities by the wheelhouse and prop, this wreck has something for everyone. She sits on its starboard side in 20' to 120' and is truly an unforgettable wreck.

By far one of Ontario's best wrecks, built in England, this 256 ft, 2,300 ton steel freighter sank in October, 1912 after it struck Scow Island's outer shoal.

A visit to the Keystorm reveals why she is such a favorite. She stretches from her bow at 25 ft depth to 115 ft depth at the props. It is an inviting superstructure with easy access through her wheelhouse area.

About midship it is suggested that you back away 50 to 60 feet to view the entire panorama. Don't miss the air pocket trapped in the anchor nest and the fatal gash on the underside near her bow!

American

The American is a 297 ton steam screw drill barge that sank on July 29, 1932. She sits upside down at 70' depth off of Dark Island
in the shipping channel.  This 4-legged ship was used to dynamite sections of the St. Lawrence Seaway to make it deeper and safer for travel.

She is accessed off the side of the shoal (35' depth) by dropping over the edge and following a bearing towards the castle, you should see the support legs extend over her profile. The bow is upstream (50' depth) and by descending to the deck (65' depth) you can see across and under her (cluttered with equipment and winches).

At the stern you will see twin props, rudder (surprisingly small), and the four large support legs (used while she was drilling) as well as the blasted rock on the bottom between her and the shoal. The props are at 50' to 55' depth and the bottom is at 72' rock/silt/sand.