As any inland diver can attest, some of the best diving to be had in areas far from saltwater and big lakes can be found in quarries. A staple for landlocked dive shops and open water classes, these manmade sites are often privately owned, with some offering such conveniences as air fills and snacks, restrooms, and camping. Here are four of Ontario’s best quarry dives, just waiting for you to discover them.
Sherkston Quarry - Canada Dive Sites
Located just outside of Port Colborne, Sherkston Quarry is the centerpiece of a thriving summertime community where divers and non-divers alike can enjoy such features as mini golf and a waterpark, not to mention a variety of restaurants. Not only does the area feature an RV park, a full resort, and a dive shop that offers training, air fills, equipment rentals, guided day and night dives and more, it is also a fantastic site for cave diving and technical training, thanks to some old mine shafts. In addition to the shafts, which should not be entered unless you’re properly equipped and trained or with your instructor, the site features old railroad tracks and even a pair of steam powered saddletank locomotives that date back to before 1917, when the quarry was flooded by accident. When conditions are good, visibility can be as much as 65 feet, and maximum depth is just 40 feet. The best time to dive here is between October and June; the rest of the year sees the lake fill up with black algae, which causes visibility to drop.
Innerkip Quarry - Canada Dive Sites
Located just about an hour west of Toronto, and accessed via the 401, Innerkip Quarry is a fantastic underwater playground for all levels. Great for diving year round, including for ice diving in winter, the quarry is very popular with training classes, particularly on weekends; when class is not in session, visibility is better. The site is equipped with a number of amenities, including an air fill station and even a large heated change room. Also known as Trout Lake, this quarry was flooded back in the 1930’s, and over the years, all sorts of attractions have been added. The site features an old Cessna aircraft and a Harvard fuselage, the wreck of the Flying Swallow and a few other boats, a van and a school bus, a few old cars, and many other artifacts. For technical divers, there are old mineshafts, plus there are some dubious looking tunnels not supported with concrete which ought not be entered due to the danger of collapse. As you explore, look for the fish; there are suckers, perch, pike, trout, sunfish, and others living in the lake. Maximum depth is about 30 feet, and visibility varies seasonally.
Brule Road Quarry - Canada Dive Sites
A shallow quarry with maximum depth at just 20 feet, Brule Quarry is a nice site for all divers and is very popular for training. It’s a fun place to spend the weekend diving and relaxing, and is located outside Toronto on the 401. While it is much less formal and has fewer amenities and attractions than some other quarries, it does feature a few sunken boats and an old car, plus some shopping carts and numerous beer bottles, courtesy of messy campers. Divers have attempted to clean up a bit by putting the bottles into the carts, and there are a few fish and crayfish to see among the rocks and artifacts – look for perch, sunfish, and bass.
There are several fixed lines leading to different points of interest, and there is a platform in the center of the quarry. Since 2009, the owner has added more amenities including toilets, and there is a small fee to enter which will presumably go toward more improvements and attractions.
Kirkfield Quarry - Canada Dive Sites
Featuring maximum depth at just thirty feet, fairly good visibility most of the time, and plenty of fish, Kirkfield Quarry is completely off limits to boaters and is a great place for all divers to enjoy a day of fun and relaxation. There are lots of perch and other fish living in the flooded quarry, and there are several attractions, including a fiberglass boats and a number of old cars that make for interesting photos. There are ceramic statues here, and a sunken forest; and to top it off, there is a lovely twenty foot long sheet metal sculpture of a diver. Nicknamed “Big Archie,” the diver was previously used as the centerpiece for a parade float and has been here since 1999.
Busiest on summer weekends, and rarely used for ice diving due to a lack of amenities, the quarry is open year round. There is a small fee to enter, and parking is abundant.
These are just a few of the great dive sites Ontario has to offer; others include some famous wrecks like the Edmund Fitzgerald and plenty of other not so famous wrecks that are fascinating to explore, nevertheless. With plenty of amenities and loads of attractions topside, this Canadian province has much to offer; give it a chance and you’re sure to find yourself coming back for more.