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Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Bruce County

The top 20 dive and snorkel sites in Bruce County, ranked by diver reviews, with maps and photos. Read the Bruce County guide

dive sites
20
dive shop
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reviews
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AreasTobermory20
20 sites, ranked by diver reviews
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1

Fathom Five National Park of Canada

5.0(3 reviews)Ontario, Canada

Fathom Five offers some of the best freshwater diving opportunities in the world. Clear, clean water, submerged geological formations (cliffs, caves, overhangs) and more than 20 historical shipwrecks offer a variety of underwater experiences. Everyone, from the novice snorkeler to the most advanced diving enthusiast, can find lots to explore and enjoy within the park. From Tara Harpur at the park: We do have some excellent shore diving in the area of Fathom Five National Marine Park. The only sites that are shore accessible are sites 3, 4, 5 and 23 (The Lighthouse, The Anchor, The Tugs and the Little Cove). The other sites are not shore accessible due to various issues - private property, etc. If you have any questions please let us know! Fathom Five National Marine, Park P.O. Box 189 ,Tobermory, Ontario, Canada ,N0H 2R0, Administration: Phone: (519) 596-2233 Fax: (519) 596-2298, Diver Registration: Phone: (519) 596-2503 Fax: (519) 596-2552

Shore entry
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2

The Forest City

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

A 216 foot steamer that ran head on into Bear's Rump Island at full speed.She lies on a VERY steep slope. Mid ships to bow are flattened. Things get interesting from 80 feet down. Boilers and aft rail down at approx 150 ft. This wreck deserves respect. It and the Arabia are responsible for most of the fatalities in Fathom Five Park. Depth and cold are the contributing factors. By Boat. Cliffs on Bear's Rump Island preclude a shore entry.

IntermediateMax depth 60 ftBoat entry
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3

The Arabia

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

A three masted Barque built in 1853. Lying upright. Stern section collapsed with wheel house over the side. From mid ships toward bow, wreck condition improves. Bow has windlass and both anchors in place. Many dead eyes on rails. Bowsprit largely intact with chain rigging still there. In good vis ( it varies) an excellent photo op from forward and below the bowsprit but be careful of depth and slight current. Two buoys, one leading midships to a concrete anchor and a line leading to the rail, the other buoy aft, leading to a concrete anchor with a line to a fallen mast that takes you to the wreck. This is a cold water dive even in mid to late summer. Expect temps below 46 F and a thermocline or two. By Boat, off Echo Island. The Arabia is also known as Arabia.

IntermediateMax depth 107.9 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
4

Charles P. Minch

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

Three Masted Schooner located on the east side of Cove Island, Tobermory, Ontario, Canada. Length: 154' 7" Built: 1867 - Vermillion, Ohio Sunk: October 26, 1898 Level: Novice - Intermediate Orientation: On an incline

BeginnerMax depth 20 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
5

Caroline Rose

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

The Caroline Rose was towed to Driftwood Cove on the Georgian Bay shore by a group of sport divers and sank as a dive site in late August, 1990. This ship is reported to be one of the three ships pictured on the back of the Canadian $100 bill. Build: Wooden Schooner Length: 132' Built: 1940 Sunk: 1990 Orientation: Flattened Tobermory, Outside Fathom Five Park

BeginnerMax depth 49.9 ftBoat entry
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6

Dave's Bay

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

Popular area for diver open water check-outs. Look for geological formations such as pitting, glacial erratics and bedrock layering. Limited parking. Cautions: Large rocks on beach can cause a slip hazard, exercise care entering and exiting the water Dave's Bay is also known as Little Cove.

BeginnerMax depth 24.9 ftShore or Boat entry
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7

City of Grand Rapids

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

The City of Grand Rapids was an elegant passenger steamer until it burned and sank in October 1907. Its charred remains now lie in shallow water about 100 feet from the wreck of the Sweepstakes. This site is suitable for both divers and snorkelers. Alt GPS N45°15.500' W81°40.700'

BeginnerMax depth 12.1 ftShore or Boat entry
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8

The Caves

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

The Caves are actually caverns, with passages leading from Georgian Bay into a large grotto. Cautions: Overhead environment, people jumping/diving into water from cliffs/grotto. Tobermory, Outside Fathom Five Park

BeginnerMax depth 20 ftBoat entry
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9

Sweepstakes

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

This two-masted schooner was damaged off Cove Island and then towed to Big Tub Harbour where it sank in September 1885. The hull of the vessel is still intact with the windlass and a portion of the bow rail still in place. For both conservation and safety reasons no penetration of the wreck is permitted. One of the most popular wrecks in the park, it is visited by divers, snorkellers and tour boat passengers.

BeginnerMax depth 12.1 ftShore or Boat entry
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10

Big Tub Lighthouse Point

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

At the end of the big tub rd

BeginnerMax depth 36.1 ftShore entry
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11

China

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

137 feet long 2-masted schooner shipwreck. Sunk November, 1883. China is also known as China Reef.

BeginnerMax depth 9.8 ftShore or Boat entry
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12

The Anchor

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

This is a large wooden-stocked iron anchor. At the end of the road 6. Approx. 150 feet from the road end. The Anchor is also known as The Gap.

IntermediateMax depth 68.9 ftShore entry
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13

Tobermory HBC

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

This is the Hyperbaric Facility. You can pre-arrange chamber dives. Warning do not dive for 24 hours before your chamber dive. Tobermory HBC is also known as Tobermory Medical Clinic.

BeginnerMax depth 136.2 ftShore entry
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14

Thomas' Place

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

Dive site near the Grotto. Its a large cavern with 3 entrances none of them are on the surface. Marked as an advanced dive due to overhead environment.

IntermediateMax depth 29.9 ftBoat entry
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15

W.L. Wetmore

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

Wooden Steamer, the Wetmore, sank in a storm in Nov 29 1901. The wetmore sank pulling two barges, the James C King and the Brurnette. The Burnette was salvaged a but the King lies just wet of the Wetmore in 22 - 93 ft of water. The wetmore outstanding features are it huge boiler and the rudder and Anchor. This is a great Novice dive and Snorkeling trips can be arranged in Tobermory. Tobermory Ontario Canada. Boat access from Fathom Five National Underwater Park

BeginnerMax depth 4.9 ftBoat entry
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16

Cascaden

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

138 ton schooner shipwreck. Sunk October, 1871

BeginnerMax depth 20 ftBoat entry
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17

James C. King

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

The KING was wrecked while under tow by the WETMORE in November, 1901. The second barge on tow, the BRUNETTE, was later salvaged. This site is good for advanced levels of experience. It is not recommended for novices or trainees. Build: Schooner - Barge Length: 181' 6" Built: 1867 - East Saginaw, Michigan Sunk: November 29, 1901 Loss of Life: 0 Level: Intermediate - Advanced Orientation: Steep Incline Russel Island, Tobermory. Alt GPS: N45°16.068' W81°42.545'

IntermediateMax depth 65.6 ftBoat entry
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18

Philo Scoville

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

Vessel was wrecked during a storm in October, 1889. The bow portion, including the bowsprit can be found at the deeper depths and the anchors are located about 100 feet east of the main wreckage. Because of depth, this site is recommended to divers with advanced levels of experience only. Build: Schooner Length: 139' 5" Built: 1863 - Cleveland, Ohio Sunk: October 6, 1889 Loss of Life: 1 (Captain) Orientation: Steep Incline Russel Island, Tobermory. Alt GPS: N45°16.133' W81°41.833'

IntermediateMax depth 65.6 ftBoat entry
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19

The Niagara II

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

The Niagara II was built in 1930 as a 182 foot steel freighter and later in life, converted to a sand sucker. She was purchased in 1998 and purposefully sunk by the Tobermory Maritime Association the following year after having been thoroughly cleaned in preparation of sinking as a dive site. There are a few videos circulating on the internet showing the actual event. She lies just outside of Fathom Five Marine Park boundaries and to dive her, requires a separate tag available at the Diver Information Centre in Tobermory. She lies upright with an descent line attached to a surface buoy, running to just aft and below the wheel house. This is NOT a one dive affair. She's big and there are a ton of places to explore. Swim throughs abound and also penetration areas. This wreck was prepared for sinking by divers and as such is EXTREMELY diver friendly for all levels of diver. Just keep your dive to your experience and certification level. She lies at a bow down angle, so if you're planning on visiting the machinery at the bow, plan on a dive to 100 feet. You can drop to the mud in front for a good look at 130. By boat, usually via a charter from Tobermory.

IntermediateMax depth 49.9 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
20

The Tugs

No reviews yetCanada, Ontario, Lake Huron

Wour small steam tugs: Alice G, Robert K, John & Alex and an unidentified tug. Sunk between 1905 and 1927. At the end of Earl St

BeginnerMax depth 16.4 ftShore entry
Snorkeling & Scuba Map of Bruce County: numbered map of the top 20 dive and snorkel sites, with ratings
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Numbers match the ranked list of Bruce County dive and snorkel sites. Full map with key

Top dive shops in Bruce County

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Divers Den
4.3 (210) · Tobermory
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Bruce County diving guide

Ready to check out the best sites in Bruce County for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? Zentacle has 20 dive sites, snorkel spots, beaches, and more. Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you.

Frequently asked questions

Are there dive shops in Bruce County?

Zentacle lists 1 dive shop in Bruce County. The top-rated is Divers Den (4.3 from 210 reviews).