Site Orientation
- Shore Dive
- 40 – 50ft pending on distance swam/scootered
- Kingston Ontario
- 55 Ontario St
Description
- West Street Route
- Marine Railway
- Marine Museum Barge 1
- Marine Musuem Barge 2 Normally Scootered
Tour Boat Remains – Yacht Club East Yellow Marker
2 Water Pipe Cribs - Unidentified Hull – Kingston Yacht Club(KYC Wreck)
A barge, cars, and a dock all submerged near the old Maritime Museum in Kingston, Ontario.
The Maritime Museum, established in 1892, is located at the Kingston Dry Dock, which is now a national historic site. The area around the museum, including the Marine Museum dive site, offers an opportunity for shore-accessible freshwater diving.
The Marine Museum dive site has received an average rating of 2.50 out of 5 from scuba divers and has a maximum depth of 36-40 feet (11-12 meters). The average visibility in the water ranges from 16 to 20 feet (5-6 meters). It serves as a popular spot in Kingston for divers to get in the water, practice or test new equipment, and shake off the rust after the winter season.
To access the dive site, divers can walk in from the boat ramp or old pilings. As you venture further out, you will come across the hull of a ship and cars resting in deeper waters. While the presence of aquatic life may not be as abundant as in some other bodies of water, this is typical for Lake Ontario.
The highlights of this dive site include the heavy, wrought-iron pier from which you descend into the water and the wreck of an old barge. Parking facilities are reportedly adequate, even during busy summer weekends, and there is a concrete ramp nearby for convenient entry into the water.
During a dive at this location, it is important to note that the water temperature can reach up to 24 degrees Celsius, providing a comfortable environment for divers. However, visibility may be limited, requiring extra caution and navigation skills. The main underwater attraction is the sunken barge, which lies at approximately 40 feet (12 meters) deep. Navigating back to the entry point can be challenging in poor visibility, but by paying attention to compass directions before and during the dive, divers can ensure a safe return.
Additionally, divers can enjoy a safety stop near the underwater pier close to the entry point, where they may encounter a decent amount of fish life. Although the visibility may not be ideal, exploring the submerged barge and experiencing the unique underwater environment at the Marine Museum dive site in Kingston can still be a rewarding experience for divers.
Marine Barge One
Rules to Shore Dive by
- Pick up after yourselves and others if need be
- Take only pictures, memories, and trash off the bottom
- Many shore dive sites are busiest on weekends so plan ahead
- Remember you’re the ambassador for the sport when approached by onlookers and locals. Paying attention and being polite can lead to other opportunities and locations.
- Have fun and lots of it after all that’s why you are there just like underwater beware of others around you for both positive and negative experiences
- If you’re the guy with the camera, video, or go pro, take a minute to show those outside your group what’s underneath.
