Verified by Mark – Field-Checked Dive Sites Across Ontario
Mark and Roman lead the Verified by Mark initiative, a hands-on exploration and evaluation project focused on personally checking dive sites across Ontario. Rather than relying on hearsay or outdated notes, they visit sites themselves to confirm access, conditions, navigation, and safety considerations. Their reports give divers practical, current information they can actually use when planning a day in the water.
This initiative has become an important bridge between adventure and conservation: every visit is an opportunity to encourage no-touch ethics, highlight fragile features, and correct stale or misleading site descriptions. The result is a growing library of reliable, first-hand site reports that help divers choose appropriate locations, respect local rules, and reduce unnecessary impact on Ontario’s underwater heritage.
What “Verified” Means in Practice
When a site is “Verified by Mark,” divers can expect that someone has recently:
- ✅ Confirmed parking, entry and exit options for shore or boat access.
- ✅ Noted depth ranges, typical visibility and current or surge where applicable.
- ✅ Checked for changes to bottom conditions, hazards or entanglement risks.
- ✅ Recorded practical notes on signage, local expectations, and nearby amenities (where to grab food, fuel or a coffee after the dive).
- ✅ Flagged sites that are not suitable for certain training levels or conditions.
The aim is not to “rate” sites as good or bad, but to give divers enough truth to make a good decision for their team, their training and the day’s conditions.
Verified by Mark – Sites on the Map
This map view will expand over time as more Ontario sites are visited, documented, and linked to full records in the Shotline archive.
In the Field with Mark and Roman
A small sample from the Verified by Mark photo stream – roadside gearing up, shore entries, and the underwater views that go with the reports. These images help divers connect the written notes to what they will actually see on site.
Sites Tagged as “Verified by Mark”
As more reports are added, this grid will act as the index of all locations that have been personally checked by Mark and Roman. Open any entry to see notes on access, depth, hazards, and what to expect topside and underwater.
Looking for More Shore Dive Sites?
Beyond the Verified by Mark collection, Shotline maintains a broader, community-built listing of shore-accessible dive sites across the province. Use it to discover new locations, compare notes, or flag sites that might benefit from a future verification visit.
Explore our growing list of shore dives: whether you’re searching for a new training site or a favourite weekend spot, this collection is built by the community, for the community. Dive Right In