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 Some of the most challenging navigable waters in the 1000 Island's region have resulted in a mecca of shipwrecks in the Brockville area. |
Known as the City of the 1000 Islands, Brockville is located along the shore of the majestic St. Lawrence River in the heart of the 1000 Islands. One of the oldest cities in Ontario, this enchanting city offers many opportunities to enjoy its heritage and beauty. |
| When you travel with the Groundhog group you benefit from years of experience visiting the area. No wasted time or effort. |
| ....Brockville, a major centre for scuba diving, is home to the Keystorm, a must-see wreck open to all skill levels. This favourite with divers offers both a panoramic view of the entire vessel from 50 to 60 feet away, as well as fascinating close-up exploration of its large cargo holds, masts, booms and wheelhouse area. |  |
Here's a small preview of the wrecks we visit !
| Lillie Parsons |
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....A 2 masted "Fore and Aft" rigged centerboard schooner built in Tonawanda N.Y. in 1868, she was sailing with 500 tons of coal destined for Brockville when on August 5, 1877 a sudden squall shifted her cargo and pinned her against an island letting her take water, capsizing and sinking her. The large rudder sits proudly upstream with a broad square stern resting on the rock ledges that support her. The masts jutt from beneath her and run out into the channel, while a visit to the vessels bottom shows the drop center board secured in the casing midship. ....Located on the upstream/channel side of Sparrow Island in the Brockville "narrows". The "Lillie" is one of Ontario's most famous wrecks. Accessing the site from the corner of Sparrow Island at the anchor on shore, one can follow the chain to the bow or swim into the current and down the island contour to follow the island profile upstream to the rudder. |
| Henry C. Daryaw |
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....This 219 ft. x 35 ft. x 13 ft. steel freighter built in France in 1919 suffered an unforgiving gash on her starboard side running over a shoal. The bow area has a number of items of interest to divers and many enjoy a visit up to the keel of the Daryawand do a "keel walk". This area lets you view the gash in her bottom that sent her to her fate. ....Located upstream from the Brockville "narrows", the Daryaw rests upside down at a depth of 95 ft. with a very quick surface current.Divers are continually impressed with the large twin props and rudder that meet them as they descend the buoy line. |
| Amercia |
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....On June 20, 1932 this steel drill barge was sunk due to an explosion. The shoal side gives evidence to the American's work with the blasted rock rubble along side. The usual path back is swimming upstream on the shoal side and accessing the guide rope back to the buoy area to access your boat. ....This site rests at a depth of 75 ft., upside down across the shipping channel from Jordstat Castle and Dark Island east of Mallorytown Landing. Normally a guide line is buoyed immediately east of Black Buoy # 167 on the downstream side of the shipping lane. |
| Keystorm |
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....Built in 1908 in Wellsend, England this 2300 ton steamer called "Keystone", (256 ft. x43 ft.) was carrying a cargo of 2230 tons of Bituminous coal from Genesee Dock at Charlotte N.Y. under the command of Capt. L Daigault. Forty five minutes past Alexandria Bay in dense fog on Oct. 12, 1912 she crossed over Outer Scow island Shoal and within minutes sank without a fatality. ....One of Ontario's premier wrecks and favorite of many divers, this steel freighter lies south of the shipping channel off Mallorytown Landing west of Brockville. The Keystorm sits in deeper water away from the shoal she hit. |
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