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| Kingston welcomes divers and their families to the largest city of the world famous 1000 Islands. Situated at the southernmost end of the Rideau Canal, where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River, Kingston has been shaped by its nautical heritage. Historically, Kingston enjoyed prosperity through shipbuilding and national defense. |  |
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Opportunities for underwater photography are endless. Unlike wrecks found in ocean regions, the wrecks of Ontario East are unbelievable well preserved and in pristine condition because of the freshwater conditions. Today, there are fifteen moored wrecks for divers to enjoy and a world class city to explore. |
| GROUNDHOG DIVERS Organizes the BEST Kingston Trips CONTACT your local shop for details. |
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Below is some added info on the wrecks we visit. Stop by a Groundhog Divers shop and pick up a copy of The 100 Best Great Lake Shipwrecks by Chris Kohl. It will offer intriguing history to the wrecks you visit with Groundhog Divers. |
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THE COMET |
The Comet was built by a gentleman by the name of George Ault at Portsmouth village (which has since been swallowed up by the city of Kingston) in the year 1848. The ship was a steam driven side paddle wheeler of some 175 ft long 24 ft in breadth and 10 feet in depth. In 1851 it was renamed the Mayflower, then in 1861 the ship was refitted and renamed the Comet. |
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On an evening in the year 1861 the Comet left Kingston in heavy winds to make the trip up the lake. Near the false Duck Islands it was run down by the Schooner Exchange. The Comet badly damaged and without power was driven down wind in the direction of Kingston. It finally sank 2 miles off Simcoe Island out side Kingston's harbour. It sits upright in 80 feet of water. The superstructure is gone but the two massive paddle wheels some 32 feet across sit upright on the bottom still connected to the walking beam engine. The anchor windless, wheels, engine, rudder, stove, plus much more await the diver. P.O.W. (Preserve Our Wrecks) marks the wreck with a mooring. | |
Wolfe Islander II  |
Born in a Collingwood Ship yard in the last days of World War Two.. The Ottawa Maybrook and a sister ship were originally designed as 206 ton, 164ft, class C Coastal Freighters. Built to be delivered to China as part of an aid package by the Canadian Government. The war ended, China fell to the Communists, the aid was cancelled and the two ships were never delivered. |
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It was decided to convert the Ottawa Maybrook to a car ferry for use in the Kingston to Wolfe Island run. The Shipyard had to do extensive modifications to convert the coaster to a side loading ferry. It was accomplished,
however, and the Maybrook, renamed The Wolfe Islander II, was delivered to Kingston where she replaced the Side paddle wheel ferry Wolfe Islander. From 1945 to the late 1970's this converted coaster traveled back and forth between Kingston, Garden Island, and Wolfe Island. During the summer she would load at the foot of Brock street in Kingston and in MarysVille on Wolfe island. Once the Ice of winter closed the MarysVille dock the ferry would
make the longer trip down the river to her winter Jetty on the Island. As the ice strengthened a tug was employed to keep a path open and would even tow the Islander back and forth on her rounds. Eventually it would become impossible to get through so the ferry and her consort would be tied up for the winter... The Islanders would have to fend for themselves. In 1976 a new end loading ferry was delivered to take over the route. Larger, more powerful, more maneuverable, and travelling in the channel created in the ice by a brand new bubble system the new ship was able to provide year round service. Wolfe Islander II was kept around for a time as a spare should the new ferry break down. That ended when a end loading spare arrived as back up. The old ship found herself the property of the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes Kingston. Her luck ran out again when the Museum was able to secure the acquisition of the Coast Guard light ice breaker Alexander Henry. It looked for a time like the Wolfe would go the way of the scrap yards. That is until a group of concerned Marine enthusiasts and divers formed a company and took the ship over with the express purpose of sinking her as a dive site in an area protected from the South westerly winds.. The idea was to provide a safe and interesting dive site in all kinds of weather. At the same time saving the ship from the wreckers torches. The ship was cleaned and made safe for divers. Sponsors were found and provided the much needed money for the project. Each large sponsor had the name of their company engraved on the glass of the port holes. September 21st 1985 the old ship was towed for the last time out of Kingston's harbour. Towed down the route taken to the winter dock for so many years. There in the St. Lawrence River, a half mile or so from the Jetty, Wolfe Islander II was finally put to rest. Going down in the style shown during her life time. She landed upright in 80 ft of water facing north. Perfect for the placing of two mooring lines. The predominate winds keeping the boats above from floating over top of her and the divers exploring below. The life boat davits are reached at about the 40 ft level and her car deck is approximately the 60 ft level.. The large rear passenger cabin is easily accessed as windows and doors surround the area providing lots of ambient light. A large air bubble develops in a corner of the cabin in the summer so it is possible to put your head in to it and speak to your buddy 60ft down!!! It is not recommended that you breath the air trapped there however as it is pretty stale. | The rest of the insides of the ferry can be accessed but this should only be done by divers skilled in wreck penetration. The insides get very stirred up in a matter of seconds with silt. There are many interesting areas to see out side as well. One of the anchors has been recovered and placed on the deck, as well a motorcycle appeared one day. There is a time capsule on the car deck area and Divers can go to the large prop and rudder at 80 ft. |  |
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Hundreds of divers visit the wreck every year.. Some going back again and again.. At one time divers could see the engraved portholes. That is until a group came with their air tools and took them for themselves. Their selfish act deprives other divers of their chance to see them. Divers can see pictures of the thieves, however, just ask at one of the dive shops. Who knows you might recognize one of them. | |
The Munsun  |
The Munsun was a Belleville based steam powered dredge. In the year 1890 it was being towed back to Belleville after completing a job in Kingston. Just off Collins Bay the vessel started to take on water and sank less than a 1/4 mile off Lemoines Point. It sits upright in 110 feet of water. It's large shovel, electric generator, the ling cod that lives on the generator, the many artifacts, steam boiler, steam engine, plus the many other excellent areas to see make this wreck a worthwhile dive. It is intact with the exception of the cabin siding which has fallen off. The wreck is marked with a mooring by P.O.W. (Preserve Our Wrecks) |
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It's a great Get-a-way. Contact your local Groundhog Dive Shop NOW for more information. |
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