Contact(s)
Shore Dives Adjacent to the Port of Goderich
(See also charter information below)
1. Wreck site North of Harbour ("The Labour Day Wreck")
5- 7m depth, and 600m offshore
Buoyed with white boat fender.
This is a marker buoy only; do not moor to the line.
Anchor off the site.
(line up the CA flag at Maitland Valley Inlet Marina and the Church spire, and judge the distance from shore approximately where the Marina signs are posted on the stone breakwater.)
This is a shore dive (from the Maitland Inlet Marina, or a boat dive.)
2. This site is currently being surveyed and inventoried by SOSGoderich.
The ship's identity is still unknown.
Please do not disturb or relocate any artifacts.
A site survey is being conducted under license of the Province of Ontario.
The ship appears to have floundered under duress; many tools, much anchor chain and brass fittings remain.
The survey to date is not conclusive but indicates a wooden steam, side-wheeler that was iron reinforced.
The keelson is approximately 1m square by 53m long. It would have a beam of approximately 9.6m. There is a debris field trailing approximately .5km NWW.
The site vision drops rapidly in rough weather. Fish life is very plentiful.
Photographic opportunities are abundant.
3. Wreck site off Rotary Beach,
5- 6m depth, and 200m offshore
Buoyed with white boat fender.
This is a marker buoy only; do not moor to the line. Anchor off the site.
Approx. 200 m off the Rotary Beach Arch.
This is a shore dive or boat dive site.
The remains of at least 4 wrecks are at this location, PLUS an abundance of fish life.
From the 1932 Signal Star: "The tug Phillips, after being stripped of her boilers, engine and all metal trimmings, was sent to the 'boneyard' on Tuesday morning. She was beached just below the Sunset Hotel, where the Abercorn, Scobia, Olga, Tecumseth and other vessels have found a last resting place. The Phillips was built in 1882 and last spring, after sinking in the harbor, was raised. Her pilot house was removed and now rests on the north pier."
4. South Breakwall
- swim the base of this structure beginning at South end, 6-7m leading to 8-9m at fog horn.
An interesting dive swim to survey the structure of the breakwalls as laid in 1907-08. The debris field to the West of the two breakwalls has not been surveyed. It is said that the breakwall structures are slowly sinking. (Use CAUTION if diving in the area of the North breakwall, adjacent to the river mouth stone wall: much small boat traffic.
CHARTER BOAT INFORMATION: Contact MacDonald Marine @ 524-9551 for charter information, if required.
Arrangements can also be made to travel further afield to major wreck sites in this area of Lake Huron. The mystery ship "WEXFORD", lost in the Great Storm of 1913 can also be accessed by special charter.
