Lillie Parsons Launched on September 5, 1868, at Towanda, NY, the two-masted, centreboard schooner, Lillie Parsons measures 131' x 26' x 12'. The Lillie was sailing from Black Rock, NY to Brockville, ON loaded with 500 tons of coal when she met a violent squall. Her cargo shifted and she struck a rock, causing her to fill with water and sink. This shipwreck lies in the Brockville Narrows' swift currents off the northwest corner of Sparrow Island in 35 - 75 feet of water. The anchor from the Lillie Parsons is on display on the Island, with the chain trailing down into the water straight to the upside-down hull of the wreck. Interesting parts of the ship include the centreboard, artifact display box, the huge rudder, ship's cast iron stove and masts with crows nest.

Muscallunge The wooden tug, Muscallunge 128' x 24.5' x 12', launched as the Vigilant at Port Huron, Michigan on April 23, 1896, received her name change when Canadian owners purchased the ship in 1913. On August 15, 1936, while towing a barge to Toronto, the Muscallunge caught fire near Brockville. The captain ran his ship aground, saved the crew, but the Muskie broke in two and sank before the fire could be extinguished. This shipwreck lies in 90 to 100 feet of water in variable mild to strong currents with much to see for the visiting diver. Points of interest include winches, the scotch boiler, the engine and seasonally hundreds and hundreds of fish which use the Muskie as an artificial reef.

John B. King One of the St. Lawrence River's worst loss-of-life marine accidents occurred off Cockburn Island on June 30, 1930. The John B. King, a 140' wooden drill scow, with a large crew of 41 men on board, was placing underwater dynamite charges while at anchor in the Brockville Narrows. A summer thunderstorm suddenly developed, and lightning struck just as the vessel was pulling away from the site. All of the submerged charges and the dynamite still on board ignited. The explosion rocketed pieces of the ship hundreds of feet into the air, and when the maelstrom was over the ship was gone, along with 30 of her crew. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter, Succor, responded to the sound and was able to rescue eleven survivors. The wreck site consists of heavily twisted metal and timbers lying scattered about a large deep area of the Brockville Narrows. The river currents are strong at this site, and the depth of 90 to 165 feet make this one of the more challenging dives in the Thousand Islands.

Robert Gaskin The Robert Gaskin 132' x 26' x 11', was launched as a triple masted, iron rigged wooden barque on April 21, 1863 at Kingston Ontario with a carrying capacity of 20,000 bushels. The Gaskin met her incredible fate, sinking three times in late 1889 while salvaging the train ferry William Armstrong. First, On September 18, 1889, a salvage pontoon broke loose and put a hole in the Gaskin. She ended up sinking on top of the William Armstrong. On November 11, 1889, when the Gaskin was nearly raised, she dropped down again when a hose coupling broke. Twelve days later, the Gaskin was raised again and towed about 600 feet before sinking for the third and final time after a rear pontoon tore her stern away. The Robert Gaskin lies in mild currents with her bow in 55 feet of water, and her stern in 70 feet. A large anchor lies 30 feet off the bow of the wreck.

Henry C. Daryaw The Steel Freighter, Henry C. Daryaw 219' x 35' x 13', built in France in 1919, tore a large gash in her starboard side when she ran aground in a dense fog near Brockville on November 21, 1941. Her final resting place, 6 miles west of Brockville, has medium to strong currents. The hull lies upside down, with the bow facing into the current in 55 to 90 feet of water. The Daryaw is an impressive ship, with large twin propellers and ample opportunity for wreck penetration for those properly trained in wreck or cave diving.

Kingshorn One of seven wheat-laden schooner-barges being towed on April 27, 1897 by the tug Hiram A. Walker, when a storm sank four of the barges. This schooner-barge 130' long, is also known as the mystery wreck, since her positive identity is still somewhat in doubt. The Kingshorn sits upright and incredibly intact in 75 to 90 feet of water. This shipwreck has a rare artifact: the ship's wheel! The broken off rudder lies on the bottom at the stern and three bilge pumps, one mounted just forward of each cargo hold, add to the unique experience of this shipwreck dive.

A.E. Vickory The schooner, A.E. Vickory 136' x 26' x 11' launched in July, 1884, struck a shoal and sank 4 miles southwest of Alexandria Bay, NY. Her entire crew escaped uninjured, but the river pilot was nearly shot by the angry captain, who shouted profanities and pointed his revolver at the guide who had steered him wrong in the night. The ship's mate pitched the revolver overboard, in all likelihood saving the pilot's life. This popular site has a strong surface current. Once the upright wreck is reached at 65feet, the diver is mostly shielded from the current. The attached rudder is in place at a depth of 120 feet.

America The steel drill barge, America, worked at dynamiting shoals when an explosion on board sank the vessel on June 20, 1932. She lies upside down, and divers can view the twin propellers and rudders at a depth of 55 to 75 feet. Exploring underneath the wreck, divers will see winches, a brick oven or kiln and a jumble of wire rigging. The deck cabin is on the stern end, and a small wooden barge, which accompanied the America, lies off her stern.

Keystorm One of Ontario's best shipwreck dives, the steel canaller, Keystorm 250' x 42'x 17', built in England in 1910, sank two years later on October 26, 1912, when she ran aground on a shoal near Chippewa Point. Her crew escaped and after five hours aground, the ship slid off into deep water. A visit to the Keystorm reveals why it is one of the most exciting shipwreck dives in the St. Lawrence River. Lying on her starboard side, her bow reaches 25 feet from the surface and her propeller rests in 115 feet. It is an inviting fully intact superstructure, a pair of freight masts and booms, and huge cargo holds. Easy access through her wheelhouse makes for a comfortable swim-through and ample photo opportunities in this shallower bow section. Swimming 50 to 60 feet away from the Keystorm at midship will often reveal a panoramic view of the entire shipwreck. Don't miss the air pocket in the starboard anchor nest and the fatal gash in the ship's port bow area.