Scuba Diving Sites Near Montreal

Below you'll find a list of popular scuba diving sites close to Montreal, within a 2 hour drive. Use this page to find sites for your own dives, or for outings and courses with Action Scuba. 

Most of the best local scuba diving in actually located in the Saint Lawrence River, especially in the world famous Thousand Islands. Local lakes and quarries are generally cold and murky with little to see. The Saint Lawrence offers a huge number of historical shipwrecks and no thermocline, with temperatures reaching in to the mid 70's in summer.

Check back often for updates - this is a work in progress.

Dive Site Description Diver Level Location

Pointe-des-Cascades

A dive site just off the western tip of Montreal used by some dive centres for local scuba diver training and PADI instructor exams. Shallow, muddy, and not very interesting as a dive.

Open Water

Greater Montreal

Olympic Stadium Pool

Although this is an indoor setting, it is deeper than a standard pool with depths up to 50 feet. Good for winter practice and training. 

Open Water

Island of Montreal

Kahnawake Quarry / Bédard Quarry

A quarry located on the south shore of Montreal, used by some dive centres for local scuba diver training. Deep, cold and of little interest to certified divers except for practice and training. Max depth about 300 feet.

Open Water

Greater Montreal

Conestoga (wreck)

Shipwreck located just off shore. Very popular dive site for new divers and those looking for a bit of easy but enjoyable diving. Access is free and very easy. Some current.  Max depth 30 feet. No penetration possible. Included in Action Scuba's free shore dive schedule

Open Water

Cardinal, Ontario

Rothesay (wreck)

A fun wreck dive about 300 feet from shore, accessible by a guide line underwater. Max depth about 30 feet. Included on Action Scuba's free shore dive schedule

Open Water

Prescott, Ontario

Centeen Park

Very popular dive site for scuba training and certification because of warm water temperatures in summer. Action Scuba's certification location. Not much to see, as with most training grounds. Max depth around 30 feet. Easy shore access, street parking. Also acts as a starting point for technical divers to reach the Robert Gaskin shipwreck. Do not attempt unless properly trained.

Open Water

Brockville, Ontario

Robert Gaskin (wreck)

Boat Dive. Very popular shipwreck site just facing Brockville town centre. 3 masted wooden boot built in 1863 and sank in 1889. Max depth 60 feet. Action Scuba Open Water students have the option to dive this site for free following their 4 certification dives. Strong current. Included on Action Scuba's charter schedule

Open Water

Brockville, Ontario (Thousand Islands)

Lillie Parsons (wreck)

Boat Dive. Beautiful upside 19th century wooden centreboard schooner, 131 feet long.  Sank in 1877. Wreck sits between 40-90 feet.  Wall drops off to 180+ feet so care should be taken with depth. Very strong current. Excellent drift dive. Included on Action Scuba's charter schedule

Open Water / Advanced Open Water+

Brockville, Ontario (Thousand Islands)

Musky / Muscallonge (wreck)

Boat Dive. Included on Action Scuba's charter schedule

Advanced Open Water+

Brockville, Ontario (Thousand Islands)

JB King (wreck)

Boat Dive. Wreck sits between 90-200 feet. Very strong current. Included on Action Scuba's charter schedule

Advanced divers / Deep Divers / technical divers 

Brockville, Ontario (Thousand Islands)

Kinghorn (wreck)

Boat Dive. Included on Action Scuba's charter schedule

Advanced Open Water

Rockport, Ontario (Thousand Islands)

Ash Island Barge (wreck)

Boat Dive. Wreck sits between 100-120 feet. Included on Action Scuba's charter schedule

Advanced Open Water

Rockport, Ontario (Thousand Islands)

Power house

Boat Dive. Strong current. Included on Action Scuba's charter schedule

Advanced Open Water

Cornwall, Ontario

Belly Dumper + wrecks

Boat Dive. Series of shipwrecks connected by a guide line. Included on Action Scuba's charter schedule

Advanced Open Water

Cornwall, Ontario

Lock 21

Shore dive. Part of the Lost Villages flooded for the construction of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Strong current. Included on Action Scuba's shore dive schedule

NOTE: Winter access is limited due to lack of snow removal on the roadway.

Advanced Open Water

Long Sault Parkway, Ontario

Lock 23

Shore dive. Part of the Lost Villages flooded for the construction of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Strong current. Included on Action Scuba's shore dive schedule

Advanced Open Water

Morrisburg, Ontario

Morrison's Quarry

A privately owned flooded quarry near Ottawa (but still in Quebec) that is set up for scuba diving, complete with a sunken plane, mini-sub and more. As with all quarries, there are several thermoclines, so be prepared for very cold water below 40-50. Being in Quebec, the FQAS diving permit is required. Access fee payable on the spot to the owners of around $10 / diver. Washrooms, picnic area, parking etc. Camping possible.

All levels. 

Wakefield, Quebec

Shipwreck Graveyard

Where the Saint Lawrence meets Lake Ontario is an area known as the Shipwreck Graveyard. Here you will numerous shipwrecks littering the lake floor, thanks in part to the navigational hazards and shifting weather patterns found in this area. Note that as this is in a lake, there are thermoclines and cold water conditions at depth. When the surface temperature is in the 70s, the bottom temperatures can be in the 40s. 

Included on Action Scuba's charter schedule

All levels. Kingston, Ontario
Wolfe Islander

This is an intentionaly sunk ferry boat that used to make the journey between Kingston and Wolfe Island. It features numerous "attractions" including some motorbikes on deck. Very interesting dive, including some penetration possible. Max depth around 70 feet, with the wheelhouse at about 40 feet.

Note that as this is in a lake, there are thermoclines and cold water conditions at depth.  

Included on Action Scuba's charter schedule

All levels. Kingston, Ontario
 
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