Diving & Snorkeling.
The Sweepstakes — a 36.3 m two-masted schooner built in Burlington in 1867 and sunk in Big Tub Harbour in September 1885 — rests in 6.1 m of water about 46 m from the harbour head, with the hull mostly intact. It is the entry-level snorkel and dive site that anchors Fathom Five National Marine Park.
Twelve-plus deeper named wrecks lie offshore across the archipelago, plus three non-wreck sites at Dunks Point, Big Tub Lighthouse Point, and The Anchor.
The brief.
Fathom Five is Canada's first national marine park (1987), 112 km², preserving 24 documented shipwrecks. All scuba divers must register and purchase a dive pass at the Tobermory visitor centre or a downtown dive shop before diving; snorkellers do not need a dive pass.
Water is cold and exceptionally clear — wood wrecks are preserved largely intact, but cold-water exposure planning is required even in mid-summer. The Niagara II (28 m), Arabia (33.5 m), and Forest City (18–46 m off Bear's Rump Island) sit in the advanced range; Sweepstakes and the Big Tub Harbour wrecks are the entry-level lane.
June through September is the working window.
6. places.
- 01
Sweepstakes (Big Tub Harbour)
36.3 m schooner, 6.1 m depth, mostly intact hull; entry-level snorkel and dive site.
Map ↗ - 02
Niagara II
55.5 m sandsucker scuttled May 1999 as a dive site by the Tobermory Maritime Association; rests at 28 m.
Map ↗ - 03
Forest City
Barge/steamer that struck Bear's Rump Island; principal structure between 18–46 m, advanced dive.
Map ↗ - 04
Arabia
Three-masted barque at 33.5 m max depth; advanced/expert dive due to depth and current.
Map ↗ - 05
W.L. Wetmore, Newaygo, Philo Scoville, James C. King, Charles P. Minch, Caroline Rose, John Walters, China, Cascaden, Avalon Voyageur II, Truellen, Points West
Additional named registered wreck-dive sites in the marine park, 3–30 m range.
Map ↗ - 06
Non-wreck dive sites: Dunks Point, Big Tub Lighthouse Point, The Anchor
Round out the registered Fathom Five dive registry.
Map ↗
Today's read.
Temperature (6.1°C) below the typical range and outside the typical season window.
