Scuba Diving

Uncover the Deep in St. Lawrence County

The St. Lawrence River offers a variety of diving sites from quite challenging to suitable for the novice. Many shipwrecks can be visited in one day trips. Because of the increase in Zebra mussels and DEC water cleanup, the river's clarity is tremendous (Sometimes 60 feet or better).

St. Lawrence Shipwrecks

Eastcliffe Hall

This steel freighter weighing 3,335 tons and 343 feet long struck a shoal at 4 a.m. on July 14, 1970 while carrying a load of "pig iron". It sank within minutes and nine lives were lost. There were 12 survivors.

Location: Approximately ¾ mile south of Crysler Marina, at Upper Canada Village, Morrisburg, Ont. Between Morrisburg, Ont. and Cornwall, Ont. or between Ogdensburg, NY and Massena, NY.

Conestoga

This 2,008 ton ship with a double planked propeller was capable of doing 8 knots. Launched on July 6, 1878 it sank on May 22, 1922. This ship is used by many visitors as a site for night diving.

Location: The ship lies in about 30 feet of water with a quick current alongside the old canal wall a short distance west of Cardinal, Ont. on the north shore of the river and only a few miles from the International Bridge at Ogdensburg, NY.

Fleur Marie

This Brigantine was built in 1850 at Lanoraie, Que. It was listed at 155.6 tons, 92.5 ft. x 20 ft. x 8.7 ft. with a square stern. This ship had deteriorated while sitting at dock in Prescott, ON and after a fire on board it was sunk in the mid channel and now rests on a rock/sand bottom at 52 ft. below water where she is surrounded by a quick surface current.

Location: South of the "windmill", the site lies on the American side east of Ogdensburg and west from buoy 131B

America

On June 20, 1932 this steel oil barge was sunk due to an explosion. The shoal's side gives evidence to the America's work with the blasted rock rubble alongside.

Location: At a depth of 75 ft. the America rests upside down across the shipping channel from Jordstat Castle and Dark Island. Normally a guide line is buoyed immediately east of Black Buoy #167 on the downstream side of the shipping lane.

Loblaw's Wreck

The vessel is about 130 ft. x 24 ft. x 8 ft. with some decking remaining. The wreckage appears burnt to the water line but sits about 8 ft. high on a firm claysilt bottom.

Location: The wooded hull sits off Ogdensburg's waterfront at about 52 ft. depth with a noticeable current. Visits to this site are by boat. The site sits directly in front of the large brick chimney on the Ogdensburg shore and south of the downstream channel.