Courtesy GISGeography

As the easternmost Great Lake downstream of Niagara Falls, Lake Ontario has served as a critical gateway between the continental interior and the Atlantic for centuries. Its cold, deep waters have preserved shipwrecks spanning the full arc of Great Lakes maritime history — from early sailing vessels to modern steamships. This specialty explores the lake’s unique geology, its role in the Great Lakes system, and the wrecks that lie within its underwater preserves.

This specialty is one of six required for the Great Lakes Master Scuba Diver certification.

Classroom / Online Presentations covering:

• The geological processes that created Lake Ontario
• Its place and function within the hydrological network of the five Great Lakes
• The development of shipping technology commonly used on the lake
• The background and basic causes of its shipwrecks
• The history of its marine preserves
• Ecological challenges — past, present, and future
• Resources available for researching shipwrecks for open water dives

Confined Water Training

Skills reviewed and practiced during confined water sessions include:

• Configuration and management of the scuba kit to be used on dives
• Establishing optimum weighting and buoyancy control
• Rescue techniques
• Appropriate fin kick skills
• Deployment, use, and retrieval of penetration lines

Independent Research

You will conduct independent research into specific shipwrecks available to recreational divers within defined underwater preserves. This includes visiting a maritime museum and utilizing suggested reference materials — books, videos, and websites.

For each wreck, you will prepare information covering:

• Type of ship, design, and construction details
• Circumstances of its sinking
• Areas or configurations requiring extra care for safe recreational diving
• A recommended dive plan for exploring the wreck

Open Water Dives

Four dives on at least two different wrecks within Lake Ontario’s underwater preserves. During the dives you will:

• Conduct a navigation and overview of the wreck
• Take measurements and map its orientation and structures
• Document specific features through sketches, photos, or hand-drawn maps
• Practice penetration techniques outside of the wreck