Matt Mandziuk and Grace Marquez spent part of their summer scuba diving in Newfoundland joined by their friends Rick and Debbie Stanley from Ocean Quest. One of their dive destinations was Dildo, a small coastal community in Newfoundland, Canada. Situated along the southeastern shore of Dildo Arm in Trinity Bay—roughly 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of St. John’s—the area is recognized as both a designated place and a local service district. Nearby lies the smaller community of South Dildo, which had a population of about 195 residents as of 2021. The town is perhaps best known for its distinctive and memorable name.
The name “Dildo” has been recorded in this region as far back as 1711, though the reason behind its use remains uncertain. The word’s origins are unclear, but historically, “dildo” referred to a phallus-shaped peg placed in the gunwale of a rowboat, serving as a pivot point for the oar—a tool also known as a “thole pin” or “dole pin.”
“The whalebone graveyard off Dildo, Newfoundland is amazing to see from a historical perspective with a former whaling industry for lamp oil and also for dinner. Scallops here are amazing and it was so much fun diving for them. The team did great and I got to drive the boat.
Stopped for a feed of fish, ribs and wings afterwards at Dildo Brewing Co.” Matt Mandziuk
Dive Report
“Depth ranges are 40-65’. Water temperatures were 54 degrees Fahrenheit at depth in early September: it’s usually freezing cold when we dive it in July. We do a max of 60 minutes bottom time.
Scallop dive is deeper up to 95 feet and water temps are 45 degrees Fahrenheit. No currents or any real hazards aside from boat traffic so an SMB is needed for the divers exploring the bones. The scallop divers are towing a float and basket system with a pulley that elevates the bag and keeps it off the bottom out of the silt.” Matt Mandzuik
In August 2019, the American late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! featured the town of Dildo in several episodes. During the coverage, host Jimmy Kimmel was humorously named the town’s honorary mayor. Since Dildo is managed by a volunteer committee and has no official mayor, the title was symbolic. Kimmel’s sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, was also welcomed as an honorary citizen through the traditional Newfoundland “screech-in” ceremony, which aired on August 15, 2019. Rodriguez spent a week visiting the community. To commemorate the connection, Kimmel declared Hollywood to be Dildo’s “sister city” and presented the town with a large hillside sign modeled after the famous Hollywood sign, now overlooking the area.
Comments
