It really is the perfect backyard setup. Dan’s Dive Shop has been the cornerstone of the Canadian diving community for over 50 years, and their collaboration with The Scuba News Canada shines a much-needed spotlight on just how accessible our waters are.
When you look at the maps and guides they’ve put together, it completely changes the perspective of what a “quick dive” can be. You don’t need a massive budget or a week of vacation time to see something incredible.
For the cost-conscious diver, skipping the charter boat fees and doing a tailgate/shore dive is the ultimate way to get maximum bottom time for minimum spend. All you need is your gear, a filled tank (or two), a dive buddy, and a reliable vehicle.
Here is a breakdown of why these local shore dives are perfect for a quick weekend day trip or a casual “after-supper” splash, along with a few top spots in and around the Niagara/Southern Ontario region:
Why Shore Diving in Ontario Rules
- Ultimate Flexibility: No boat schedules to match or charter spots to book. If the weather looks great after work, you can throw your gear in the trunk and be underwater before sunset.
- Cost-Effective: Your only real recurring costs are fuel and air fills. It’s the cheapest way to keep your skills sharp and get your bubbles in.
- Incredible Variety: People are often shocked by what’s sitting right off the shoreline—from historical artifacts and massive river drift dives to old quarries and hidden marine life.
Niagara River Drift Diving Sites
Many different Drift Dive sites are located in the upper Niagara River, as well as the lower Niagara River.
Dan’s Dive Shop dives the following sites as part of our weekly Wednesday night dives and on weekends.
Be mindful of boat traffic and make sure you have a dive marker or flag with you always.
Beginner Sites:
International Train Bridge to Frenchman’s Creek.
Average depth 25′, this moderate drift starts off fast at the bridge for the first 7-10 minutes and once you settle into your diving groove you’ll settle into a nice pace where you can start looking around for lots of big fish, bottles and enjoy the relaxed pace of this drift.
Divers Enter at Niagara Parkway & 12-15 Jarvis St. (you’ll see a parking area on the river) and drift down the Niagara Parkway exiting at the Frenchman’s creek shipwrecks in a parking area with a brown shed 2.3 KM’s East downstream of the river ending at 1283 Niagara Parkway.
International Train Bridge to Frenchman’s Creek Drift Dive Map
Frenchman’s Creek Drift
Enter in at the exit point of the above dive, drift downstream 2.6km.
This easy drift is one of the lesser dived spots, so there are more chances of bottles and big fish encounters.
The Barge at Black Creek
One of our favourite little wreck dive dives is the Barge at Black Creek. A 65′ 35′ barge in 20′ of water.
There are usually catfish and a ton of other fish around this wreck.
Visibility is usually good.
The most accurate way to get to the wreck is going in at the storm drain and facing into the current going across the current over the shallow weeds and dropping down, crawling out and not drifting.
The Barge isn’t really much of a drift, you enter an exit in the same place.
Access to the site is between 2505 and 2507 Niagara Parkway and Cairns Crescent, Fort Erie.
Netherby Road Drift Dive:
A cool old prehistoric reef, a ton of golf balls and a nice lazy current and a shallow 25′ max depth make this dive a favourite among our local divers.
Thompson’s Hole to International Train Bridge
An Advanced drift dive just east after the Peace Bridge in downtown Fort Erie. Enter at the hydro lines before South Sides Restaurant and drift down to International Train Bridge. Max Depth 70′.
Thompson’s Hole Drift Dive Directions
Peace Bridge to Downtown Fort Erie Drift
Extreme current, dangerous construction debris, the Peace Bridge is a challenging and dangerous dive. Max Depth is only 11′ until you get through the bridge where you can hit depths of 20-30′.
Peace Bridge Advanced Drift Dive Map
Navy Hall Lower Niagara River
This intermediate to advanced dive can be dove 2 ways in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Option 1 you enter and exit in the same area. Option 2 you drift down into the mouth of Lake Ontario and get out at the Niagara-on-the-Lake gazebo.
Depths range from 20-40′, 45′-65′, or as an advanced/technical decompression drift at a max depth of 98′.
Navy Hall visibility can be good after periods of no rain or low wind, however, average visibility is 8-10′, 15-20′ is considered above average.
The fall and month of November are the best times to dive Navy Hall as the sturgeons come in to spawn during that time of year. Sturgeons are incredible prehistoric fish that are endangered and can grow to lengths of up to 7-12′.
Navy Hall, Niagara-on-the-Lake
When most people think of world-class scuba diving, tropical reefs usually come to mind. But right here in Ontario, we are sitting on some of the best freshwater diving on the planet. From crystal-clear waters preserving centuries-old wooden shipwrecks to the fascinating submerged history of the St. Lawrence River, Ontario is a diver’s paradise.
This is the first of a series exploring the incredible dive sites scattered across our beautiful province. Whether you are a seasoned tech diver or just getting your fins wet, there is an underwater adventure waiting for you.
Stay tuned for More Ontario Dive Sites Courtesy of Dan’s Dive Shop
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