The thrill of discovering lost shipwrecks will bring divers and increased tourism to northern Ontario.
At least that’s what two divers in the town of Nipigon are hoping. They want to bring more visitors to the area by promoting Lake Superior as a diving destination.
There are several shipwrecks in the areas between Thunder Bay and Rossport says Wally Peterson of Thunder County Diving, including some whose location has yet to be discovered.
He says for example the 160-foot “James P Donaldson” sunk in 1923 has yet to be found
He says diving in Superior is for more adventurous and experienced divers because the water is fairly cold ( about 10-15 degrees Celsius near the surface and colder below). But he adds that is also an advantage when it comes to the old wrecks, both iron and especially wood.
“We have some of the best preserved wrecks around because the wood doesn’t deteriorate in the cold, cold water,” he said.
Nipigon Mayor, Richard Harvey is also a diver and says, “… 100 year-old shipwrecks, they’ll be in almost pristine condition. You’re not dealing with the coral that you have when you’re down in the Carribean [and] you’re not dealing with the zebra mussels in Southern Ontario.”
In addition to promoting the region as a dive location, Mayor Harvey is trying to get a sheltered bay at Nipigon known as “the Lagoon”, cleaned out for use as an all-weather dive site, so that even if a storm blew up on the lake, diving in the lagoon would be possible.
He says he’s currently working with other partners to help promote the region. They are seeking provincial funding to map and inventory the wrecks and develop guides. Mayor Harvey says he hopes to get the project underway next year.
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