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Scuba Diving in Ottawa: Your Ultimate Guide to Exploring the Depths

Why Try Scuba Diving in Ottawa?

You don’t need to travel to the Caribbean to experience the thrill of scuba diving—Ottawa and its surrounding areas offer incredible freshwater diving opportunities. From exploring historic shipwrecks in the St. Lawrence River to uncovering sunken relics in the Ottawa River, scuba diving in Ottawa provides a fascinating mix of history, wildlife, and underwater adventure.

Ottawa’s lakes, rivers, and dive sites offer clear water, varied depths, and intriguing underwater features. With a growing local diving community and professional dive schools offering certifications and guided tours, Ottawa has become a hotspot for both beginner and experienced divers.

If you’re looking for a unique way to experience Ottawa’s natural beauty, scuba diving offers an unbeatable combination of exploration, challenge, and connection with the underwater world.

Benefits of Scuba Diving

✅ Full-Body Workout – Engages core, legs, and upper body while improving cardiovascular fitness.
✅ Stress Relief – The rhythmic breathing and weightlessness promote relaxation.
✅ Boosts Mental Focus – Navigating underwater environments improves concentration and problem-solving.
✅ Improves Flexibility and Strength – Maneuvering in water increases range of motion and muscle strength.
✅ Connects You with Nature – Experience marine life and underwater ecosystems up close.
✅ Develops Confidence and Safety Skills – Mastering dive techniques builds self-assurance and discipline.
✅ Adventure and Exploration – Uncover hidden wrecks and underwater landmarks.

“Scuba diving is like entering another world—a silent, peaceful world where you’re completely weightless.” – Jacques Cousteau

Best Scuba Diving Locations Near Ottawa

Ottawa’s freshwater diving scene is surprisingly rich, offering a mix of natural dive sites, artificial reefs, and preserved wrecks. Here are the top scuba diving spots in and around Ottawa:

🤿 Morrison’s Quarry (Best for Beginners and Training)

📍 Location: Wakefield, Quebec (30 minutes from Ottawa)

  • Depth: 25–35 meters (80–115 feet)
  • Visibility: Excellent (up to 30 meters)
  • Water Temperature: Cold (5°C–15°C)
  • Best Season: May to October
  • Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
  • Special Features:
    • Artificial dive site with a sunken airplane and car.
    • Controlled environment ideal for certification dives.
    • On-site diving shop and rental equipment available.
    • Shallow areas for basic skill practice.
    • Good for navigation training.

🏆 Pro Tip: Arrive early on weekends to avoid crowds—this is a popular training site!

🤿 Constance Bay (Best for Calm Water and Wildlife Viewing)

📍 Location: West Ottawa (45 minutes from downtown)

  • Depth: 10–20 meters (30–65 feet)
  • Visibility: Moderate (10–15 meters)
  • Water Temperature: Cold (5°C–12°C)
  • Best Season: June to September
  • Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
  • Special Features:
    • Calm water makes it beginner-friendly.
    • Plenty of fish species (pike, bass, perch).
    • Ideal for relaxed, low-current dives.
    • Good for underwater photography.
    • No boat traffic—safer for open-water training.

🏆 Pro Tip: Look for turtles and schools of bass near the rocky shoreline.

🤿 Lock 21 (The Lost Village) (Best for Historic Wreck Exploration)

📍 Location: Long Sault, Ontario (1 hour from Ottawa)

  • Depth: 20–30 meters (65–100 feet)
  • Visibility: Moderate (8–12 meters)
  • Water Temperature: Cold (5°C–10°C)
  • Best Season: June to September
  • Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced
  • Special Features:
    • Submerged remains of the “Lost Villages.”
    • Roads, building foundations, and artifacts visible underwater.
    • Mild current—good for drift diving.
    • Artificial reefs created from construction debris.

🏆 Pro Tip: Use a dive light—artifacts are easier to see with proper illumination.

🤿 The Rothesay Wreck (Best for Accessible Wreck Diving)

📍 Location: Prescott, Ontario (90 minutes from Ottawa)

  • Depth: 10 meters (30 feet)
  • Visibility: Good (10–15 meters)
  • Water Temperature: Cold (5°C–15°C)
  • Best Season: May to October
  • Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
  • Special Features:
    • 19th-century wooden steamship.
    • Relatively shallow—good for longer bottom time.
    • Intact ship structure—easy to navigate.
    • Often home to schools of perch and bass.

🏆 Pro Tip: Early morning dives offer the best visibility and fewer divers.

🤿 Centeen Park (The Underwater Sculpture Park) (Best for Unique Diving Experience)

📍 Location: Brockville, Ontario (90 minutes from Ottawa)

  • Depth: 15–30 meters (50–100 feet)
  • Visibility: Excellent (up to 30 meters)
  • Water Temperature: Cold (5°C–12°C)
  • Best Season: June to October
  • Difficulty: Intermediate
  • Special Features:
    • Over 50 sculptures placed on the riverbed.
    • Calm water makes it easy to navigate.
    • Popular training and exploration site.
    • Accessible by shore—no boat required.

🏆 Pro Tip: Follow the sculpture trail for a surreal underwater art experience.

Types of Diving Experiences

Ottawa offers a range of diving experiences, from beginner-friendly training sites to challenging wreck dives:

🏆 Open-Water Diving (Best for Learning and Practice)

  • Calm water and moderate depth.
  • Ideal for certification and skill improvement.
  • Best at Morrison’s Quarry and Constance Bay.

🏆 Wreck Diving (Best for History and Exploration)

  • Exploring preserved shipwrecks.
  • Requires navigation skills and proper buoyancy control.
  • Best at The Rothesay Wreck and Lock 21.

🏆 Drift Diving (Best for Adventure and Challenge)

  • Moving with river currents.
  • Requires good situational awareness and control.
  • Best at Lock 21 and Centeen Park.

🏆 Cold Water Diving (Best for Endurance and Equipment Mastery)

  • Requires proper thermal protection and dry suit training.
  • Clear visibility and unique marine life.
  • Best at Morrison’s Quarry and The Rothesay Wreck.

Essential Scuba Diving Gear

✔ Wetsuit or Dry Suit – 5 mm to 7 mm for Ottawa’s cold water.
✔ Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) – Helps with floatation and balance.
✔ Regulator and Octopus – Delivers air supply from tank.
✔ Dive Mask and Snorkel – Essential for clear vision and surface breathing.
✔ Fins – For efficient movement and control.
✔ Weight Belt – Adjusts buoyancy.
✔ Dive Computer – Monitors depth and bottom time.
✔ Dive Light – Essential for exploring wrecks and caves.

🏆 Pro Tip: Use a dry suit for deeper and longer cold-water dives.

Diving Safety Tips

🤿 Always Dive with a Buddy – Never dive alone.
🤿 Monitor Air Supply – Ascend with at least 500 psi of air.
🤿 Equalize Early and Often – Prevent ear and sinus issues.
🤿 Avoid Alcohol Before Diving – Alcohol affects judgment and reaction time.
🤿 Check Gear Before Every Dive – Ensure proper function and fit.
🤿 Follow the 3-Minute Safety Stop Rule – Prevent decompression sickness.

Final Thoughts: Explore the Depths!

Scuba diving in Ottawa delivers a unique mix of history, adventure, and exploration. Whether you’re navigating a shipwreck in Brockville or admiring the underwater sculptures of Centeen Park, Ottawa’s diving scene promises an unforgettable experience.

💬 What’s your favorite Ottawa dive site? Share your story! #OttawaActiveDiving #ExploreTheDepths