Ontario, Canada
Country Name: Canada
Province: Ontario
Capital City: Toronto
Population: Approximately 14.8 million (2024 est.)
Official Language: English
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET), UTC -5
Diving Overview
Ontario offers a diverse diving experience with its mix of freshwater lakes, including the Great Lakes, and unique underwater landscapes. The province is renowned for its shipwrecks, clear waters, and diverse aquatic species, providing divers with a memorable adventure.
- Number of Dive Sites: Over 100
- Types of Diving: Freshwater, wreck, drift, and wall diving.
- Marine Biodiversity Highlights: Freshwater fish, shipwrecks, aquatic plants, and diverse underwater landscapes.
- Average Water Temperatures: 4-15°C (39-59°F)
- Visibility Range: 5-20 meters (16-66 feet)
Important Information
Optimal Dive Seasons
The best diving conditions in Ontario are typically from late spring to early fall, when water temperatures are warmer and visibility is clearer.
Major Airports
Toronto Pearson International Airport (Toronto), Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (Ottawa), Hamilton International Airport (Hamilton)
The Travel Tip
A 7mm wetsuit or drysuit is recommended for diving in Ontario’s colder waters, especially for extended dives during the spring and fall.
Weather Patterns
Ontario has a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. The Great Lakes can influence local weather, causing variable conditions.
Internal Transportation
Transportation options include regional flights, trains, buses, and car rentals, providing connectivity between major towns and cities.
Attractions
Major attractions include the vibrant city of Toronto, the picturesque Muskoka Lakes, the historic sites of Ottawa, and the natural beauty of Niagara Falls.
Top Dive Regions
Newfoundland and Labrador offer unique and diverse diving experiences with its rugged coastline, cold-water environments, and fascinating underwater landscapes. St. John’s is renowned for its shipwrecks and the nearby marine life in the kelp forests. Gros Morne National Park features stunning underwater scenery and excellent visibility. Twillingate offers opportunities to dive among icebergs and explore unique marine habitats. Lastly, Fogo Island provides remarkable diving with its cold-water ecosystems and historical shipwrecks. These top dive regions showcase the diverse underwater experiences Newfoundland and Labrador have to offer, appealing to divers of all levels.
St. John’s
Known for its shipwrecks and kelp forests, offering exciting diving experiences with abundant marine life.
Gros Morne National Park
Features stunning underwater scenery and excellent visibility, making it a top dive site for its unique landscapes.
Twillingate
Offers diving among icebergs and unique marine habitats, providing a one-of-a-kind diving experience.
Fogo Island
Provides remarkable diving with its cold-water ecosystems and historical shipwrecks, offering a diverse underwater experience.
Marine Life
Newfoundland and Labrador offer diverse marine environments, characterized by cold-water ecosystems and rich underwater landscapes. The waters around St. John’s feature kelp forests and shipwrecks, where divers can encounter a variety of cold-water species. Common sightings include Atlantic cod, sea urchins, and various species of crabs. Gros Morne National Park provides opportunities to see unique marine life adapted to the park’s varied underwater terrains, including sea anemones, flounders, and other cold-water fish. Twillingate, known for its iceberg encounters, also offers sightings of species like Greenland sharks and Arctic char. Fogo Island’s waters are home to a range of species, such as Atlantic salmon and haddock. The nutrient-rich waters and dramatic underwater landscapes make Newfoundland and Labrador an intriguing destination for exploring marine biodiversity.
Common Species: Atlantic cod, sea urchins, crabs, flounders, Greenland sharks, Arctic char, Atlantic salmon, and haddock.
Seasonal Highlights: Icebergs are most commonly seen from May to July. The best time to spot certain species like Greenland sharks is during the colder months, particularly from November to March.
