CANCELLED - Lock 21 & Mille Roche Power House Cornwall

Aug 12: Shore diving from Lock 21

Lock 21 is an exciting and unique dive where you get to go back in time and dive a 19th century submerged Victorian canal lock on the St. Lawrence River. This dive can have strong currents and is best done by experienced divers. Explore this remarkable achievement of Victorian engineering by swimming through the weir’s sluice-gate (strong current at the top and little on the bottom). You’ll most likely see some bass, trout, and catfish swimming around.

Location: Lock 21 is located off the southwestern end of Macdonell Island and is accessible by land from the Historic plaque.  From Highway 401, follow exits to Ingleside or Long Sault to Highway 2. Enter the Long Sault Parkway (fee per car) to Macdonell Island. The Parkway's facilities are operated by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission.  Picnic tables are on location and a snack bar, washroom, nature trail and camping facilities are only 4 km away on Woodlands Island.

Aug 13: Depart Guidon park 9am. Climb aboard the 'Rye N' Coke' for two dives to explore the Mille Roches Power House.  (The park also contains very good changing rooms, restrooms and picnic tables.)

A little history: Thomas Edison flipped the switch himself from this powerhouse in 1901.  It stopped producing electricity in 1955. In 1958 the St-Lawrence seaway was created. The depth of the seaway was increased to allow larger ships to travel to the Great Lakes. As such many villages, road ways, locks, power houses, canals were submerged and can be seen by divers.

Dive notes:

• Bring a light to see into the vaulted water release pit.
• Be prepared for a 1-2 knot current (downhill and uphill only).
• Enter from the buoy, you first come to the intake gates, from there descend to the power plant floor and wheel well.
• The upper work is at 35 feet with the power house at 55 feet and the tailrace at 75 feet.