I've been working at updating the site as you know. I have now added a lot more information and a number of short videos to my pages on (1) entry details, (2) drifting to the locks while aiming for certain arrival spots and watching for clues along the river bottom to help you get there, …
Author: SJSchnurr
Lock 23 Diving is Running Smoothly
Diving at Lock 23 is working well with beautiful weather, good dive conditions, and ample parking for those divers who are comfortable outfitting themselves without assistance and can cruise the locks with the knowledge that they can get home safely if separated from their buddy or group. Within these parameters, the system runs smoothly. There …
Morrisburg Beach Closed on Weekends
South Dundas has opted to close its beaches at Morrisburg and Iroquois on weekends, effective immediately until further notice. This obviously impacts divers on Lock 23 since the beach is the exit point for the dive. Until I can get out tomorrow and survey things, I do not know exactly how divers might yet work …
Lock 23 Conditions: June 25
Apart from the strong winds yesterday that messed up visibility for a while, Lock 23 conditions are good. Water temperature is 18C/65F, a great starting point for wet-suiters. Current is fairly normal in all areas. The washrooms at the public beach are currently closed for maintenance. The washrooms at the public boat dock are open …
I’m Updating the Site
It's time. To update. To improve. To ensure that all information here is accurate and useful for the current season. I'll add or subtract written details, change images, and add videos to improve the posts. I'll also likely get rid of a few old ones. Learning how to include videos means I have to organize …
Exit Plan: Getting to the Beach
Directions for getting back to Canadian soil have changed a bit since some landmarks have been altered or disappeared altogether with the dramatic upstream flooding of 2016/2017. However the general exit strategy remains the same. Most of the videos are from my 2019 dives. The three basic routes through the locks include Lock 23 (outer), …
Lock 23 Conditions: June 4
The water is slowly warming up: 12.5C/54.5F, comfortable for only the most hardy wet-suiters. Most divers (of the few that are out there now) are still wearing drysuits. Current is quick - the dam in Cornwall is wide open to continue reducing levels in Lake Ontario. Water levels are low but not ridiculously so - …
Lock 23 Conditions: May 15
This should prove to be an interesting season at Lock 23. COVID-19 aside, let me first review the current state of spring river conditions. Recall that Morrisburg's Lock 23 sits in the middle of "Lake St. Lawrence", the 1959 body of water between Cornwall and Iroquois created when dams were constructed at either end. The …
Record Low Waters!
As of January 1st, and with the end of the season for freighter travel, the International River Board has decided to dramatically increase outflow from Lake Ontario in an effort to further reduce water levels there. They will do so until ice formation prevents it. In our Lake St. Lawrence region (between Iroquois and Cornwall …
The HE Plant Route: Best for Novices
Over the years we've guided novice divers through Lock 23 in a number of different spots and have generally concluded that the easiest is the innermost route leading to and through the remains of the Hydroelectric Plant. This route is best for novices for several reasons: It has no current to cross over during the …
