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 …
Author: SJSchnurr
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, 2020
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 …
Arrival Landmarks at the Locks
I've completed (well, almost... there are a few tidbits to add) my 3D model of Lock 23. Here's a top view. And here's a front view. The point of this post is to let you know where the heck you are when you arrive at your first barrier at the end of the long approach …
Lock 23 Skill Reviews
As many divers are aware, we host Lock 23 dives every Wednesday evening during the summer, and because we know the routes so well, we welcome divers of all levels of experience to join us. Each week I write a review of the dive, drawing attention to issues that come up. It provides a great …
July 8 (2019) Dive at Lock 23
Larry and I dove the lock this week - as a fairweather river diver, I've been waiting patiently for at least 15C/60F before venturing in. This week the locks sat at about 18C/65F, comfortable in a 7mm wetsuit, hood for me (but Larry went without), and light gloves (we wear brightly coloured garden gloves). The …
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