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 …
Tag: Lock 23 Morrisburg
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 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 …
June 12 Dive at Lock 23
This evening, 3 senior divers went in to assess Lock 23 for me... with the following news. Water temp 13C/56F. They wore 7mm wetsuits and were a bit chilled at the end (they're all pretty big guys). Total dive time 45 minutes - relatively speedy. Current strong, but not as bad as expected. Depth at …
June 2 Conditions at Lock 23
Spring is slowly moving forward. Water temperature today is 13C/56F, a slow start. Last year I was in the water (in my wet suit) on June 10: temp was 15C/59F. It might yet get there. The river is high. Higher than it's been for a while. Here is my photo gauge - from now on …
May 2019 Conditions at Lock 23
It's early May. Still chilly water averaging 8C/46F. Hardy dry-suiters have been in but I like to wait until the river hits 15C/60F (or close). Weeds are at their lowest point of the year - not much of a factor until at least mid-June, so chilly or not, it's an excellent time to see a …
Hydroelectric Plant Sluice Gates: 2018
Whoa! The extraordinary river flow of 2017 caused some pretty drastic long-term changes to the HydroElectric Plant route. Perhaps the most obvious is the change in the sluice gates. This is what they used to look like: But this is what they look like today! It appears I need to resketch my sketch! The boards …
Tanker “Chem Norma” Aground on Lock 23
Quite the start to the 2018 dive season! Larry and I were awakened in the wee hours of a recent clear night by the sound of a long, loud foghorn, followed by the frantic grinding of an engine in reverse. We looked out into the night but could see nothing amiss. In the morning the …
Dive Conditions Update
Along with anyone living in southern Ontario and Quebec this spring, we've been watching carefully the weather reports and specifically rainfall statistics... and we've been driving up and down the shorelines to inspect areas we know. There has been flooding and damage to many, many riverside properties. Lake Ontario levels remain higher than at any …
