Galop Canal
From DiveSpot
Contents |
[edit] Location
Just West of Cardinal, Ontario.
[edit] Conditions
Current: Fast
Depth: Up to 20'
Visibility: 15'-30'
Water temperature: From 1C (Feb.) to 25C (July)
[edit] Description
Refer to the map below for what follows. Descend in the little bay and swim, keeping the canal wall to your right. You will be swept through the canal and over a ridge between two land masses. Once this happens, there will either be no current or an east-to-west (reversed) current. Fin your way against this, keeping the shore to your left and eventually the current will resume it's usual west-to-east direction. By drifting at a depth of 18' (no more than 20') you will end up on the wreck of the Conestoga. Explore the Conestoga and then exit by heading north.
On this dive you will see lots of big bass and pike and get to dive a nice wreck at the end. The total time for the drift and one loop around the shipwreck is approximately 40 minutes. This dive should normally be done with two cars. Leave one at the Conestoga entry area and one at the Galop Canal entry area.
Divers can also explore the wreck of the Wee Hawk before beginning the drift portion of this dive.
[edit] Access
Drive down Galop Canal Road and park in the parking area. From the parking area, walk across the foot bridge and enter in the little bay, out of the current.
Two vehicles make this dive easier. Leave one at the Conestoga and the the other at the Galop Canal parking area.
If you only have one car, drop off your gear (except mask, snorkel and fins) in the Galop Canal parking area, drive to the Conestoga, walk to the tip of the Peninsula, swim across the narrows and walk back to your gear.
[edit] Hazards
This site has swift current and, after passing through the gap between land masses this current reverses. It is important to keep close to shore to prevent being swept into the channel. Have a compass with you because this is one of the few places on the Saint-Lawrence where it may not be possible to tell north by the direction of the current. It would be a shame to get picked up by Homeland Security for entering the U.S. illegally.
[edit] Recent Conditions
| Date | Temperature | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| 2007-06-06 | 15°C | 20' |
