Tobermory, ON Ship Wrecks

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Specs: Type: Great Lakes Steel Freighter Dimensions: 182' x 50' x 26' Location: Tobermory, ON Depth: 45' - 100' Visibility: 30'-50' The Niagara II began life in 1930 as the Rideaulite at the Furness Shipbuilding Company in England. She was originally designed as an oil tanker for Imperial Oil Limited, of Toronto, Ontario. In 1954 Imperial Oil sold the ship to Holden Sand & Gravel Co. She was converted to a self-unloading sand sucker at Toronto Dry Dock Ltd. At the same time the wheelhouse was moved aft and she was renamed the Niagara. During the next several years the ship was sold and renamed a number of times. In 1984, she was sold to McKeil Work Boats Ltd and was renamed the Niagara II. The Niagara II served faithfully for many years until in 1990 when the engine was removed and placed in the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes. The Niagara II then served as a barge for a number of years until 1997. On August 13th of that year she was towed down the Welland Canal to Port Maitland where she was sold to a scrap yard. It was from there that the Tobermory Maritime Association purchased her and began the long process of preparing the ship for its final resting place. On May 15, 1999, she was towed to Little Cove and sunk to form one of the best wreck dives in the Tobermory area. The wreck lies in approximately 100' of water, sitting upright with a slight lean to starboard. This is definitely one of the best dives in the Tobermory area. The wreck has no zebra muscles, as of Aug 2000, and has an abundance of things to see and do for all skill levels of divers.	Photography Equipment Nikonos V 15mm Wide Angle Lense Ikelight Substrobe 400 Kodak E200