Is Tobermory (Fathom Five) good for beginner divers?

Yes, partly: 7 of the 12 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including The Tugs, Caroline Rose and Charles P. Minch. The others need more experience or a higher certification.

What is the water temperature in Tobermory (Fathom Five)?

The water is usually between 4 °C and 21 °C over the year.

What marine life can you see in Tobermory (Fathom Five)?

Divers regularly see freshwater fish.

Tobermory (Fathom Five)

Diving in Canada

12 documented dive sites, 7 of them for Open Water divers.

Best months: Jul–Aug
Water: 4–21 °C
Levels: Open Water, Advanced, Experienced
Nearest airport: YYZ

When to go

Pick a month: the diving season, from published sources, and the typical weather.

Pick a month

Best
Good
Possible
Closed
Not documented yet

Tobermory (Fathom Five) in October

Good season

Air: 14 °C; 10 °C at night
Rain: 110 mm; one of the wettest months
Wind: 18 km/h; on average

Typical weather, not a forecast: averages for 2021–2025 (air, rain, wind), data from Open-Meteo (ERA5 / Copernicus, Météo-France). Covers an area of roughly 10 to 25 km around the destination.

Sources agree on a May–October season: DAN 'May through October'; SSI 'late May to early October, with July and August offering the warmest surface conditions and calmest waters' (July–August shown as best). The Parks Canada dive guide PDF also shows 'May 1st - October 31st'. No source says diving is closed Nov–Apr (Parks Canada calls it cold water diving 'all year-round'), so off-season months are shown as possible, not closed.

Source: dan.org

Dive sites in Tobermory (Fathom Five)

From the easiest to the most demanding. Levels with a dashed outline are estimates we are still verifying.

Open Water friendly

usual dive down to 18 m7 sites

Wreck

down to 13 m

The Tugs

Four small steam-tug wrecks in up to 13 m, a popular site for open water check-outs.

Open Water

Wreck

down to 17 m

Caroline Rose

A schooner sunk in 1990 at Driftwood Cove as a dive site, with an impressive stem, rudder and propeller.

Open Water

Wreck

down to 16 m

Charles P. Minch

An 1898 three-masted schooner wreck spread over Tecumseh Cove, where portions of two rudders remain.

Open Water

Wreck

down to 5 m

City of Grand Rapids

The burned-out remains of a 1907 wooden passenger steamer, just 30 m from the Sweepstakes.

Open Water

Wreck

down to 15 m

Points West

A wooden guide boat deliberately sunk in 15 m in 1984 as a recreational dive site.

Open Water

Wreck

down to 7 m

Sweepstakes

A two-masted 1867 schooner with an intact hull, windlass and part of its bow rail, lying at 7 m in Big Tub Harbour.

Open Water

Wreck

down to 7 m

W. L. Wetmore

A 1901 steamer wreck in 7 m with an impressive boiler, anchor, chain and rudder to find.

Open Water

For Advanced divers

usual dive down to 30 m4 sites

Wreck

down to 31 m

Niagara II

A wreck purpose-sunk upright in 1999 for diving, with the top of the wheelhouse at about 14 m.

Advanced

Cavern

down to 6 m

The Caves (Grotto)

A 6 m swim-through along white boulders that opens into a sheltered grotto in the Bruce Peninsula shoreline.

Advanced

Lake

down to 23 m

Big Tub Lighthouse Point

A wall dive down the submerged Niagara Escarpment to 23 m at Big Tub Lighthouse Point.

Advanced

Wreck

down to 30 m

James C. King

A 1901 wreck lying down a slope from about 6 to 30 m, lost along with the Wetmore that was towing it.

Advanced

For experienced divers

usual dive down to 40 m1 site

Wreck

down to 37 m

Arabia

An 1853 three-masted barque that sank in 1884 and now rests upright at about 32 m.

Experienced

Marine life

When the big encounters happen, month by month.

Reported here, season not documented yet:

Freshwater fish

Where is Tobermory (Fathom Five)?

View on OpenStreetMapLocation: Fathom Five National Marine Park (Wikipedia)Map: Natural Earth

Nearest airport: YYZ

Tobermory (Fathom Five): frequently asked questions

When is the best time to dive Tobermory (Fathom Five)?: The best months to dive Tobermory (Fathom Five) are Jul–Aug. Sources agree on a May–October season: DAN 'May through October'; SSI 'late May to early October, with July and August offering the warmest surface conditions and calmest waters' (July–August shown as best). The Parks Canada dive guide PDF also shows 'May 1st - October 31st'. No source says diving is closed Nov–Apr (Parks Canada calls it cold water diving 'all year-round'), so off-season months are shown as possible, not closed.
Is Tobermory (Fathom Five) good for beginner divers?: Yes, partly: 7 of the 12 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including The Tugs, Caroline Rose and Charles P. Minch. The others need more experience or a higher certification.
What is the water temperature in Tobermory (Fathom Five)?: The water is usually between 4 °C and 21 °C over the year.
What marine life can you see in Tobermory (Fathom Five)?: Divers regularly see freshwater fish.
How do you dive Tobermory (Fathom Five)?: The nearest airport is YYZ.

About this page

Seasons and marine life come from the sources below. Site levels and depths marked as estimated come from our original catalogue and are being checked one by one. Conditions change: always confirm with a local dive centre.

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Photo: Sarah Lee on Unsplash

Photo credits

Sunlight and bubbles in deep blue water, Sarah Lee, Unsplash License, on Unsplash