There are great adventures in strategic places to dive around the islands. Are you interested in diving and snorkeling some of the best and relatively untouched reefs in North Florida? But why not try swimming with the seal?
How about you take a look at the sea caves under the sea? Or perhaps you are more interested in ships, from the wooden schooners and galleons that sank during the 16th century, to the iron steamboats of the shipwrecks of the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
So bring your wet or dry suit, tanks and equipment or rent the necessary equipment here from specialized dive companies. We have several to choose from, each with their own specialized views of interest.
the reefs
There are underwater reefs around the Magdalena Islands that are teeming with marine life.
Old Harry Reef is located at the East Point buoy and offers a wide variety of marine life. The currents are variable and mostly come from the east. The reef buoy is located 1 km southeast of the Punta. It is possible to hear the song of the whales in this area.
The Columbine Shoals are located 2 km south of Grand-Entry and parallel to the coast for about 3 km.
Church Rock has a lot of marine fauna. It is located on the south side of House Harbor between Damase Cove and the Y12 buoy. The currents are variable.
Pearl Reef is 6.5 km northeast of La Cormorandière Rocks, near the Y16 buoy. It offers a good concentration of marine life.
The caves
The erosion of the Magdalena has also caused a large number of sea caves around its cliffs and headlands.
There are caves between the Big Cape and the Black Cape, on Grindstone Island.
There are caverns that are located on the west side of Grosse Isle, near Dauphin Rocks, about 3 km from the coast. A dive lamp is recommended and currents are variable. You can also see wrecks.
shellfish digging
It is possible to go digging quahog about 1 km on the north side of Shag Island.
The stamp
Have you ever considered swimming with Canada’s harp, gray and hooded seals?
The Brion Island Seal Rocks are a perfect place to swim with seals.
the shipwrecks
The islands have been known as the Gulf’s graveyard for ships for the past 400 years. More than 500 ships from all over the world have been registered as wrecks here and there are just as many that were not registered. Why? Stop and think about it. Pirates and rum dealers wouldn’t be registered with Lloyd’s of London insurance company, would they? But there are many other insured and uninsured ships that have sunk in gales over the centuries, sometimes several wrecks at the same time. At different times, the survivors of one ship would speak of another ship in distress, but she never made it ashore, so there is no record other than the knowledge that she was there. For example, Flash disappeared one day, just after leaving the islands. There is no record of her shipwreck, but it is said that she was pirated and sunk, her cargo was stolen. Most of these surviving shipwrecks are on land, under the sand on the beach, but there are still some that have become interesting havens for marine life.
Simcoe, So far the steamer has not yet been located. It should be located on the south side of the entrance island about 5-6 km. The ship was wrecked on December 7, 1917. The research must be donated. Please take note, she is located on the route of the ferry crossing.
SS TigressNear Cormorandière Rock, directly on the shoreline of the cavern, are the remains of an old steamship believed to be the SS Tigress that was wrecked in 1874.
Electro, The Electro wreck is located south of Île de Grande-Entrée about 8 km. It is a wooden coal ship that sank in 1934. The wreck is marked as Wk (1934) on sea charts. The currents are variable. It is advisable to go on a nice and calm day.
Petrel, The Petrel wreck is located near the west point of Grande-Entrée on the south side of the northeast end of Dune du Sud (South Dune). The wreck seen from the surface is the wreck of El Amigo (a sister ship to Jacques Cousteau’s Calypso). It can only be reached by boat. The area is very frequented by fishermen and surfers, a diving flag is recommended.
SS Loradore sank on August 13, 1955. The wreck is 61 m long and is located on the southwest side of Birds Rocks, which in turn is 25 km northeast of Magdalen Islands. The currents are variable and open sea. A large boat is needed to dive in the area.
Chelatros, sank 3 November 1941 off the north side of Brion Island in Big Cove. The propeller is just below Cape Clair. The currents are variable and a large boat is necessary.
The remains of many shipwrecks, dating from the mid-1800s to the early 20th century, can be found on the southwestern side of Cape Noddy, on Brion Island. )
Many shipwrecks can be found along the Dune du Nord, near Pointe-aux-Loups. On the east side, the remains of the SS Nettleworth which sank in 1910, now lies at a depth of 24 to 30 feet. On the west side, the caldera among other remains of the SS Belon (150 feet long) can be found.
The island of Corfu, belonging to the late Aristotle Onasis, was wrecked in 1963. The remains of the hull rest on the west beach.
Between the pier and Seagull Island are the ruins of an old steamship, wrecked around 1920.
Tea Berwindlea wreck on the northeast side of DeadMan’s Island on October 23, 1935. The remains of the 2,960-ton ship can still be seen.
conclusion
The above are just a few of the many dive sites in and around the Magdalen Islands that hold great interest for those adventurous enough to tackle our waters. As always, caution is required at all times because the currents and tides can be treacherous in places.
Quote:
“As you walk down the path of life, you must smell the roses, because you can only play one round. Ben Hogan