With 20% of the world's fresh water distributed over an area the size of western Europe, it is hardly surprising that Ontario, Canada's second largest province, has become the destination of choice for divers seeking the ultimate wilderness experience. From quiet lakes to mighty St. Lawrence River, Ontario has some of the world's best fresh water diving.

Most of Ontario's population clusters around the lower Great Lakes at the southern tip of the province, leaving a vast area to the north with relatively few inhabitants. In fact, areas the size of France are so thinly populated you could travel for weeks without seeing another person. Ironically, this large northern region of pre-Cambrian rocks, water and trees is also one of the world's most accessible wildernesses. From Toronto's International Airport you can be diving Tobermory's Fathom Five Historical Marine Park in 4 hours.

For the diver, the province is naturally divided into nine regions, each with its own unique landscape and in each, a new experience awaits: Algonquin, Arctic Headwaters, Caribou Country, Great Lakes Coast, Heartland, Hudson Bay, Ottawa Valley, Temagami, Western Boundary Waters

A History Written By Storm and Sea

Ontario is bordered by the largest natural inland lake system in the world. Travel by water first occurred here over 800 years ago when the people of the First Nations developed the canoe. As Europeans came to settle here, large ships roamed the Great Lakes bringing people and goods to the inland ports around the Lakes. And as with any great waterway, the Great Lakes have seen their share of ships lost at sea. The floor of the lakes is a diving mecca for those interested in examining the history of how this province was built and the people who came here.

While Southern Ontario may be a major commercial centre with its population compressed into a small region, the north still contains a vast wilderness, where people are occasional visitors whose presence is as fleeting as the bow wave of a canoe. But even here the Lakes keep a record of the ships and men who tamed this gigantic frontier. This wilderness is the core of the Province's psyche, and the experience of that wilderness is the gift that that Ontario gives the world.

Ontario has the most extensive public park system in the world. With almost 200 parks ranging in size from a few hectares to the area of small countries (Polar Bear Park, on the shores of Hudson Bay is almost the size of the Netherlands), this incredible public resource provides a variety of venues for all outdoor tastes. From relaxing in a Muskoka chair to hurtling down rapids, these parks have formed the nucleus of adventure in Ontario for more than 100 years.

Dive Ontario's members work closely within the Ontario's park system. Dive Ontario members help maintain and improve the natural habitats of the waterways, provide information, maps and permits, and play an active role in the park planning and policy decisions. The result is a vibrant collection of diving locations available for everone to enjoy.

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