W. L. Wetmore (Wreck) - Québec
The W. L. Wetmore isn’t your typical tropical wreck, and that’s precisely why we love it. This isn't about blazing colours; it's about history, cold water, and the quiet colonisation of a sunken steamboat by freshwater life. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is the way the light filters, or rather doesn't, through the St. Lawrence River's green embrace. This wreck is all about the structure, the skeletal remains of a paddle steamer that met its end over a century ago. We find ourselves drawn to the paddlewheel housing, a massive, ghostly frame, and the exposed ribs of the hull. Look closely into the shadowy nooks, and you’ll often spot burbot, those eel-like bottom dwellers, or a Yellow Perch darting from cover. We always get a kick out of seeing the Mottled Sculpin, blending in perfectly with the decaying wood. Visibility here can vary wildly, so pick a calm day after a period of stable weather for the best chance to really soak in the details. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and the unique resilience of freshwater ecosystems, a quiet exploration rather than a vibrant spectacle.
- Location
- Québec, Canada, North America
- Coordinates
- 45.265575, -81.709330
- Type
- wreck
Nearby Dive Sites in Québec
- Alice G.Tobermory Tugs (Wreck) - 12m (wreck)
- Aloha- Effie Mai (wreck)
- Amburgs Reef (reef)
- Arabia (Wreck) - 34m (wreck)
- Ash Island Barge (wreck)
- Barrett Reef (reef)
- Beaufort Reef (reef)
- Beaufort Reef (reef)
- Big Bay Point - 5-20m (reef)
- Boarding House Reef (reef)
- Boulton Reef (reef)
- Bourinot Reef (reef)
- Boyer Reef (reef)
- Bray Reef (reef)
- Brockville Underwater Sculpture Park
Nearest Dive Centres to W. L. Wetmore (Wreck)
- Aquarius Scuba
- Aqua Service
- AquaSystems - NAUI
- Barrie Scuba House - ["PADI"]
- Canadian Sport Subs, Ltd. - ["PADI"]
- Carlos Lopez
Marine Life in Québec
Home to 44 recorded species including 37 reef fish, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 other, 2 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) - Reef Fish
- Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) - Reef Fish
- Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus) - Reef Fish
- Cisco (Coregonus artedi) - Reef Fish
- Spawn (Gasterosteus aculeatus) - Reef Fish
- White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii) - Reef Fish
- Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) - Reef Fish
- Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii) - Reef Fish
- pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) - Reef Fish
- sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)
- Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) - Reef Fish
- Spottail Shiner (Notropis hudsonius) - Reef Fish
- White Perch (Morone americana) - Reef Fish
- Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) - Reef Fish
- Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) - Reef Fish
- Sea Trout (Salmo trutta) - Reef Fish
- Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) - Reef Fish
- brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) - Reef Fish
- American Gizzard Shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) - Reef Fish
- burbot (Lota lota) - Reef Fish