Shipwrecks of Nova Scotia

The illustration above shows the wreck of the White Star Line steamer Atlantic which sank near Halifax in 1873. With over 500 fatalities, the Atlantic wreck was one of the worst shipwreck disasters in Nova Scotia history. But it's not the only one. In fact, because of its proximity to busy sea lanes, its jagged coastline, and its unpredictable weather, Nova Scotia has the greatest collection of shipwrecks in North America.

This Website was created with the help of several of my friends and fellow divers. It provides histories, pictures and other information on selected Nova Scotia wrecks. It also provides information on wreck diving, maritime history, shipwreck research, Nova Scotia tourism, and more. Our site is a work in progress, and we're always looking for new content and ideas. If you have information, pictures or ideas that you'd like to see included, please contact our editor. If we add your information to the site, we'll be happy to list you as a contributor.

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Nova Scotia (click map to view) is one of Canada's Atlantic maritime provinces and is almost surrounded by water. Its east side borders the Atlantic Ocean, its west side, the Bay of Fundy, and its north side, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Northumberland Straight. The province is divided into two parts. The southern part, generally known as mainland Nova Scotia, is a land of small towns, beautiful countryside, friendly people, and a rugged coastline. Halifax, Nova Scotia's largest city, is a historic and cosmopolitan place, with a busy harbor and lots of fun things to see and do.

The northern part of Nova Scotia is called Cape Breton Island. Cape Breton is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Canso. Residents and visitors cross the Strait via the Canso Causeway. Sparsely-populated Cape Breton is a beautiful land of mountains, bays, and dramatic scenery. The coastal road, called the Cabot Trail, is a world-famous tourist attraction. One of Cape Breton's famous historical sites is Louisbourg, an old fortress and port city. During the early days of North America, the French and British fought many battles for the control of Louisbourg. Today, the restored Fortress Louisbourg is a great place to learn about Canadian history.

For centuries, the cold clear waters around Nova Scotia have been collecting shipwrecks. Some were wrecked long ago, others more recently. Some are frequently visited by divers, others have yet to be found. But they're all interesting wrecks and divers love to explore them. Wreck diving is a popular activity in Nova Scotia, and a network of dive shops and charter boat services are available to help make your diving operations both convenient and fun. To learn more about Nova Scotia diving, check out the other pages on this site.

Nova Scotia Diving

     The waters around Nova Scotia offer a varitety of diving opportunities, but one thing you can say for sure is that it's all cold-water diving. To be comfortable in these waters, you'll need either a dry suit, or a warm wet suit. Most diving is done in the summer months, when the winds are down and the water is at its warmest. There are, however, a few hardy locals who dive year round.
     There are basically four bodies of water that surround the province -- the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the Bay of Fundy, and Northumberland Strait. The Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence are famous for their good underwater visibility. Because the seafloor in these areas is mostly rock and sand, the visibility is usually good and sometimes exceeds 100 feet. The Bay of Fundy is generally not a favored place for diving. Although it's a beautiful place, it is plagued with extreme tides, strong currents and generally poor visibility. Northumberland Strait offers easy diving conditions, but the visibility is usually not great.
     One of the things that can cause problems for divers is a strong current. Since many areas around Nova Scotia have strong currents, you'll need to figure out where they are, how to avoid them, or plan to dive at slack tide.
     Nova Scotia waters are home to a great variety of marine life and an incredible collection of shipwrecks. If you like to explore the underwater world, with or without a camera, you'll probably love Nova Scotia diving!

wreck hunter, the quest for lost shipwrecks, terry dwyer

Wreck Hunter
The Quest for Lost Shipwrecks
A fun and informative book on Nova Scotia wreck diving by well-known Cape Breton diver Terry Dwyer. This book includes shipwreck histories and pictures, as well as chapters on a variety of topics including doing your own shipwreck research, specialized wreck diving techniques, and the use of today's high-tech underwater search gear.
For more information Click Here.

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