Kingston is a freshwater wreck-diving destination split between two sub-areas: Kingston Harbour and the Wolfe Island Graveyard. Shipwrecks dominate the site list, ranging from shallow beginner-friendly dives to deep advanced targets that reward those with experience. Artificial reefs add variety alongside the wrecks. Pike, Common Carp, and European Eel are regularly observed, giving dives a distinctly freshwater character. Summer brings the warmest water and the longest comfortable dive windows.
Monthly water temperature across Kingston's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperature swings widely across the year, rising from near-freezing in late winter to comfortably warm through the summer months before dropping sharply in autumn. The peak season runs from June through September, when conditions suit the widest range of divers. Outside those months, cold water demands a drysuit and appropriate experience.
25 operators
23 more sites to explore
2 areas
Water temperature around Kingston ranges from about 2°C in February to 23°C in August, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 23°C) a 3mm full suit is comfortable in Kingston; in the coldest months (about 2°C) step up to a drysuit.
Fin maps 30 sites in Kingston (23 scuba diving sites and 7 snorkelling spots), organised into 2 areas.
Across Kingston's dive sites, June, July, August and September are most often reported as the best months to visit.
Kingston's freshwater sites are home to a varied mix of fish species, all observation-backed. Pike and Common Carp are seen very frequently, while European Eel and Sun Perch are also common encounters. Less frequent sightings include Longnose Gar, Freshwater Drum, Small Mouth Bass, and Walleye.
Some sites are well suited to beginners. Marmora Scuba Park offers a gentle shore entry and shallow depths, making it an accessible starting point. However, many of Kingston's most popular wreck sites are rated intermediate or advanced, particularly those in the Wolfe Island Graveyard and the deeper reaches of Kingston Harbour.
Kingston Harbour and the Wolfe Island Graveyard each hold a substantial number of sites. Both areas focus heavily on wrecks, but the Wolfe Island Graveyard leans towards intermediate and advanced dives at greater depths, while Kingston Harbour includes a broader spread of skill levels and some shallower artificial reef options.
The majority of Kingston's dive sites require boat access, including all of the top wreck sites such as the George T Davie, City of Sheboygan, and Katie Eccles. Shore entry is available at Marmora Scuba Park. Several local operators including Explorer Diving, Dive Force Scuba, and Pat's Dive Charters offer boat charters to the wreck sites.
