J.C. Morrison Wreck in Lake Simcoe is a shore accessible fresh water dive site, located at Lakeshore Dr., Barrie, ON L4N2M6, Canada. This dive site has an average rating of 2.00 out of 5 from 2 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 26-30ft/8-9m.
A three-year-old pleasure cruise steamer (Steam powered Paddlewheeler), shipped people and supplies around Lake Simcoe, caught fire on August 4, 1857. The ship sank down 30 feet, a few yards east of the present day Centennial Beach. It was cut loose to save the docks it was tied to and it drifted away. The remains are located approximately 200 yards from shore between the Rotary Water Fountain and the boardwalk at the City of Barrie Marina.
The J.C. Morrison Wreckage is one of the most popular dive sites in the Southern Ontario region. It is an approximate 10 minute swim out to the wreck guided by a line that runs from the shore of Centennial Beach. Caution should be exercised. The paddle wheels, smoke stack, anchors, boiler and many small artifacts remain at this site.
Take into consideration over 140 years of wind, waves and ice and it is not hard to imagine that this wreck has been flattened like a watermelon dropped from the top of a 10 story building (imagery courtesy David Letterman.) But even a squashed melon has neat stuff to look at. The Morrison is marked by a small white jug approximately 300’ directly off the harborfront in just 30’ of water. The shallow water allows for plenty of bottom time and the line that runs to the wreck makes it easy to avoid the surface swim. Don’t expect to see much on the swim along the bottom aside from the occasional crayfish, but when you hit the wreck you will know it. Both the line and the jug are tied to the same portion of the bow section with the remainder of the wreck extending perfectly parallel to the shore. All surfaces are rather well covered with zebra mussels but the little critters have done wonders for visibility which now exceeds 25’ on particularly calm days. If you’ve never seen zebra mussels they are small clam-like beasties 3/4" long (dark brown with yellowish stripes) that attach to anything hard in most of the Great Lakes. Overall they look like a (dark) cast on a broken leg: still gives the shape of what’s underneath but hides the details. Like most wrecks this one has a jewel, and it is not something you can see every day. The paddlewheel (which has had a life of its own) sits on its side near the middle of the wreckage. It is still pretty impressive even though there is only about 1/4 of it left intact. If rumours are to be believed this is due in part to it being hauled away from the wreck by boaters who kept hitting their keels on it when it was vertical, but magically reappeared nearer the debris again laying on its side in 1997.
If you came here expecting to penetrate the wreck, you’re at the wrong site. If you want to see coral, anemone and colourful little fish, you’re in the wrong country. And if you came when the sun is shining expecting to see a lot of fish, you’re in the right spot but at the wrong time of day. This is a great night dive, and that is when the fish - mostly smallmouth bass - return to the shelter of the wreck structure to dream their little fishy dreams (with the accompanying nightmares about muskie).
With all the bottom time you can have on this wreck you can cover it several times, but you won’t want to bother if you kick much of the 5" of silt and mud into the water. If you go to the Morrison here is a challenge for you: see if you can find the plaque from the wonderful folks at SOS (Save Ontario Shipwrecks). It is a small red and white cast of a mug and utensils found on the wreck. Keep your eyes peeled.
The wreck lies just off Centennial park which is a narrow shoreline stretch of grass with ample parking for all but the busiest weekends. You enter by ambling over a strip of large rocks (erosion stoppers) to get to the water which is only a few paces from the parking lot. Directions: 400 N to Barrie, right on Essa Rd., right on Tiffin St., left on Lakeshore Dr., and park in the first main lot on the right past the mini-golf course (near the small hut and phone booth). The marker jug will be straight out from the tree stump to the right of the parking lot (as you look at the water). The 1/4" line along the bottom starts at a small cinder block about 30’ offshore which has a tendency to collect weeds so may take a little searching to find it.