SOS Tobermory is beginning plans for an annual Tobermory Shipwrecks Festival—a community celebration of the stories, stewardship, diving, research, photography, and natural beauty that make this area so extraordinary.

The inaugural festival is planned for Spring 2027 and will bring together local businesses, divers, historians, educators, artists, visitors, and heritage supporters. Programming may include shipwreck-history presentations, underwater photography and video, educational displays, community events, guided experiences, youth activities, and opportunities to learn more about the SOS mooring program and the work being done to protect local sites.

The festival will create a new way for visitors and residents alike to connect with Tobermory’s underwater heritage—both above and below the surface—while supporting local knowledge development, conservation awareness, and fundraising for future stewardship initiatives.

SOS Tobermory welcomes volunteers, partners, sponsors, speakers, researchers, artists, local businesses, and community members who would like to help make the first Tobermory Shipwrecks Festival a meaningful annual tradition.

Join SOS Tobermory and help ensure these irreplaceable places remain protected, understood, and accessible for generations to come.

SOS Tobermory is preparing to complete a photogrammetry project on the Niagara II on Monday, September 21. The project has been postponed twice due to weather, but conditions permitting, the team will document the wreck in detail to support new educational resources for visitors and divers.

Photogrammetry uses a series of overlapping underwater photographs to create an accurate three-dimensional digital model of a site. The Niagara II model will help bring the wreck to life above water, allowing people to explore and better understand its structure, history, and condition—even if they are not able to dive it themselves.

The material gathered during this project will be incorporated into the Tobermory shipwreck dive slates now under development in partnership with Dive Life Tobermory. These slates are intended to give divers meaningful, site-specific information before and during their visit, including historical context, points of interest, wreck orientation, and stewardship guidance.

This project is part of a larger effort to expand local knowledge of Tobermory’s underwater heritage while creating engaging, practical tools that encourage responsible exploration and greater appreciation of the shipwrecks we are working to protect.

Tobermory’s shipwrecks are more than dive sites—they are irreplaceable pieces of Great Lakes history. Many rest in the cold, clear waters surrounding the Bruce Peninsula and Fathom Five National Marine Park, where their stories can be experienced by divers, snorkellers, boaters, and visitors from around the world.

A key focus of SOS Tobermory is supporting the mooring systems that allow boats to visit these sites without dropping anchor on or near fragile wreck remains. Responsible mooring use helps protect the ships, their archaeological value, and the underwater environment around them.

Local wreck sites supported through the mooring and stewardship program include:

Arabia
One of Tobermory’s most iconic deep-water wrecks, the Arabia is a three-masted barque resting near Echo Island. Its remarkable preservation and dramatic depth make it a significant destination for experienced divers and an important site for ongoing protection.

Forest City
The Forest City is among the area’s best-known historic wrecks and a favourite with advanced divers. Its wreckage extends across a dramatic underwater landscape, offering a powerful reminder of the risks of Great Lakes shipping.

Charles P. Minch
Resting near Cove Island, the Charles P. Minch is a large wooden schooner whose site provides a striking connection to the era of sail-powered commerce on the Great Lakes.

John Walter
The John Walter is another important Cove Island-area wreck and part of the remarkable collection of maritime history accessible from Tobermory. It offers visitors an opportunity to explore the legacy of working vessels that once travelled these waters.

James C. King
The James C. King is a well-known Tobermory wreck with a depth range that makes it an important site for divers progressing in their shipwreck exploration. Its remains tell the story of a working Great Lakes vessel and the people who depended on it.

City of Cleveland
The City of Cleveland is a historic schooner wreck and an important part

W. L. Wetmore
The W. L. Wetmore is one of the area’s significant historic wreck sites. Its preservation and setting make it an important location for interpretation, education, and responsible visitation.

San Jacinto
The San Jacinto is a popular wreck site that gives divers and history enthusiasts a direct connection to Tobermory’s maritime past. Protecting reliable access to this site helps reduce the need for anchoring near sensitive wreck remains.

Niagara II
The Niagara II offers a different chapter of Tobermory’s underwater story. As a deliberately placed dive attraction, it complements the area’s historic wrecks while providing an accessible and memorable underwater experience.