As a diver Tobermory is my home port. It lies on the northern tip of the Bruce peninsula where Lake Huron and Georgian Bay meet. The rocky shores and myriad of islands have claimed a host of shipwrecks over the past 4 centuries which are now the destinations for adventure loving divers.
I made the 4 hour hike up Highways 10 and 6 this past weekend to brave the cold 41 degree F waters. Such diving is most comfortable in a drysuit where only your head and hands get wet…as the water seeps slowly in under your hood and gloves and your body warms the waters. The drysuit was my choice for the weekend!
The waters are a turquoise blue and pass well for a Caribbean sea except for the extreme cold. I dove the lighthouse wall which is an excellent shore dive to reacclimatize to the gear and cold temperatures and saved the deep wreck dives—The Arabia and Forest City—for later summer dives with relatively warmer waters. The cold is always a bit startling as the water can hit your forehead like a hammer. This time it was a little more reasonable, like receiving a sustained, painful injection! And the visibility was excellent—100 feet or more—in beautiful, cold waters with only some small fish as companions. My silent friends welcoming the landlubber into their environs!
I am always grateful for these spiritual retreats. I am a lover of solitude, silence, and the feel of water! The cold waters are especially good for clearing the head of excessive baggage and clutter. Diving is also an effective way to be reminded of the dangers of attachment as extra gear is truly a hindrance for flying in the weightless environment.
Keep it simple. Be in the moment. Know what you see and not see what you know. Underwater mantras that remain just as true on the shore!