The Mapledawn is a 106-metre (349 ft) steel freighter that went down on 30 November 1924 with a cargo of barley. It rests on a rocky bottom in 3–9 m (10–30 ft) of clear fresh water, bow shallow and stern deep, with boilers, engine, winch and chains to explore. The shallow profile makes it a dive for every certified diver.
Also known as Maple Dawn.
Where it is and how deep
44.8850° N, 80.2440° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The wreck lies on a rocky bottom off the northwest side of Christian Island, with the bow at the shallow end, in about 3 m (10 ft), and the hull running down towards the stern in about 9 m (30 ft). The 106-metre (349 ft) steel hull gives a long route from the shallows to the deep end, all of it in water rated for every certified diver.
Midships, the giant boilers and the engine are the main sights, along with the winch and lengths of chain. Past the stern, the propeller lies apart from the hull in deeper water about 15 m (50 ft) off the stern, so it takes a short swim over the rocks to find it before turning back along the wreck to the ascent.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Mapledawn
- Type
- Steel freighter
- Length
- 106 m (348 ft)
- Sunk
- 1924
- Cause
- Stranded in a blinding snowstorm while loaded with barley
- Lies
- Off the NW side of Christian Island, on a rocky bottom in 3–9 m (10–30 ft)
The Mapledawn was a 106-metre (349 ft) steel freighter. It stranded in a blinding snowstorm in November 1924 while loaded with barley, and went down on 30 November 1924. The wreck now rests in 3–9 m (10–30 ft) of water on a rocky bottom, with the bow at the shallower end and the propeller in deeper water off the stern.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Off-season | Off-season |
Season follows Penetanguishene & Southern Georgian Bay: Dated charters run from July to October and the water is warmest in August; the bay is near freezing in late winter.
Dive videos
Scuba Diving Southern Georgian Bay Mapledawn Shipwreck Penetanguishene · Dans Dive Shop on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Mapledawn wreck?+
The Mapledawn rests in 3–9 m (10–30 ft) of water, with the bow at the shallow end and the propeller in deeper water about 15 m (50 ft) off the stern.
How is the Mapledawn reached?+
By boat: the Georgian Explorer charter leaves Cedar Point Dock at 8:00, and divers are asked to be on the dock by 7:30 to load gear.
Sources
- Georgian Explorer | The Dive Academy — The Dive Academy
- Diving Penetanguishene, Ontario — Diver Trek
- Georgian Explorer 2021 - Oct — CanSAC
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