Spooky Ships: Haunting Tales of Tobermory’s Famous Shipwrecks

Among the many things to see and do in Tobermory, you may see billboards advertising one of our many boat tour companies. While these vessels can take you to a variety of incredible destinations, from the majestic sea stacks of Flowerpot Island to the gaping mouth of the Grotto, one of the most popular types of tours is glass bottom boats that let you get a glimpse at the mythical shipwrecks of Fathom Five. With more than 20 historical wrecks, many which sank to the murky depth more than 100 years ago, there is no shortage of spooky history contained within the scenic marine park. In fact, some have even described the area as “The Shipwreck Capital of Canada”, with such a large number of well-preserved wrecks in close proximity to each other. While not all of them get toured by boat companies, the ones that do see the light of day through the glass bottoms of the tour boats are quite a sight to behold. And for the more adventurous of you, many of them can be seen up close on scuba diving excursions, if you dare plunge into the cold, blue waters of Lake Huron yourself. But how did these ships wind up at the bottom of Georgian bay? In this fall edition of the Blue Bay Blog, I’m going to take you through the terrifying history of Tobermory’s many shipwrecks, and for the bravest among you, tell you how you can catch a glimpse of them yourself.

How did they get here?

Given the fame of Tobermory’s safe harbours, you may be wondering how these wrecks got to be here in the first place, and why there are so many. While it may be tempting to assume that otherworldly forces are at work in the “Tobermory Triangle” that is Fathom Five, there are much simpler explanations to the abundance of underwater ruins off the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula. One answer is that the area is actually the transition point between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, making it a major channel for shipping across the Great Lakes. Because of this, it has seen a lot of traffic since shipping through this passage picked up in the 1850s. The simple fact of there being a large number of ships that have passed through the region means it is more likely to see wrecks.

The density of wrecks, however, is another mystery entirely. Having an area of only 112 km², Fathom Five is not a very large park. For it to have more than 20 shipwrecks in such a small area, there must be some better explanation than the volume of ships passing through. Indeed, the answer to this is firmly rooted in the environment of the park itself. Despite its popularity as a shipping channel, the tip of the Bruce Peninsula poses many navigational challenges to sailors. Around the islands just off the coast, there are many hidden shoals just below the water’s surface, too shallow for large schooners or steamships to pass over safely. In addition to this, this area frequently sees massive storms, leading to wind, waves, low visibility, and other dangers that can cause ships to sink. The aftermath of the storms can also lead to heavy fog in the region. This was a problem in the early 1800s, as the first lighthouse in the area was not built until 1858, and the second and third wouldn’t follow until 1885 and 1897, respectively. They were actually built as a response to the large number of shipwrecks in the region, and there was a measurable reduction in wrecks after their construction. Some wrecks are dated to after the construction of the last lighthouse, but these were not all accidents: several of Tobermory’s wrecks were intentionally sunk as a means of disposal following heavy damage or decommissioning.

One final mystery that I have yet to address is how the wrecks remain so well preserved. With many of them being over a hundred years old, it seems incredible that they’re still largely intact, having not changed much since they first sank to their watery graves. There are, once again, no unnatural forces to be credited for this. The cold, fresh waters of Georgian Bay are excellent for preserving the body of the wrecks. Additionally, the solid limestone bed of the bay helps prevent wrecks from disappearing beneath the sea floor. Furthermore, the protections put in place by Fathom Five National Marine Park help prevent any incidental damages that could be caused by recreational traffic to the area. These factors combine to keep some of the most famous wrecks in Canada in good condition for all to enjoy.

Spookiest wrecks of Tobermory

Cascaden

Sunk in October 1871, this is the oldest wreck tourists can visit in the area. It is also one of the less intact ones, with the badly broken up pieces of the hull scattered over a large area south of Hay Bay. Little can be found about how it sank, further adding to the mystery of the severe damages it seems to have sustained.

Forest City

One of the deepest wrecks in Tobermory, this one sank in 1904 after colliding with Bear’s rump island during severe fog. It now rests more than 60 feet down, on the rocky bottom of Georgian Bay. While mostly intact, the depth and cold water means only the most advanced divers have the opportunity to see it.

The Tugs

Not one wreck, but four, the tugs are a series of small steam-powered tug boats that sank in the early 1900s. Three have been identified, but one remains mysterious. They rest in the mouth of Little Tub Harbour, easily accessible even to snorkellers, as they rest in just over 10 feet of water.

Arabia

Sunk off the coast of Echo Island in 1884, this is considered one of the best schooner wrecks in the province. Its bow is still largely intact, with masts coming up from the depths in a ghostly impression of its former grandeur. This is another highly technical dive that should only be attempted by skilled individuals, as it sits over 100 feet below the surface in cold and turbulent waters.

Sweepstakes

Possibly the most famous shipwreck in Tobermory (or at least, the most well-known), this ship suffered serious damage off of cove island in 1885, and was towed into Big Tub harbour for repairs. Unfortunately, it could not be fixed in time to prevent it from sinking into the bay. Today, it sits in the far end of the harbour, and is a frequent stop for Bruce Anchor and Blue Heron glass bottom tours. It can also easily be viewed from the surface, and can be paddled to from any of the cottages on the harbour, including Azure, the Blue Bay Motel’s rental cottage.

City of Grand Rapids

Just feet from where the Sweepstakes rests is yet another wreck, which took its place there in 1907 after it caught fire in Little Tub Harbour. Not wanting to risk catching the wooden docks and surrounding on fire, the villagers of Tobermory towed it out into the bay to let it burn safely. Strong winds pushed it back towards Big Tub, where it burned to the waterline and then swiftly sank.

This one is very easy to see, as the area where it sits can be so shallow that it actually sticks out of the water. Boat tours do also pass nearby, though they often avoid going directly overtop for fear of bottoming out themselves. It can be seen up close by anyone willing to paddle over to it from one of the nearby cottages, including Azure.

While this is by no means every wreck in Tobermory, it’s certainly some of the most well known and mysterious. Not to mention, several can be seen on various boat tours, and more can be seen by diving into the depths yourself, either with simple snorkels for some of the shallower wrecks, or with more technical gear from one of Tobermory’s local dive shops. However, if you want to discover the secrets of the harbours for yourself, why not come visit us here at the Blue Bay Motel or Azure Cottage, located just minutes walk away from the tour boat docks and the dive shops alike.