Diving from our Boat

Weather cancellation policy: 

We prioritize safety -  a wise Skipper once said we can always get divers into the water in rough weather, it's getting them back out that's the hard part!  We monitor the weather continuously as conditions can change rapidly.  We will do everything we can to make a solid judgement call the evening before the charter to cancel if the weather is too rough.  Please make sure we have your email address and phone number and check your messages at 10pm the evening before in case we need to cancel. If we cancel due to weather before departing the dock, you will receive a full refund or if you wish, a credit for a future trip. Once we leave the dock, there will be no refunds or credits.

What to Bring

Non-Diving Equipment

• Towels, Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses (cheap sunglasses are better)

• Warm clothes for between dives, towel parkas are wonderful for this.

• Water/Non-Alcholic Drinks (please do not bring disposable coffee cups on board, transfer drinks to travel mugs/containers)

• Lunch/Snacks (Fruit cores/peels are great fish food!)

  • Please minimize what you bring on board, coolers should be no larger than a “Six pack” and soft sided if possible.  No alcohol is allowed on board at any time (federal law)

Diving Equipment

This is not an exhaustive list, but a reminder.  If you require any rental equipment please visit our store in advance, or make special arrangements.

• One Scuba Cylinder 

• Regulator

• BCD

• Weights and weight pouches/belt

• Mask and snorkel, defog

• Wetsuit/Drysuit

• Fins and Boots

• Hoods and Gloves 

• Computer, Compass

• Optional Items

  • Gopro/Diving Camera

  • Light - Required on night dives

About the Boat

Dirty Adventures’ new dive boat “Clean Getaway” is a 20-foot zodiac with a 90 horsepower outboard engine.  It is commercially registered with Transport Canada (C37866ON) as a passenger vessel, and dive boat.  It is licensed for up to 6 passengers and 1-2 crew members.

Unlike many other dive boats on the Great Lakes, ours is built for adventure — fast, rugged, and ready to get wet. Purposefully outfitted with side scan sonar, it's designed to seek out undiscovered wrecks and take on whatever conditions we face. Thanks to its ultra-shallow draft of less than two feet, we can navigate waters that most boats wouldn’t even consider. 

About traveling on our boat 

Our boat is not a luxury cruise - no drink service, no washrooms, and it can get bumpy and wet.  Space is tight but the adventure is real!  To make the most of your adventure here are guidelines:

• When you arrive at the departure point please check in with the Skipper. You can prepare gear but please do not load the boat until you have the go ahead from the Skipper.

• Please put on exposure suits (wetsuit/drysuit) prior to departure. If you are not wearing an exposure suit we may ask that you wear a life jacket depending on conditions. 

• Gear should be assembled before getting on the boat. 

• Please no gear bags on the boat, small dry bags are appropriate.

• Please put on sunscreen or bug spray as appropriate before getting on the boat. 

• There are no dry areas on the boat, but the deck locker is a protected area and designated for passenger storage. 

• Please make sure you have all the equipment that you need, we do not normally bring spare equipment. 

• Please do not bring valuables on board, and do not give items to the crew for safekeeping.  If you have items such as car keys, eyeglasses, or cell phones they are best placed in a dry bag in the deck locker.

• Washroom Wisdom: We're all adults here—if nature calls and you need a quick dip, just give us a heads-up. And if you answer the call in your wetsuit, please put a scoop of water in your wetsuit to flush it before getting back on board, your fellow divers (and their noses) will thank you.

Specific details about diving from our boat 

• Our crew are here to help you! We will help you in and out of the water and help you gear up.  If you have not done any diving in the Great Lakes or have not been diving in more than a year, please let us know.  We reserve the right to ask you to complete a Refresher if it has been several years since you’ve been diving.

• Water temperature can vary from 0c to 27c depending on time of year and body of water.  Please plan accordingly.  If you are shivering on the boat we will not allow you to enter the water for safety reasons.

• Entries from our boats are done with a back roll only.  If you have not done a back roll before let us know and we can help you.  Optionally, you can back roll without your scuba gear and put your gear on in the water. 

• We have a dive ladder for getting out of the water. Most divers choose to remove their equipment in the water and clip it to the boat, and climb the dive ladder without scuba equipment on. This is entirely up to you. 

• The bottom solid rung of the dive ladder sits around mid-waist depth, with an extra step around top of the knee.  Please let us know if you believe this would present a challenge for you to climb and we can help you into the boat.