Zebra mussel soup, anyone?
Cookware on the stove of the CIRTWELL near Rockport, Ontario

In August 1995, the pristine wreck of a schooner was discovered just off Rockport, Ontario in the St. Lawrence River. I was fortunate to dive and photograph the wreck soon thereafter, before many of the artifacts I photographed were stolen. The photo of the wheel on my home page was taken on this wonderful wreck.

This schooner is believed to be the EDITH (or ELIZA) CIRTWELL, a schooner-barge lost in 1883 or 1897. Details are sketchy and local divers and the Ontario Ministry of Culture (OMC) are still trying to determine this ship's real story.

Located immediately in front of Rockport's customs station, the CIRTWELL rests upright in a bow-to-stern incline in 85 to 90 feet of water. She is intact except for her stern, which has partially collapsed and separated from the main wreck.

This is a beautiful dive, especially for those with an interest in wooden sailing vessels of the nineteenth century. When I visited her, her wheel, two stoves with cookware, two pumps, her anchor and capstan still graced her decks. As I mentioned earlier, many of these artifacts were stolen shortly after my visit, but I understand that local divers, Save Ontario Shipwrecks (SOS), and the OMC have been successful in recovering some of the items.

Cautious penetration is possible. However, a large boulder sits on the deck on the starboard side, about amidships. How it got there, I don't know, but one day it is going to collapse the deck. Don't be under it!

The wreck is buoyed by charters. However, the buoy often disappears due to the very heavy recreational boating traffic in this area. Also, the wreck is located in front of a tour boat operation, so practice caution and courtesy.