Charter Sites Offered by Freedom Scuba USA

We run the largest Charter Boat on the US side of the St. Lawrence Seaway.  

 SS Keystorm

SOS does not recommend penetration of this wreck.

• Dive lights are highly recommended for each diver.

• Novice to Advanced level Divers.

• Some fishing lines may be present, exercise caution.

• Visibility is up to 15-25 ft. on a good day.

• Large fish are usually present, especially at night.

• Wreck is in U.S. waters under U.S. Coast Guard and State of New York jurisdiction.

• Divers should pay very close attention to their depth and limitations of air supply.

The wreck of the S.S. Keystorm is located in the St. Lawrence River in U.S. waters, 1 mile Northwest of Oak Island and can be reached by boat. Charters are recommended from either Browns Bay Provincial Park dock (near Mallorytown, Ontario on the 1000 Islands Parkway on Canadian side approximately 3 nautical miles Northwest of site) or from Brockville Marinas. The site is at N 44 25.8′ Latitude, W 75 49.3′ Longitude. A mooring buoy of coloured jugs is usually present. Parks, camping sites, motels are available in the Mallorytown area. Ref. Canadian Hydrographical Services chart #1418.

The S.S. Keystorm was built in Great Britain in 1909-1910 for the Keystorm Transportation Co. in Montreal. She was a cargo steamer, 258 feet long with a 42.5 foot beam and a displacement of 2300 ton. She had two boilers and a triple expansion steam engine with 16″, 26″, and 44″ diameter cylinders X 36″ stroke placed aft. The after house contained the galley, crew’s men, dining room and quarters for chief, oilers, firemen and second engineer. The rest of the crew including the captain’s cabin were in the forward quarters. The pilot house was arranged particularly for canal service.

On October 12, 1912 while bound from Ashlabula, Ohio to Montreal with a load of coal, she struck Scow Island shoal in fog near Alexandria Bay N.Y. The pumps were put in operation immediately but it became evident that the ship was doomed. Five hours later the Keystorm sank stern first and rolled over onto her starboard side going down. While her cargo of coal was salvaged, several attempts to raise the ship using steel pontoons failed. Formal hearings and investigation revealed that both Master and Mate were negligent in navigation and command of the vessel causing its loss.

The A.E. Vickery

Ship Type: Wooden Schooner
Lifespan: Built 1861, Sunk 1889
Length: 136ft
Depths: 60ft - 115ft
Location: Rock Island Shoal, St. Lawrence River, New York side
GPS: N44 16.820 W076 01.183

The A.E. Vickery was built in 1861 and launched in July of that year at Three Mile Bay in New York. Originally named as the J.B. Penfield, she was renamed in February 1884 as the A.E. Vickery. A three masted wooden schooner, she was carrying a load of corn en-route to Wisers Distillery in Prescott, Ontario, when she struck the shoals in the narrows on August 17, 1889. There was no loss of life in the sinking.

The wreck itself lies on a ledge adjacent to Rock Island Shoal. The site is buoyed with a line that takes you down over the ledge to the port bow of the wreck, which lies at approximately 60 ft in depth. The wreck continues down the ledge and reaches a depth of about 115 ft at it's stern. There is a fair bit of current as the wreck site is in a narrow portion of the river.  Because the wreck lies at an angle on the shoal, on the wreck itself, the current is much less as the deck is somewhat sheltered. As well, the wreck can be penetrated through a number of cargo hatches in the deck. Once inside, current is pretty well non-existent. 

At the bow of the wreck is the ship's windlass. As well, the rudder appears to be more or less intact. Two section of masts lie to the starboard side of the wreck.