The Ontario provincial government has suddenly taken an interest in shipwrecks and many dive boat operators, dive associa tions and dive clubs have just as suddenly become worried. An ad hoc group of divers have held a series of meetings in Toronto this winter to strategize on how to stop or at least amend a pending private members bill.
The Ontario Marine Heritage Act, (better known as Bill 13) has passed second reading; it is in essence an attempt to protect historically important shipwrecks. If passed, the bill will carry fines up to $50,000 for people scuba diving beside, on, or through designated shipwrecks. It's strict, in fact if passed in its present form it will be a crime to disturb (with fin kicks) silt in and around heritage sites.
"Although the proposed statute has a laudable purposeto enhance the protection and preservation of Ontario's marine heritage resources" wrote Beth Cromwell, president of the Ontario Underwater Council (OUC). "if passed in its present form, this legislation will effectively terminate sport diving."
There are some 100 dive boats operating in Ontario. Chartered diving is a small but growing industry that positively impacts on the economies of many communities along the Great Lakes.
At gatherings held at the OUC in recent months, an action committee was established to meet with the provincial government and make recommendations about shipwrecks and the sport of scuba diving before the Bill is passed into law. Cromwell and her committee have already learned that most divers in Ontario support the concept of wreck protection. However, Bill 13's powers appear to be so sweeping there is strong concern that many of the province's best dive sites could be shut down by the authorities.
At upcoming dive conventions in Toronto and Niagara Falls, the OUC and its action committee will be meeting with divers to discuss the implications of Bill 13.
Notes from the Net:
DIVER Magazine has written extensively about Mystery Ship X, a remarkable shipwreck that was recently discovered sitting upright on the bottom of Lake Erie. The ship has since been identified as the schooner St. James. The St. James sits in 165 feet of water and is in mint condition. A group of Long Point divers has visited this 19th century wreck and photographed in details her wheel, her upright masts, her ram's head fiddlehead and even her hull with the tonnage numbers carved into her hatch covering. You can see their photographs on the web at: http://members.home.net/longpoint/mystery.ht.
There is a new dive magazine that will soon be finding its way into doctor's offices around the United States. Early in January Hyperbaric Medicine Today announced it is publishing a new international magazine that focuses on Hyperbaric Medicine around the world. The magazine is scheduled to be released in February. Look for information about this magazine at: http://www.hbomedtoday.com
Cayman travel agents add fee to American air fares
Divers travelling to the Cayman Islands may have to dig a little deeper in their pockets if they plan to purchase tickets on American Airlines in Grand Cayman. Travel agents in the Cayman Islands plan to add $31.50 US to tickets on American Airlines after the U.S. carrier cut ticket commissions for Caribbean agents.
The Caymans surcharge applies only to tickets on American Airlines, the No. 2 U.S. carrier which has 40 to 45 percent of the Caribbean air travel market. Tickets for airlines which have not cut agent commissions will still be issued free.
With three flights daily from Grand Cayman to Miami, the agencies write thousands of tickets every year on American Airlines, primarily for travellers heading for a final destination other than Miami. Travel agents in several Caribbean nations earlier this week said they were discussing a boycott of American Airlines to protest against the commission cuts.
Canadians travelling to Grand Cayman on tickets purchased in Canada or the United States will not be affected by the sucharge.