Iona

The dive is just past the pilings of the old railway bridge. There is an uw line running from the left side of the beach to the pilings one can use in the tidal currents to go hand over hand to the pprotection of the pilings. Aim for slack tide at high or low, when the current is slower - it doesn't actually stop moving. The divesite is an old barge that was used to build the railway bridge. It broke free and hit the pilings, and sank in about 50' of water. It is so rich in marine life that it is like a Caribbean reef!! Great care must be taken in the current and with air management to ensure you can get back through the pilings and onto the line to go back to shore with an air reserve. This is the norhtern entry to the Bra D'Or Lakes, so there is frequent boat traffic next to and over the wreck - don't surface at the wreck...Always go back through the pilings to the beach. Also the current is too strong to swim against on the surface, so surfacing will sweep you through the "Grand Narrows" and you'll have to cut across it to land outside on the west side of the end of the channel and walk back. Recommended for experienced divers or guided teams. The dive site is down o the Iona side of Grand Narrows, the western side. You have to cross the bridge if you come from the east side. The road is dirt, narrow and very steep just on the Iona side of the bridge approach on the north side of the road. It leads down to parking above a gravel and pebble beach looking at the the car bridge on your right and the old railway bridge swing across the mouth of the beach.