St Johns, Conception Bay and Bell Island

Use an experienced local charter with a written briefing on each wreck, depth, gas, decompression exposure, lines, separation, visibility, cold and boat traffic. Ocean Quest requires Advanced Open Water plus deep training with at least 30 logged dives, or at least 100 verified dives including deep dives; less-qualified guests require instructor-led training. Solo charter diving is prohibited by its published terms. The four wrecks are reported around 25 m to 45 m seabed by National Defence, while the operator cites 18 m to 50 m across its principal sites. Some profiles are outside routine recreational limits. Drysuit use, equipment inspection and cold-water regulator configuration must be individually competent. No wreck penetration, mine-diving permission or open-water decompression plan is implied here. If a suspected explosive item is seen, leave it untouched and notify the operator; no salvaging or souvenir collecting. Recheck the Canadian Coast Guard marine forecast and operator weather call before departure.

For a serious emergency, activate 911 or marine rescue immediately and provide the vessel or island location. The Health Sciences Centre in St. Johns has an active emergency department, confirmed by NL Health Services in August 2026. This research could not verify the current availability, staffing or response time of a hyperbaric chamber, so do not infer that a chamber is guaranteed nearby. Ask the charter captain for a written oxygen, communications, pickup, evacuation and dive-medical escalation plan and confirm coverage with a dive insurer. DAN offers 24/7 dive-medicine assistance at +1-919-684-9111 after EMS activation. Ferry status and weather may complicate island transfers.

Protect the 1942 wrecks as historic human-loss sites. National Defence describes Navy UXO removal in 2019 and 2021, not permission to enter or strip any wreck. The Provincial Archaeology Office says archaeological artifacts should not be moved or disturbed. Minimize contact, fin kicks and anchoring impacts. No authorized Bell Island underwater mine visit was verified. Fisheries and Oceans Canada forbids feeding, swimming with or interacting with marine mammals; standard minimum approach guidance is 100 m for whales, dolphins and porpoises, increasing to 200 m if resting or with a calf. Operators must follow the relevant regulation and any more protective specific rules. Leave shore habitats, tide pools and beach litter undisturbed.