What is SOS ?

Ontario's Marine Heritage

SOS originated in Toronto in March of 1980.

Regions

The Western Region is represented by the Sarnia, Windsor, Huron Shores and Ohio chapters.

The Eastern Region is represented by the Ottawa and Thousand Islands chapters.

The Northern Region is represented by the Manitoulin and Superior chapters.

• Activities related to the study of Ontario's marine heritage include historical and archival research, oral histories side scan surveys and underwater archaeological investigations.

• Preservation activities undertaken by SOS members include a mooring program which seeks to minimize anchor damage on sites which are regularly being visited by sport divers. Along with the mooring program, site monitoring and documentation activities help to record and preserve marine heritage sites. Presentations to scuba clubs and training courses highlight the need for sport divers to use shipwreck sites responsibly - that is, to minimize the negative impact of their visit to these fragile underwater museums.

• We promote an appreciation of Ontario's rich marine heritage through a number of initiatives. SOS members regularly make presentations to scuba training courses, public groups and dive clubs. We design, produce and bring displays about marine heritage to underwater trade shows and conferences. We seek to work very closely with the diving tourism industry to ensure that the rapidly growing heritage tourism initiatives are undertaken responsibly, from the standpoint of site preservation.

• Ontario enjoys one of the finest marine heritage resources of any jurisdiction on the planet, and SOS lobbies all levels of government with a view to developing resource management initiatives which strike an appropriate balance amongst the competing interests of study, preservation and use.