Hunt for Lost Toronto Shipwreck Leads to Older, Unexpected Discovery

A team of divers looking for the missing Rapid City near Toronto has uncovered a much older shipwreck resting on the floor of Lake Ontario. Found at a depth of roughly 100 metres, the vessel is astonishingly well-preserved, its twin masts still upright — an unusual sight for Great Lakes wrecks.

The dive team—headed by exploration diver and Ontario Underwater Council president Heison Chak—examined the site to evaluate Conolly’s idea that the wreck’s location, 100 meters below the surface, had protected it from disturbance.

The “unidentified object” was initially detected in 2017 as a sizable anomaly during a fibre-optic cable survey along the floor of Lake Ontario between Buffalo and Toronto. It drew the interest of Trent University archaeologist James Conolly, who was seeking a shipwreck that had remained largely untouched.

Early analysis suggests it may date between 1800 and 1850, decades earlier than expected, offering a rare glimpse into a poorly documented era of shipbuilding.

Researchers will return next season to conduct dating tests and a full survey, calling the find one of the most pristine Great Lakes wrecks ever seen.

Jeff Lindsay Photo