TIDA featured in Thousand Islands Sun

Underwater divers ramp up projects in the 1000 IslandsBy Pamela McDowell, Staff Writer

1000 Islands — The Thousand Islands Divers Alliance (TIDA) has been successful in bringing divers together to improve the diving amenities, safety and environment in the St. Lawrence River between Cape Vincent and Morristown.

Approximately 50 divers are involved in the alliance, and they have made steady progress in cleaning up the river and obtaining grants.

The organization has partnered with the village of Alexandria Bay to improve shore access to the sunken steamboat Islander, which is located near the Cornwall Brothers Store Museum.

One of their initiatives is called Project Baseline, and it focuses on preserving the river’s maritime heritage. The organization has been approved to study the sunken ship Keystorm near Chippewa Bay. The SS Keystorm sank in 1912 when it strayed from the channel in heavy fog, carrying 2300 tons of coal. TIDA will document the current condition of the wreck and establish observation stations at the project site.

TIDA is a nonprofit group, and its executive director, Todd Keister, announced two grants have recently been awarded to the group, one through the Northern New York Community Foundation and the second through Stewart’s Shops. The funds will be used to purchase informational signage and promote diving safety through awareness of diving flags.

TIDA has plans to build a safe ramp and steps leading into the river near Islander, along with building a deck near the existing pavilion where divers can stage their gear and change in and out of their dive suits. Benches will also be added.

“The organization is a volunteer-driven group of divers working to remove underwater debris and help preserve historic shipwrecks,” Mr. Keister said.

“The St. Lawrence River is one of the most unique freshwater environments in the country,” he said. “Our goal is to help keep it clean, safe and accessible for residents and visitors.”

A river cleanup has been scheduled for Sunday, June 14, next to Cornwall Brothers Store Museum at 35 Market St. The most common items retrieved from the bottom of the river are rubber tires, metal cans, plastic bottles and plastic outdoor chairs. Two years ago, the group resurfaced with a toilet that had been discarded in the watery.

Surprisingly, Mr. Keister has only been diving for the past eight years, and although he always loved the St. Lawrence River, he was afraid to swim until he was a teen. He grew up vacationing in Fishers Landing, and he continues to spend time there.

TIDA works in collaboration with several diving groups, Save The River and St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management.