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Issue #08-02______Posted March 20th, 2008The ......................Back to Archive Index Sh Happy Anniversary SDO Serious Divers Only - 20 Years and Going Strong
On arrival the two were amazed at the beauty of the geographical setting. Bright blue water set against green pines and snow Fathom Five (the national marine park in Georgian Bay) offers some of the best freshwater diving opportunities in the world. Clear, clean water, submerged geological formations (cliffs, caves, overhangs) and more than 20 historical shipwrecks all offer a variety of underwater experiences. But what was most intriguing to these two young divers was the Grotto At first, hauling dive gear for two dives each did not seem like such a big challenge. Silly men. Three and half hours later the two emerged from the muddy trail out to a ledge at the fringe of the Grotto. A beautiful site to say the least. Just as they arrived, the local dive charter pulled up and anchored. The manifest of divers looked up onto the ridge and after realizing that the two hikers were actually divers who just hauled their gear a marathon through snow covered trails, they began to ridicule the two. One charter passenger however appreciated the effort and was overheard saying "Wow, for serious divers only I guess!" From that moment on the term stuck for each and every adventure the two made. Adam Harrington, a grad student in Marine Biology and Bill Nadeau, an undergrad in the 'extended program' and both at the University of Guelph, spent a great deal of their time diving whatever body of water they could get into {pictured above - 1988, at a local quarry near Guelph, Ontario}. Not a lot of choices in the western Ontario region, especially during winter. However the late week night and weekend get-aways are what kept the two sane during their academic tenure. There adventures soon drew the attention of other divers with similar interests and passions. Eventually, 'Serious Divers Only aka S.D.O.' became more than a secret diving cult of people who wanted to take the sport to the extreme. It evolved into a club and later a business providing training, travel, programs, dive charters and offered a variety of environmental marine expeditions. The unique services this company had to offer was quickly recognized and soon it was sought after by commercial operations to conduct sub-sea assessments, specimen collection and even the design and construction of marine superstructures such as marine railways and boat lifts, large aquariums, cisterns, and underwater photographic surveillance systems. In doing so the S.D.O. team was forced to think outside of the box, integrating a combination of traditional commercial diving practices with scientific and what is now known today as technical diving applications. In 1989, after realizing the quasi-official status of the club, it was decided amoung it's members that a charter should be drawn. The original statement was drafted over a keg of beer at 3 o'clock in the morning and sounded like a pirates law book but with overtones of cowboys breathing voodoo gas. The following morning, with cold clothes and spicy ceasers, it was amended to reflect the more 'academic' nature of the group {see below}. The diving arena expanded into some very specialized and often sensitive environments including mineshafts, aquarium tanks and remote frozen lakes and rivers. Various contracts with Canada Parks, Universities and other environmental agencies tasked S.D.O. with the job of entering into, measuring and recording the various resources within their industry. As a result Bill, Adam and other club members refined their technique to enhance the effectiveness of their exploration and reduce the risk of their job. To do this, unique equipment modifications and diving techniques were developed. Both Bill and Adam were heavily involved in scientific diving activities since early the eighties so this was a natural progression. In effect, they were developing what would be considered technical diving practices almost 30 years ago, long before the establishment of any technical diving agency.
S.D.O. undertook projects that included wreck preservation and archeological studies, site clean-ups, film projects and underwater documentaries. It's membership base grew to include specialists all across Canada and eventually the birth of it's newsletter 'The Diver's EcoWatch' which later became syndicated in diver magazines and TV shows as 'Technically Speaking' and 'The HangLine'. S.D.O later went on to promote ecological studies, tradeshows and eventually became one of the first companies to pioneer technical diving into Canada. S.D.O. was a sponsor in the first Canadian technical tradeshow called Mix '96, and later hosted the Island Tech Retreat and the Sea the Future symposium which drew diving pioneers from all over the world including Dr. Phil Nuytten, Tom Mount, Jarrod Jablonski, Jill and Paul Heinerth and Dr David Sawatzky. Sea the Future offered ground breaking programs including the first ever 'Rebreather Forum and Gear Modification Workshop' which pitted contrasting opinions from some very outspoken authorities. Today S.D.O. represents a huge alumni of pioneers who originally banded together because they had a common cause and passion. Some of S.D.O.s forefathers continue to remain heavily involved with S.D.O., others have moved on, and some have passed away doing what they do most - diving. Adam Harrington, one of S.D.O.'s original founders enjoys a successful acting career and maintains contact with us. Bill Nadeau, continues to promote S.D.O. activities and is a regular contributor to Deep Fathoms Productions. To it's founders, we congratulate you on S.D.O.'s 20th anniversary. To those members lost at sea, we honour your memories. To the rest of you - thanks for helping us make history. ~ The Gang at DFP We want to know what you think - send us an email and give us your thoughts.
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The year was 1988. It was a very cool Ontario spring day, two university students decided to breakaway for the weekend and get some diving in after a long couple of months of intense studies. Tired of driving to the local quarry and diving sandy bottoms and chasing tiny minnows around, the two decided to head north to the great white of Georgian Bay. Cold frigid but clear waters was only 6 hours from campus.
covered limestone formations. Excited to get started exploing the area, the first job was to check in at the local dive shop and find out what was where and how to get there. 
dive site located along the Georgian Bay shoreline about 19 km (12 miles) east of Tobermory. Hidden passages lead from inside the Grotto to the open waters of Georgian Bay, but not before winding in and around a maze of limestone pinnacles, only interrupted by the occasional dome rooms that intersect with each tunnel. Charter operators advertise this as a boat access only site and were asking way more money than the cashless college students could afford. After the attendant at the tourism booth told the two youngsters that it was only a 3 or 4 kilometer hike from the road at Cyprus Lake Head, the two struck out to haul gear into this remote site.
