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The A.E. Vickery is one of the most popular advanced dives in the 1000 Islands. The Vickery is a wooden three masted schooner lying in 60 to 150 feet of fast current in the American Narrows Channel at Fisher’s Landing, between Clayton and Alexandria Bay. The site is buoyed just upstream of the Rock Island Lighthouse.
The Vickery was was built in 1861 and sank on August 17, 1889 while carrying 61,000 bushels of wheat, bound for the Wiser’s Distillery in Prescott, Ontario. Captain John Massey had picked up a local pilot, Henry Webber Jr. to guide the schooner through the channel at night. When the Vickery stuck the shoal and began to sink, the Captain ran to his cabin to grab his revolver to dispense with the hired pilot. The first mate ran to the rescue of the pilot and knocked the firearm overboard. It is said that the firearm is yet to be found .
The sight usually has 2 buoys on it which lead to a line which will take you down to the wreck itself. It is recommended that you use one of the local dive services to access this wreck as the current is is swift and contingency plans are necessary in case any diver is blown off the wreck.
Pull yourself along the guide line from 25’ as it leads you over the wall to 60 feet and the wreck. Do not let go of the line,  as you will likely be blown off the wreck. Once you are at the wreck the current becomes less as long as you stay within the protection of the wreck itself.
There is usually abundant fish life all around the wreck, playing in and out of the railings and the open holds.
Please watch your air and that of your buddy. Any emergency ascents directly to the surface place you squarely in the one of the busiest sections of the shipping channel and drifting downstream faster than an Olympic swimmer.  Do not penetrate the wreck unless your experience, certification and comfort support such activity. The silt is easily stirred up.
The Vickery is a very well intact wreck, and all divers appreciate the care that every diver has taken to preserve the site for all to enjoy.
Over the top of the wreck you will find much of the hardware still intact with bass being the primary residents. As you explore over the you are likely to find walleye at the bottom around the bow, with large schools of channel catfish hiding in the shadows under the hull on the up current side.
A trip to see the rudders means you are headed for 110 feet. The masts can be seen leading off to 150 feet and beyond over the ledge. As you return, peering into the open holds, stay within the  protected water of the wreck.
Be sure to hang on the the line all the way back to the boat. Don’t forget to do at least a 3 minute safety stop at 15 to 20 feet as well as your deco stops if you’ve incurred any.
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