HMCS Canada Expedition 2025

Honoring the Legacy of HMCS Canada: An Archaeological and Marine Sciences Expedition

Scuba diver exploring underwater shipwreck with flashlight

In commemoration of the 115th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the HMCS Canada Expedition seeks to highlight Canada’s first purpose-built warship, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Canada, through advanced marine archaeological and scientific research. The project aims to preserve Canada’s naval legacy while contributing to marine science and conservation efforts.

Launched in 1904 as Canadian Government Ship (CGS) Canada, it successfully enforced Canada’s fisheries laws and trained Canadian naval personnel for over a decade. As the First World War threatened, it was transferred to the RCN to become its second flagship. The RCN paid off HMCS Canada after the war and sold it into commercial service. An American steamship line bought it to connect Florida and the Bahamas, renaming it Queen of Nassau. Ultimately, the steamer sank off the Florida Keys in 1926.   

Comprehensive Maritime Exploration

  • Underwater scene with an old, partially buried barrel encrusted with marine life and surrounded by small fish.

    Marine Archaeology

    High-resolution 3D documentation, structural analysis, and artifact research for shipwreck preservation, archaeological exploration, and heritage conservation.

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  • Underwater scene with a shipwreck surrounded by fish and illuminated by a diver's flashlight.

    Marine Science & Conservation

    Ecological assessments, invasive species monitoring, and conservation data collection for marine protection.

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  • Historical Research & Documentation

    We conduct archival research, ship evolution studies, and wreck identification to preserve naval heritage and history.

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  • A scuba diver in a wetsuit and snorkeling gear, partially submerged in water, holding onto the side of a boat.

    Expedition & Diving

    Technical diving, underwater imaging, and photogrammetry training for responsible shipwreck exploration and archaeological documentation.

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Underwater view of a shipwreck with rusted propellers on the ocean floor and a diver with a flashlight.
Black and white photo of a naval ship with tall masts and flags, anchored in calm waters.

Bringing HMCS Canada Home

Today, the wreck of HMCS Canada—later known as Queen of Nassau—rests 11 kilometres (7 miles) south of Lower Matecumbe Key, Florida, at a depth of 70 metres (235 feet), protected within the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

This November, our team of highly skilled Canadian technical divers will document the site for the first time using cutting-edge 3D photogrammetry. Their work will create a detailed digital model of the shipwreck—revealing what HMCS Canada looks like nearly a century after she slipped beneath the waves.

This model will be shared with the public through this website, allowing Canadians and the world to virtually explore this forgotten warship. It will deepen our understanding of her historical, archaeological, and ecological significance—bringing HMCS Canada home in a way never before possible.

Learn about the Expedition

Listen to Joseph Frey, Expedition Lead, talk about the expedition.

Meet the Team

  • A person wearing snorkeling gear and a wetsuit in the water next to a boat.

    Joseph Frey

    CD, FRCGS, FI’02

  • A diver in a full rebreather scuba suit standing by a wooded shoreline, wearing a hood and various diving equipment.

    Guy Shockey

    MA, BA, FRCGS

  • A man wearing scuba diving gear, including a wetsuit and rebreather, standing outdoors.

    Roger Lacasse

    Ph.D., M.Sc., PMP 

  • Scuba diver smiling in water near rocky shoreline with blue sky and distant mountains.

    Ewan Anderson

    RPCA

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