Scuba divers explore the El Aguila shipwreck in Roatan, Honduras. The ship sank in 110 feet of water in 1997.

Empress of Ireland Museum

Québec


Narrates the 1914 Empress of Ireland tragedy, the worst disaster in maritime history after the Titanic – all but forgotten with the outbreak of WWI two months later. In the 14 minutes it took for the ship to disappear into the St Lawrence near Rimouski after colliding with a Norwegian collier, 1012 people lost their lives. Through a film and artifacts recovered from the vessel, the exhibition details life on the ship, backgrounds of its passengers, and the wreck itself.

The museum is part of the Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site.

The wreck of the Empress of Ireland is considered one of the world's premier scuba-diving sites. However, due to the currents, water temperature and lack of visibility, this is a dangerous dive; several inexperienced divers have died here.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Québec attractions

1. Onondaga Submarine

Explore a former Canadian navy sub, which operated in the North Atlantic from 1967 to 2000, as you crawl through the porthole-like doorways, check out the…

2. Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse

The second-tallest lighthouse in Canada has a decent perch over the St Lawrence Seaway, at the Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site complex.

4. Musée Régional de Rimouski

5.35 MILES

This gallery in a renovated stone church has contemporary art exhibitions and regular events including film nights.

5. Vieux Moulin

9.92 MILES

This 19th-century windmill offers free tastings of Shakespeare’s favorite tipple, mead, and sells a variety of honeys, mustards, butters and other…

6. Centre d'Art Marcel Gagnon

13.33 MILES

The star of the town's art trail is the Centre d'Art Marcel Gagnon. Outside, the extraordinary sculpture Le Grand Rassemblement (The Great Gathering) has…

7. Parc National du Bic

17.26 MILES

This park encompasses a stunning yet easily packaged presentation of some of the province's loveliest scenery. The rotund headlands shelter a foggy quilt…

8. Jardins de Métis

17.62 MILES

One of Gaspé's most revered attractions, the Jardins de Métis comprise more than 90 hectares of immaculately tended gardens boasting 3000 varieties of…