Millicent Simonics, FEO, JULY 23, 2026, Volume 7, Issue 23
If you have ever taken a drive down Niagara Boulevard, you have likely noticed the historic red-brick building standing at the edge of the water near the foot of Lewis Street. For decades, this building has served as the headquarters for one of Fort Erie’s most unique, historic, and generous organizations: the Fort Erie Underwater Recovery Unit (FEURU).
While many locals recognize the name, few realize the group primarily operates as a diving club. The FEURU name is a relic of its founding in 1961, when its original mission was to assist in the recovery of property and persons lost in local waterways. FEURU provided this service on behalf of local emergency teams until the 1970s, when the Niagara Regional Police formed a dive team.
Since then, FEURU has operated as a not-for-profit dive club, facilitating a space for dive enthusiasts, property recovery, and community service. Club President Al Murphy spoke happily about FEURU, sharing their excitement about the club’s offerings and community involvement.
“A lot of good comes out of this place,” stated Murphy, “We do a lot for the community. We do parking events at the Fort Erie Race Track, and we ask for donations with an old SCUBA tank with a hole in it; all proceeds go back to the community.”
The funds raised from the recent racetrack events will be used for a new ‘learn to dive’ program run by FEURU. ‘Discovery SCUBA’ will be offered to kids ten and older. “One of our club members got the certification to teach SCUBA, and the Port Colborne YMCA has opened their doors to use their pool,” said Rose.
The ‘Discovery SCUBA’ age range is limited to kids 10 years and older as it follows guidelines set by the instructor’s certification and liability insurance. The program is entirely free to join.
The gear for ‘Discovery SCUBA’ is being provided to FEURU at a discounted cost from Dan’s Dive Shop in St. Catharines, making the program more accessible for the dive club to operate. The program was also sponsored by a local horse racing company, Icon Racing, which donated $1,400 on Father’s Day to help cover costs.
As for the timeline, Rose provided that “We hope to do a sort of launch within the next couple of months, with a tentative start in August or September. Interested families can reach out to us via our website.” The club presently hosts 42 members and is “always looking to grow,” stated Rose, as more members mean more to offer the community, “with 10 hours of community service, members can join the club at $100 [per] year.” Without community service, the club membership is $200 per year. The club is also happy to welcome families to join and visit.
“We’re a family-oriented club. Members are welcome to bring their spouse and kids,” stated Rose. For club members, amenities include access to the clubhouse on Niagara Boulevard, which boasts a state-of-the-art compressor for free air fills, as well as access to SCUBA tanks and other diving-related items. Offsite, the FEURU dive club also has a Zodiac motor boat available for member use.
Club members are also provided with 24/7 access to the facility, which is equipped with lockers, a kitchen, dining space, and a space for barbecuing.
According to Rose, the club also stays busy with their skillset: “We [also] have a full diver schedule. We dive every Thursday night and charter a dive boat once a month. We also plan yearly dive trips.”
Club value is noticed by members who come from all over Ontario for access to the unique amenities. “Some members pay the fee to visit 2 or 3 times,” stated Rose.
FEURU also works to protect local marine history. As a long-standing supporter of the annual Shipwrecks symposium, the club has raised nearly $16,000 for the Lake Erie Eastern Basin Mooring Project. This initiative installs protective mooring buoys over fragile, centuries-old shipwrecks to prevent damage from boat anchors, ensuring Niagara’s underwater heritage remains preserved for generations to come.
The club’s generosity has also extended to local public spaces, with a recent $20,000 donation to help fund construction of the new Sugarbowl Park Pavilion and Bandshell Project. This generous contribution helped turn a community dream into a reality, giving Fort Erie a permanent outdoor stage where families can gather for concerts, theatrical performances, and community events for years to come.
Whether you are a seasoned diver looking for a community of fellow enthusiasts, a newly certified diver eager to learn the ropes of Niagara River drift diving, or simply a resident proud of Fort Erie’s rich history, FEURU has its doors wide open. Rose and Murphy invite members to attend club meetings before joining “to get an idea of what we have to offer.”
Club meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM. To learn more about joining, membership perks, or supporting their local preservation efforts, visit their website at forteriescuba.com.
