Back again...anyone show me around on the 28th or 29th of July?
- Thread starter SoCalAngel
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
Dean810
Contributor
His Sunday charter is full, but he may have only 4 people for tomorrow. Better call quick.
OP
Oldpirate:
Thanks for the tip...
I talked with Bill Loy and am going out with his group on Sunday morning. My husband is used to dive charters being an all day thing, so he doesn't want me going out on Sat morning, because of his brother's wedding in the afternoon. Sunday works out perfect, as diving for me is church.
I am really excited to dive in Lake Mich. Bill said we will be visiting a trolley car in about 80ft of water 9 mi east of Evanston Beach in the straits of mackinac. Can anybody tell me a little about it? :huh:
Hi,
Just a note to clarify,
Scuba Life is the company I'm with and we organize dives. Sunday we are aboard the Great Lakes Explorer and diving a car ferry, called the "Straits of Mackinac". Local divers know this is an interesting dive that allows penetration for qualified divers as well as an exceptionally easy dive for less experienced divers. It's 200' hull was sunk three years ago as a cooperative effort to create a good dive site within easy reach of the Chicago shoreline. For more info and photos do a google for the ship name
Anyone interested in diving with us should PM me.
Bill Loy
Just a note to clarify,
Scuba Life is the company I'm with and we organize dives. Sunday we are aboard the Great Lakes Explorer and diving a car ferry, called the "Straits of Mackinac". Local divers know this is an interesting dive that allows penetration for qualified divers as well as an exceptionally easy dive for less experienced divers. It's 200' hull was sunk three years ago as a cooperative effort to create a good dive site within easy reach of the Chicago shoreline. For more info and photos do a google for the ship name
Anyone interested in diving with us should PM me.
Bill Loy
OP
biloy53:
Well, that sure does make more sense!
I am soooooooooo excited, you can tell by counting the "o"s! I looooveeee penetration diving. Too bad the certification is called "Wreck Diver" vs "Diver Penetration Certification". It is so much more interesting than staying outside of the ship. I love going into the deep dark holes and exploring the depths in tight spaces :blinking:
So, how many people are on the boat? I am still trying to get a couple of Nitrox tanks with DIN valves. I am glad I did bring my reel and big light. To think, I almost left them at home for weight's sake. Last time I came to Chicago, we had five suitcases for a four day stay. Three were over the 50 lb. limit :shakehead My husband was so NOT happy. This time we only have four suitcases for an eight day stay and none were over the limit. I guess I am learning to pack more realistically (and lighter, too
)I looked up the wreck...here is an awesome link. Even my son said "nice" when I showed him it. (BTW, "nice" from a 15 year old is a pretty sweet comment!)
http://www.cdnn.info/industry/i030411/i030411.html OOoohhhhhhhhHHHH I am so excited!
Nice is greatly appreciated!
We encourage instructors to join us and so always count a couple of spots for them in the manifest. In addition to their space we have 10 divers for this dive. 5 are DM or above and 3 are ladies. I think it's a great mix. I was really trying for an all female dive, but then Capt. and I would have to stay home.
Another great site about the Mack is http://mackinacproject.tripod.com/
We encourage instructors to join us and so always count a couple of spots for them in the manifest. In addition to their space we have 10 divers for this dive. 5 are DM or above and 3 are ladies. I think it's a great mix. I was really trying for an all female dive, but then Capt. and I would have to stay home.
Another great site about the Mack is http://mackinacproject.tripod.com/
OP
Date: 7-30-06
Dive Location: "Straits of Mackinac" wreck in Lake Michigan (14 mi NE of Burnham Harbor and 9 mi due East of Evanston Beach)
Buddy(ies): 1st-Vivian & Ana, 2nd -Randy and finished with DMs Billy Loy and Lance on both
Time: 8:30 am; 11:00 am
Bottom Time: 44 min (+8 minute ascent); 38 min (+10 min ascent)
Max Depth: 72 ft; 75 ft
Vis: 20-25 ft.
Wave height: wind chop on 2nd dive was 2-3 ft.
Temp at depth: 44F at depth, 60F at 40' thermocline
Surface Temp: 70F
Gas mix: the stuff you breath (couldn't find Nitrox DIN rental tanks anywhere in Chicago area :shakehead )
Comments: WOWWW!!!!
The wreck was a car ferry between the Michigan Peninsulas in it's day. It was purposefully sunk about three years ago. Silt wasn't too bad, covered with that slimy green freshwater algae and zebra mussels(Dreissena polymorpha ), loads of round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) outside and inside the wreck. A small school of alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) circled the steering house (looked a little like a conning tower). There was tons of ambiant light, which made photography a little difficult, but I got several good shots - unfortunately I forgot my camera download cable at home in Cally...have to wait until Thursday to see them
The first dive I started with two amazing FEMALE :gorgeous: Chicago Divers. They got cold after 25 minutes, so the DM stayed with me as I continued to shoot pics. The boat was the "Great Lakes Explorer" (http://www.divechicago.com/charters.htm) and Capt. Bob and his wife were very nice and accommodating. The two DMs run a part time charter operation - "Scuba Life" (info@goscubalife.com).
With my back still a little out of wack, I geared up in the water. On the first dive, my Vytek dropped into the deep blue water. I didn't find it on the first dive. On the second dive, I took my reel. I attached it midship on the starboard side, Randy was going to stay with in sight of the wreck, while I swam out further with my reel, with him in sight. I did a circle sweep around the wreck. After just 19 minutes, I found my computer (BTW, I did have my other computer as a back up - which was very good because my vytek says I died)! Hooray!!! :bouncesbl Randy (in a DRYSUIT) got cold and went up after 20 minutes. I was doing my best to reel in my line ASAP, but my reel didn't cooperate, so I wrote on my slate and requested Billy to unhook my line, as I simply gathered it (almost out of NDL, so either drop the reel, cut the line, or make a nest - I made a nest :lol: ). AFter I had my nest in hand, I went onto the deck and took a few more pictures. Down to 10 minutes of NDL, I took a few last shots of the alewives - which I hadn't seen until all the other divers were out of the water - before leaving the FREEZING wonderland. I was really hoping to spot a steelhead or Salmon, as they hunt the alewives, but I guess that will have to be on my list for the next trip to Chicago!
Oh, and I WILL bring my drysuit next time...the wetsuit alone on the first dive was too chilly, with my hooded vest on the second dive, I was comfortable, but the drysuit would have been better :blinking:
Thank you everyone on the dive and from the list who put effort into helping me find a great dive!
Dive Location: "Straits of Mackinac" wreck in Lake Michigan (14 mi NE of Burnham Harbor and 9 mi due East of Evanston Beach)
Buddy(ies): 1st-Vivian & Ana, 2nd -Randy and finished with DMs Billy Loy and Lance on both
Time: 8:30 am; 11:00 am
Bottom Time: 44 min (+8 minute ascent); 38 min (+10 min ascent)
Max Depth: 72 ft; 75 ft
Vis: 20-25 ft.
Wave height: wind chop on 2nd dive was 2-3 ft.
Temp at depth: 44F at depth, 60F at 40' thermocline
Surface Temp: 70F
Gas mix: the stuff you breath (couldn't find Nitrox DIN rental tanks anywhere in Chicago area :shakehead )
Comments: WOWWW!!!!
The wreck was a car ferry between the Michigan Peninsulas in it's day. It was purposefully sunk about three years ago. Silt wasn't too bad, covered with that slimy green freshwater algae and zebra mussels(Dreissena polymorpha ), loads of round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) outside and inside the wreck. A small school of alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) circled the steering house (looked a little like a conning tower). There was tons of ambiant light, which made photography a little difficult, but I got several good shots - unfortunately I forgot my camera download cable at home in Cally...have to wait until Thursday to see them
The first dive I started with two amazing FEMALE :gorgeous: Chicago Divers. They got cold after 25 minutes, so the DM stayed with me as I continued to shoot pics. The boat was the "Great Lakes Explorer" (http://www.divechicago.com/charters.htm) and Capt. Bob and his wife were very nice and accommodating. The two DMs run a part time charter operation - "Scuba Life" (info@goscubalife.com).
With my back still a little out of wack, I geared up in the water. On the first dive, my Vytek dropped into the deep blue water. I didn't find it on the first dive. On the second dive, I took my reel. I attached it midship on the starboard side, Randy was going to stay with in sight of the wreck, while I swam out further with my reel, with him in sight. I did a circle sweep around the wreck. After just 19 minutes, I found my computer (BTW, I did have my other computer as a back up - which was very good because my vytek says I died
)! Hooray!!! :bouncesbl Randy (in a DRYSUIT) got cold and went up after 20 minutes. I was doing my best to reel in my line ASAP, but my reel didn't cooperate, so I wrote on my slate and requested Billy to unhook my line, as I simply gathered it (almost out of NDL, so either drop the reel, cut the line, or make a nest - I made a nest :lol: ). AFter I had my nest in hand, I went onto the deck and took a few more pictures. Down to 10 minutes of NDL, I took a few last shots of the alewives - which I hadn't seen until all the other divers were out of the water - before leaving the FREEZING wonderland. I was really hoping to spot a steelhead or Salmon, as they hunt the alewives, but I guess that will have to be on my list for the next trip to Chicago!Oh, and I WILL bring my drysuit next time...the wetsuit alone on the first dive was too chilly, with my hooded vest on the second dive, I was comfortable, but the drysuit would have been better :blinking:
Thank you everyone on the dive and from the list who put effort into helping me find a great dive!
Dive1Dennis
Guest
Hey Laurel,
Nice report - I get the impression you had a good time!
You probably will be very lucky to see salmon on a wreck over here. People always ask about all the salmon or trout that we see on the wrecks, but it is really not likely to see them at all. I think the game fish hang in open water. Burbot are the most common fish that you will see at those depths, they hang in the nooks and crannies of the wrecks. Any of those?
There are thousands of wrecks in the Great Lakes, all of them have stories and there are countless great dives. You have to stop back and get a start on some of the others!
Glad you enjoyed your trip to our FREEZING wonderland
Nice report - I get the impression you had a good time!
You probably will be very lucky to see salmon on a wreck over here. People always ask about all the salmon or trout that we see on the wrecks, but it is really not likely to see them at all. I think the game fish hang in open water. Burbot are the most common fish that you will see at those depths, they hang in the nooks and crannies of the wrecks. Any of those?
There are thousands of wrecks in the Great Lakes, all of them have stories and there are countless great dives. You have to stop back and get a start on some of the others!
Glad you enjoyed your trip to our FREEZING wonderland
Thanks for the report Laurel. I'll be doing my first lake dives this weekend with a very gracious fellow SB member. I'm really looking forward to it. Assuming you were diving on AL80s, those bottom times are impressive. I was glad to see you mention the temps. That will help me to be prepared. I do have experience diving "wet" in water that cold, but I didn't think it was going to be that cold this late in the season. I'll be sure and bring my 7mm bare hooded vest to wear of my 7mm bare fullsuit.
Thanks for the report!
Thanks for the report!
OP
Divin'Hoosier:
Actually, I was diving a steel 100, with awesome fat overfills and still had over 1000 psi left at the end of each dive. I simply have a pretty great sac rate
but not as good as it used to be I hope your dives are as wonderful as mine were. Dive1Dennis:
I did have a great time :sappy: It sounds like salmon and trout are like sharks...they dissapear when the bubbles arrive. I wish I had seen more life, but was pretty happy with what I did see, until I got to the Shedd Aquarium and learned that all three living creatures I spotted were all non-native invasive organisms. I knew that the zebra mussels were, but had no idea about the gobies and alewives. It's so sad to learn about these types of invaders and how they push out the native organisms.
I look forward to coming back and diving many of the other wrecks. I DON'T look forward to the freezing water, duh...:11:
Similar threads
