Best time of year to dive Lake Superior

[Dirkadiver]

I'm planning on going to MN next year & dive some of the wrecks and was curious as to the best time of year for both viz & H20 temps. My brother in law lives in Duluth MN & was planning on staying with him if there are any wrecks on that side of the lake.

 

[bladephotog]

As far as water temps it's always very cold in Lake Superior. Check with some local charters where you're going and ask what's the best time weather-wise. It's easy to get blown out on Superior late in the season.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

We did a shore dive at Whitefish Point in August a couple years ago. The shallows were nice and warm (70 degrees) but our dive had a max depth of 17 feet (the lighthouse is there for a reason). We had good visibility close to shore which was a pleasant surprise.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[dab]

I'm planning on going to MN next year & dive some of the wrecks and was curious as to the best time of year for both viz & H20 temps. My brother in law lives in Duluth MN & was planning on staying with him if there are any wrecks on that side of the lake.

I would highly recommend heading up th Grand Portage, not that far from Duluth, and diving the Isle Royale wrecks. You would want to do this on a liveaboard, and I would suggest you contact RLT divers. Ralph runs a great operation and you'll have a blast. I have had great viz in June and Sept, the tradeoff seems to be more weather issues the later you go, but the warmer the thermocline. I dove the Kamloops in late August and had 60 degrees at 20 ft, and dove the Chisholm in June and had 42 at 20ft. Generally the viz is a bit better earlier, but I've seen it excellent later as well. The best thing about these wrecks -- no Zebra's or Quagga's!! Isle Royale is a beautiful place to dive, your so close being in Duluth it would be a shame to miss it.

RLT Divers Inc

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Generally speaking, there isn't really any 'bad' time to dive in Lake Superior (except when the word "ice" is involved in any conversation), I've been up there as late as November.

But its generally gorgeous along most of the shoreline, so if you go in late Spring through August you will have plenty of time to sit around on the deck of the boat after the dive and bask in the post-dive glow! Fall is also pretty, but it gets colder in the evenings. As I like to hang out on the boat in the evenings, I prefer the warmer evenings to do so.

Best,

Doc

 

[ComputerJoe]

I thought I heard that at least one charter operator working Isle Royale had to shut down. Anyone else hear that?

Lake side, in the early spring and fall, the shoreline looks gorgeous not because of it's aesthetic value, but as someplace to hide from the weather. If I was going to plan a Lake Superior dive I would look for a time when the water temp and air temp were pretty close to each other. Temperature variants mean wind, wind means waves, and the waves of Lake Superior are nothing to take lightly. Down here on Lake Huron I would say May-June is the most opportune time. Four the last four years I've heard the folks placing the buoys on wrecks up to 100' deep saying that they could see the wrecks on the bottom when they came up on them. Also hear them mentioning 34 degrees as well. The viz will stay until the lake "turns" sometime in June.

 

[ScubaAl]

July through September can be nice. Water temps. often depend on wind direction. This past September I did a shore dive on the Maderia(at Split Rock light house) and had a water temp of 52 degrees. This was with a max depth of about 100ft. But then the next day I dove the Niagara (At Knife river) and had a temp of 42.
In Duluth you could contact Superior SCUBA Center: Main Page They dive several sites around town. Including the whaleback Wilson.
Good Luck, Al

PS Did a dive on the Maderia this past Sunday, 40 degrees.

 

[terfmop]

I dove in Bayfield, WI(Apostle Islands) this past summer at the end of June. At 70ffw the temp was 43 degrees(used 7mil), the 2nd dive of the day was to 20', where the temps were ~52 degrees. Visibility was ~30'. Both dive sites were well suited to a beginner like myself . I contacted Terry Bauer of Superior Adventures in Bayfield. The Apostle Islands offer a few wrecks; some can be accessed from shore, others will require a boat. Terry was very nice and informative, I would dive with them again.

 

[DudleyNMU]

Generally speaking, there isn't really any 'bad' time to dive in Lake Superior (except when the word "ice" is involved in any conversation), I've been up there as late as November.

But its generally gorgeous along most of the shoreline, so if you go in late Spring through August you will have plenty of time to sit around on the deck of the boat after the dive and bask in the post-dive glow! Fall is also pretty, but it gets colder in the evenings. As I like to hang out on the boat in the evenings, I prefer the warmer evenings to do so.

Best,

Doc

I agree totally agree...I spent alot of time in marquette 3 years and dove every month in lake superior. Viz is always good and temps deep are always cold. Its the most beautful county you will see. I would go up in July and August to get the best chance of not getting blown off the lakes.