This is my report for the SUnday July 30th dive...I wish I could be here on August 5th or 19th to do it again...except for the losing of my computer part :lol:
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!
