Dive trip to the E.R. Williams

[alpenadiver]

On Saturday 8/21/04, myself and two other members of the Thunder Bay Dive Club dove on the Williams, which is located on the North side of St Martin Island in Lake Michigan. The ride out from Fairport in two 14 foot inflatables was as exciting as the dive. Once on the buoy we prepared for the dive, (my first deco dive). Upon desending the vis was looking pretty bad maybe 6 to 12 feet, then about 60 feet down it improved greatly to about 30 or 40 feet.

About this time you could make out a dark shape starting to appear, at around 80 feet there she was, quite impressive, we swam out over the bowsprit, then over to the mast leaning over the port side, checked out the two anchors, deadeyes,and of course chased a couple of Burbots. The temp at depth was a chilly 38°, and me in my 7mm semi-dry (ahhh that is refreshing), made our ascent.

At the surface we had Shoreline Charters waiting to dive, so we cast off the line, and drifted until they were done diving, then we went down again. all in all, this is a must see wreck, very nice.

Mike

 

[COVCI]

Last time I dove that beauty we only had the white bottle as a marker...

Glad folks are still diving her.

Chris

 

[JDostal]

I've been on that wreck a few times - it's one of my favorites. I love the mast!

 

[jayprosser]

I have dove that wreck twice. The last time I dove it was almost my last dive forever. I lost half of my integrated weights in the deck hold and had to blow and go from depth. Not a good thing at all. We had 100% 02 on the boat and I sucked it all and for reasons beyond me, I did not get bent. The Williams is a great wreck.

 

[alpenadiver]

I can only imagine what she looked like before the zebra mussels took over. But still very awesome.

jayprosser, thankfully your ok, I also have a intergrated BC, and have been thinking about switching over to a belt, for the same reason. My dive buddy during our AOW class night dive, swam to close to the dive buoy line, and dumped half his weights from 20' .