Diving around Chicago

[ppo2_diver]

I try to be in Lake Michigan most of the time. Most of the deeper wrecks I visit are out of Milwaukee or Two Rivers, WI. I only go to the quarry for practice or when I'm teaching.

 

[fishoutawater]

Thanks all.
Yep, 20 vs. 85 bucks would make a big difference as far as my diving frequency too, but for this trip I'm thinking I just have to bite the bullet and pay the 85 for a two tanker. I do want Lake Michigan in my dive log.
And from the looks of that site drl put up, most of the dives that the charter boats go to are in shallow water. Perfect.
One thing though.
How high can the swells get before the dive operators call the dives?
One of my dives down in Coz got called because the swells were four whole feet tall.
I was pissed. I've been through swells that big in the Mississippi river in my little Jon boat (barge wakes). And I do know the swells in Lake Michigan get much bigger than four feet.
And exactly what is a "crib" in LM?

I'm getting kinda excited now. A possible dive buddy in Chicago with free room and board? Only five hours away? Their daughter has a boat in the harbor (what kinda boat, does it have a platform and ladder?)?
Sorry, my mind is working overtime.
Gotta get to work (dammit).

 

[Dean810]

Thanks all.
Yep, 20 vs. 85 bucks would make a big difference as far as my diving frequency too, but for this trip I'm thinking I just have to bite the bullet and pay the 85 for a two tanker. I do want Lake Michigan in my dive log.
And from the looks of that site drl put up, most of the dives that the charter boats go to are in shallow water. Perfect.
One thing though.
How high can the swells get before the dive operators call the dives?
One of my dives down in Coz got called because the swells were four whole feet tall.
I was pissed. I've been through swells that big in the Mississippi river in my little Jon boat (barge wakes). And I do know the swells in Lake Michigan get much bigger than four feet.
And exactly what is a "crib" in LM?

I'm getting kinda excited now. A possible dive buddy in Chicago with free room and board? Only five hours away? Their daughter has a boat in the harbor (what kinda boat, does it have a platform and ladder?)?
Sorry, my mind is working overtime.
Gotta get to work (dammit).

Charters on Lake Michigan will often be called if the seas get much higher than 4ft. That is because on the lake, the frequency of the wave action is much tighter than you find on the ocean. I have been told that a 4 footer on the lake is much like an 8 footer you find in salt water. Charter captains don't really like to see their passengers spending all their time on the boat hurling. A general rule is that the worst wave action comes from northernly winds. It can change dramatically. I have been in the lake when it was almost like glass, maybe 6" seas, when the day before it was over 12ft. You always take your chances and there is really nothing you can do about it.

 

[fishoutawater]

Oh yeah, the hurl factor. Forgot about that. Only had it once on an ocean fishing charter when I was a kid. Boat captain told me to quit heaving and laying in his bildge and get out on deck take deep breaths and stare at the lighthouse. Ain't had it since.

And 12ft would definately be nuts. I did five to six footers in Socal, and I did get a pretty good rush being in the trough and seeing the boat's screws out of the water at the top, then me on top looking down at the boat and crashing into the ladder. Awesome OW1 cert dive! Instructor wasn't kidding when he called it his crash course. Haven't had one like that since.
But I can't imagine what that would be like with the waves closer together. Sounds brutal.

Seems like when I think about shipwrecks, the Great Lakes can be right up there with the Straits of Magellan and Cape Horn and the North Sea as far as visciousness.
Quarries are cool, but seeing real history is much more cooler IMHO.
Man, if this works out, I'll have plenty good reasons to buy that BP/W, doubles, Apeks, stage bottles, drysuit....:sappy:
Might even sell my Waverunner.

 

[Laser]

Quarries are cool, but seeing real history is much more cooler IMHO.
Man, if this works out, I'll have plenty good reasons to buy that BP/W, doubles, Apeks, stage bottles, drysuit....:sappy:
Might even sell my Waverunner.

Keep in mind that the shallow(er) wrecks will generally be more torn up and the deeper ones more intact, so depending on what you dive, it might not be an indication of some of the interesting wrecks available to see.

 

[fishoutawater]

Keep in mind that the shallow(er) wrecks will generally be more torn up and the deeper ones more intact, so depending on what you dive, it might not be an indication of some of the interesting wrecks available to see.

That's what I was thinking Laser. I'd already read about where a lot of the wrecks were destroyed because they were navigation hazards because of their shallow situations. That's why I was thinking about deeper diving, (drysuit, cold water regs etc.).
Plus, I'm sure there are wrecks in deeper waters that few people know about and they keep it that way, just like I keep my Morel mushroom spots to myself (right Laser? ).

But this July 4th thing is mostly just getting to know our new friends and the city, with maybe a little dunk on the side. Not a dedicated expedition, (this time).
I'll talk to the guy soon and see what he has in mind.

 

[Jake_Doig]

Your suit type depends on your tolerance of cold. Ive heard of 7mm in the winter, and even under the ice (that was just idiosy). 7mm is ok so long as the suit fits well (use a full with a hooded vest if your concerned about the cold).

There are lots of wrecks in this lake; some were dynamited for hazards, most are pirated especially shallow ones, but where i am located currently up north in LM (im not telling) the guy I dive with are cruising the reefs and finding wreck debri. The dive shop owner here seems to be pursuing a little mystery of his own right now. This area is full of wrecks that arent visited often, mostly b/c the weather is unpredictable. Two days ago the water was silent and flat, today, well, it wasnt. youll like it at any end of the lake. also Burham Harbor runs charters daily I think.
And Dean in right, the wind is goofy

Hey, also try to get a night dive in at the Taste's fireworks on july 3 (always wanted to do that); Ill bet it beats being a human ping pong in the Taste of Chicago crowds. Not mention bullets have tended to wiz by and kill innocents at the Taste. Not kiddin around on that one.