Diving Lake Michigan with DIVE CHICAGO

[High & Dry]

Is it a bad sign when the Captain falls overboard before you leave the dock???

Yes, he really did.... and yes it was a bad sign.

I did my first two wreck dives in Lake Michigan last month with DIVE CHICAGO and Captain Bob (yes that is his name, not just what he did when he fell in the water). Things really didn't get any better after that. We had 15 divers on a boat that should have 8 at the most. Captain Bob was quick to blame the overcrowding on a group that brought 9 divers instead of the 6 they were supposed to have. But he was being a "nice guy" and let them bring the other 3 along too (I'm sure it had nothing to do with the extra money). No boat briefing, no dive briefing. He never even told us which wreck we were on. We had to look around ourselves to find where the head was and where life jackets were stored. Captain Bob and his first mate were very little help getting divers in or out of the water. Luckily other divers were stepping up to help each other. Unfortunately all of the other operators in the area booked up that day.... and we thought that it was just because they were cheaper.

 

[b1gcountry]

I've never been on Bob's boat, but talked to him a few times. I tried to book with him in June, and he said he didn't have enough for a charter, and wouldn't put one together bc it would be too expensive for gas. So I booked with Windy City instead...and saw Bob's boat leaving the Mack at the same time ours was getting there. I had left him my ph# in case he started a charter, but never got a call back.

He seemed like a nice guy, and I had just figured he was better at diving than customer service.

Tom

 

[Bill Fisher]

High & Dry,

thanks for the report.
I have dove with N'Pursuit and Windy City Diving.
Both ops were very cool to me and I have had good times with them both.
Thanks again for the "heads up",
Bill

 

[TheHobster]

we call capt Bob "Capt Circle" as even with a GPS he is circling the wreck, getting the boat beam-on alot as he looks for wrecks; he even circled the Mac!!

need info on Windy City please

 

[ppo2_diver]

we call capt Bob "Capt Circle" as even with a GPS he is circling the wreck, getting the boat beam-on alot as he looks for wrecks; he even circled the Mac!!

need info on Windy City please

Windy City Diving.net Home Page

Google is your friend, mi amigo!

 

[TheHobster]

Google is your friend, mi amigo!

too true; however, after spending 2 weeks in Southern California on vacation and work, then getting off a plane at 10 pm, then leaving for Gilboa for an AOW class Sat and Sun, and getting home at 5:15. I was dain bramaged; and lazy -

Also, I have been so disappointed in who we have dove with since Capt Hank Feine closed up shop that I decided not to do Lake MI this year at all. Hoped to take a break and pray that either Hank and his boat went back oout, or a new op started with people that understood it's a big deal for us to drive 3 hours to get there, spend oodles on a hotel, and that going around in circles is not what we had in mind for a mini-dive vacation.

 

[SDAnderson]

too true; however, after spending 2 weeks in Southern California on vacation and work, then getting off a plane at 10 pm, then leaving for Gilboa for an AOW class Sat and Sun, and getting home at 5:15. I was dain bramaged; and lazy -

Also, I have been so disappointed in who we have dove with since Capt Hank Feine closed up shop that I decided not to do Lake MI this year at all. Hoped to take a break and pray that either Hank and his boat went back oout, or a new op started with people that understood it's a big deal for us to drive 3 hours to get there, spend oodles on a hotel, and that going around in circles is not what we had in mind for a mini-dive vacation.

Hanks old six-pack catamaran, the Kohana, has been rebadged as the Aquatica and is the Windy City boat. Hanks big cat is gone, now plying the waters of the Carib. If you liked Hank, you'll like Jim at Windy City.

(Full disclosure: I've crewed for Jim on a few occasions.)

 

[b1gcountry]

I just had some bad luck yesterday on Jim's boat. The harbor was closed for an event, and the Lake was pretty tossed up too.

 

[sobfrogg]

I will never go out w/ Dive Chicago again. Capt. Bob and his choice of crew are poor. I have booked 2 times with Capt Bob. Both times poor. When my customers tell me not to tip the Capt and his dm that says it all to me.

I have been diving with Windy City for 2 years now. Never a bad outing.. Now dealing with the Chicago Park District can be difficult but that is not the Capt.s fault.

Scott M.