Diving Thunder Bay Underwater Preserve, Alpena, Michigan

[Thunder Bay Minnow]

We are on FACEBOOK!

"Diving Thunder Bay Underwater Preserve, Alpena, Michigan"

Please look for us and keep up with what the locals are doing because that is where to get the inside scoop.

Also it helps that a lot of us have our own boats and often have room for more. Also some of the local charters will fill a partial boat at a reduced rate if need be.

It is worth it to network!!!!

Jeff

 

[diver_paula]

Joined! & suggested to lots of diving friends.

Paula

 

[StanS]

My wife is on facebook but I am not. Anyway Jeff I have a question for you. We wanted to dive the Gilbert this summer but the weather stopped us. We drove down to Black River and checked out the launch. It looked ok to me for our large boats and the locals warned us about the shallow spots on the way out. This would make diving the wreck much easier if we could run out of this location. Have you ever run out of there? Thanks for the help.

Stan

 

[Thunder Bay Minnow]

Yea, Stan I have.

It can be pretty tricky. The locals mark the channel pretty good with sticks going out. Stay real close to them. What size boat and draft are you using?

There are some pretty big rocks the size of volkswagons between shore and the "islands" It is best to head straight out and go around either to the south or north and approach from the deeper water. There are quite a few shallow water wrecks in that area. We used to buoy four or five of them but NOAA was supposed to start. They claim to have a buoy on the Stevens but I never saw one. If you need any numbers let me know.

If you are looking to do the Shaw you would be better off going out of Harrisville. Or if you heard about NOAA's latest find with that new toy in the deeper stuff, I guess it is pretty intact. Four yard arms still up. I wonder if it is the same one Dave Trotter and I had spoken about?

I don't know if you remember, but we dove together on Larry's boat in the straits (Ebber Ward and Sandusky) late season on a pretty foggy day for the underwater preserve committee members.

And Thanks for letting the word out on the Spangler! It is pretty awesome!

Jeff

 

[Busdiver]

Very cool. Thanks.