First dives on Lake Michigan

[kawasakign]

So just got finished with my first dives on Lake Michigan. 4 dives on shallow wrecks from the N'Pursuit out of the East Chicago Marina. Day started off very rainy, and ended up being a decent day. 6 people diving and a DM. First two dives were the Holly Barge and Wings of the Wind. Visibility was much better than I expected, about 40 feet. Coming from wreck diving in Hawaii I expected pea soup, but it was very good and somewhat deceiving. Vis was very good on the wreck, but from the bottom I couldn't see the boat. Had a great time on those 2 wrecks, got to see just what zebra mussels do to any exposed surface and saw quite a bit of fish. Tons of gobi, some ale wife, small mouth bass (I think) and even a huge cat fish. Second half 2 divers left so it was only 4 of us diving. Second half of the day was spent on Car Ferry 2 and MSB. Both great wrecks. I really enjoyed the MSB and just how neat it looked inside it looking up with the sun going through the beams.

Great dive and a good boat. Perfect for those with no lake experience (like me) who wanted something shallower to start off on. It was 72 degrees at the surface and about 52 degrees at 50 feet. Damn cold but worth it.

Loved the lake and can't wait to dive it again.

Also, I was very glad to see that almost half the boat was BP&W or similar configs...felt good to know I wasn't the only backplate diver.

 

[Dean810]

I'm glad you liked the dives! I agree with you, those are great dives to introduce people to Lake Michigan diving. I'm taking the same charter out this weekend for the MSB and Tacoma. I'm glad he took you to the Car Ferry 2. It is an historic wreck. At over 300 ft. it was the one of two of the biggest wooden barges in the world when it went down. It had a twin that sank up in Alpena. I'm glad viz was good. It can be iffy on those dives.

I was a little worried you guy wouldn't go out. I know how lousy that day started!