Fresh Water Diving Question

[sharames]

Hello Everyone,

I'm very new to diving but after my first open water dive I'm hooked. I haven't done too much diving yet, a quarry dive (for my open water), Cancun, Cozumel, St. Thomas, and the Cenotes in Mexico. These dives included some cave dives (the Cenotes) and some night dives in Cancun. I'm also scheduled to go diving in Epcot in their 6 million gallon tank in two weeks and to Cabo San Lucas in the fall.

The reason for my post is I'm scheduled to go diving in Lake Michigan on September 3rd and I'm wondering if anyone has done any Lake Michigan dives and if you have any advise, words of caution, etc.

Any comments would be much appreciated.

Sharames
A new diver.

 

[tx.lakerats]

Welcome to the boards!!

 

[M_Bipartitus]

Lake Michigan can be cold

 

[M_Bipartitus]

BTW, If you run across some eyeglass lenses I lost on in Lake Michigan about two weeks ago...

 

[ClevelandDiver]

I can't speak to Lake Michigan specifics, but I dive regularly on Lake Erie.

This past weekend I did 4 dives on some Erie wrecks at depths from 85 -100 feet. The bottom temp ranged from 42f to 46f and viz ranged from 15 to 40 feet. Assuming you are diving wrecks (not much else in the great lakes), make sure to pay very close attention to where the ascent line is. With multiple divers on wreck, it often gets silted up very quick and can be difficult to find your way back to the line.

Also, make sure you have adequate thermal protection, especially if you are going deeper than 70 feet. Wetsuits compress at depth and loose much of their insulation. For gloves and hood I would go 5mil or higher, wetsuit 7mil minimum. I dove a 7mil wetsuit with 3mil gloves one weekend (diving 100+ feet) and it literally felt like my hands were in buckets of ice water. I bought 5mils next trip to the shop.

If you have a bad experience your first time out, don't let it turn you off to diving the great lakes. Many of my dives on the lake have been frustrating, but I have learned a lot from them. In fact, I tend to learn more from the bad dives than the good ones. There are few other places on the planet with such a wealth of well preserved diveable wrecks. All of the wrecks I dove last weekend were built in the 1800s.

Have fun and be sure to post about your experience.

 

[moneysavr]

Be safe,Have the right exposure suit for the dive you plan,a 7mm is good for 50' range,but the lake dose get cold as you get deep!
But the wrecks are THE BEST!
Brad
Northener of Portwashington,Wi
photo by my dive pal-Swimjim

 

[SwimJim]

I agree with the previous posters. Make sure you "dress" for the occasion. Around Labor Day surface temps in the '70's are not uncommon. Given the right wind direction though you may encounter 40 degree water at depth, so be prepared for that. If you have motion sickness issues, the waves are closer together on the Great Lakes as they are fresh water. This can make people who don't feed the fish on the oceans chum the inland sea's, so keep that in mind. Have a great time and dive safe.

Jim

 

[Juls64]

Where in Lake Michigan? What regulator do you have? You may think of taking it to your LDS and letting them put it on the bench to check the IP. If your diving in colder thermoclines, free flows can sure ruin your dive.

Like everyone else mentions, make sure you wear enough thermal protection.

Have fun, dive safe!

Julie

 

[Epinephelus]

Lake Michigan can be cold

You win the understatement of the day award, hands down!
E.

 

[moneysavr]

I
Jim

Hey Jim,
Is that looted treasure in you hand in your avitar? thought they had that side drift anchor on the "OceanWave" chained down!
Brad