Great Lakes Diving

[ScottSpencer]

I just got Vol 1 & 2 of "The 100 BEST Great Lakes Shipwrecks". It sure looks like a lot of fun. All 100 wrecks in the book are at 130' or less and in very good shape. From the photos it looks like the vis is outstanding, but it's definitely cold water diving. Sure hope we can work out a trip for next year. I'll bring the books with on Saturday.

 

[jbd]

Maybe we can do some preliminary planning on what wrecks to go see.

Everybody please be thinking about some dates for the Great Lakes trip. Check the other thread for some weekends I have listed. I would really like to get 6 to 12 people to go on this trip.

 

[DivingGal]

Hey if you'll take a "foreigner" on the trip -- can I come too?

And it's not that cold.... honest it's not. Although a good dive buddy to help you warm up never hurts.

 

[wrecNcaver]

jbd once bubbled...
Maybe we can do some preliminary planning on what wrecks to go see.

Everybody please be thinking about some dates for the Great Lakes trip. Check the other thread for some weekends I have listed. I would really like to get 6 to 12 people to go on this trip.

If you need people to fill out the boat, let me know. Maybe I can be an honorary KY Piranha Patrol member as my dad's family is from KY. When you do get to dive the wrecks, you won't be disappointed! Besides, whats a little cold water. Keeps the wrecks in great shape!

 

[ScottSpencer]

Do you all from up north know of any good charter operators along Michigan’s lower peninsula? I was thinking of driving up along one coast or the other to hit several different wrecks before finishing up at Mackinaw then driving straight back home.

 

[ScottSpencer]

During what months can we get away with 5 or 7mm wet suits? And how deep?

 

[Ontario Diver]

ScottSpencer once bubbled...
During what months can we get away with 5 or 7mm wet suits? And how deep?

5mm only during the mid to late summer...
7mm up until the snow flies. Water temp at 130ft last weekend was about 55F. (SIs were cold though)

Along the Picton to Brockville corridor, there is a number of good wrecks in the 70-80 ft range and a bunch deeper than that. There is also a reasonable amount of technical diving if you are interested.

If you are up Ontario or Upper New York state, let me know and maybe I can come out and meet you.

 

[jbd]

"foreigners" from wherever . Besides nobody on this site is a foreigner

I've listed 5 weekends in an earlier thread that seem most promising. As soon as you know when you can make it please post that info or maybe I should post it as a poll to keep things less confusing.

I think that the temps should be fine at the time I'm planning to go.

 

[polarbeardiver]

charter operators are somewhat territorial, I have never been out on a bad charter, but I am lucky. The question is always, how many people and is there room for the group. Charter boats are approved by the state or coast guard. The state approves 6 packs, the USCG approves some of the larger operators, though most only carry 10 to 14 divers some dive boats can accomodate more.

Check out the michiganpreserve.org website and pick your preserrves and shipwrecks. I personally can highly recommend the Preserves on the eastern side of the state and the Straits. Think about the days of old shipping was to the busiest ports. so from Detroit they went along the shore to the straits and then they went to Green Bay or Chicago some to indiana, the most went west, so more wrecks along the east coast than west...just some thoughts

 

[polarbeardiver]

I know too many to post specifics without offending some friends so I will leave it at that.... they do book their boats as early as possible. Sometimes stores prebook days so you have to go through them to get on a boat.

I personally drive a boat Rec Diver on some weekends in the Straits of Mackinac.