Mackinac Island Area dive operators?

[moneysavr]

Will be on Island "Mackinac Island" Mid August Any dive operators or Dive boats worth trying ?and will it work out having to probaly catch a ferry to land to get a charter?
Dont need to bring the gear and find out it will not be worth the trouble.Thanks for any info!
Brad

 

[netmage]

Brad,
Over the 4th of July I was diving w/ Straits Scuba Center based out of St. Ignace. Nice boat, good capt. and crew, awesome wrecks.... If it wasn't such a haul - I'd dive there more often....

 

[sleepdiver]

Will be on Island "Mackinac Island" Mid August Any dive operators or Dive boats worth trying ?and will it work out having to probaly catch a ferry to land to get a charter?
Dont need to bring the gear and find out it will not be worth the trouble.Thanks for any info!
Brad

There are 2 charters that serve the area full time. Straits Scuba Center operates the Rec Diver and Intrepid from their location next to the Starline Ferry Main Dock. Their air station (the only one) and dock is on the Starline site. They have a website: www.straitsscuba.com. They have begun running some dive charters during weekdays this summer (thru August) as well as on weekends. The 2nd operator is Abyss Dive Charters. Abyss operates one or two boats each weekend (usually) and their dock is near the Shepler Ferry Dock north of the Starline Docks. Abyss also has a website you can visit. Both are run by very accomodating people. Regarding your gear, you will probably want to take a St. Ignace Ferry to the Island. Long term parking there will allow you to have your gear close by. You may want to ask Straits Scuba if you can store your gear there. They probably will.
Scuba North in Traverse City also runs charters, usually on weekends using a boat they trailer in. They have a website too.
The local Preserve Association has just printed a Field Guide to Diving the Straits. It has pictures, data and history on the major shipwrecks in the area - some never published in one place before. You can get details on it from the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce.

 

[sleepdiver]

just a short PS: the best way to reach Straits Scuba Ctr is via email to larry@straitsscuba.com.

 

[moneysavr]

Wow Thanks for the Tips!We always leave from Mackinac city-kids love the bridge,but heck the car at St.Ingnace will work too!Thanks so much,hope i can get a dive or two in!