ComputerJoe
Contributor
First I want to thank Larry McElroy for the use of the Rec Diver and his helpers who took us out. At the last MUPC (Michigan Underwater Preserve Committee) meeting we had our fist dry run at a film festival in April. Now that the temperatures are headed down our meeting will start again and we look forward to moving all the Underwater Preserves forward and promote diving in our water wonderland state.
Last Sunday we arrived in St Igance amongst tons of fog and limited viz. With east winds forecast up to 20 knots the surface conditions were quite uncertain but forge ahead we did. After leaving the dock at 9:10am we arrived above the Eber Ward before 10:00 and I for one was glad we had two staying on board the Rec Diver and watching the radar closely. The current was brisk and it seemed like forever before we reached the stern of the Ward. The current had not abated and the viz was less than hoped for (15-20') but the water temp was in the mid 50's and plesant. After getting some good advise from Stan I swam through the open fan tail to just aft of the engines and checked out the capstain and engine controls and levers before realizing my buddies decided to go around the outside. No problem, as I could see it was open above the engines before I entered and I popped up and after some looking, relocated my buddies. The deck was 50% covered with mussels but the toliet was clean around the rim...I wonder who...never mind. Some very large pipes run from bow to stern just under her top deck right on her center line. Look below the pipes and you see another deck or two to explore some other day when we are more prepared. I find myself pointed diagonally into the current as we make our way up the deck. Made it to the bow but we're 15 minutes into a planned 20 minute dive so it's time to turn the dive. We just followed the our land marks back along the deck to the up line. If viz had been better I would like to have tried an alternate route but safety is the best part of wisdom.
I will let another report on the Sandusky dive.
Last Sunday we arrived in St Igance amongst tons of fog and limited viz. With east winds forecast up to 20 knots the surface conditions were quite uncertain but forge ahead we did. After leaving the dock at 9:10am we arrived above the Eber Ward before 10:00 and I for one was glad we had two staying on board the Rec Diver and watching the radar closely. The current was brisk and it seemed like forever before we reached the stern of the Ward. The current had not abated and the viz was less than hoped for (15-20') but the water temp was in the mid 50's and plesant. After getting some good advise from Stan I swam through the open fan tail to just aft of the engines and checked out the capstain and engine controls and levers before realizing my buddies decided to go around the outside. No problem, as I could see it was open above the engines before I entered and I popped up and after some looking, relocated my buddies. The deck was 50% covered with mussels but the toliet was clean around the rim...I wonder who...never mind. Some very large pipes run from bow to stern just under her top deck right on her center line. Look below the pipes and you see another deck or two to explore some other day when we are more prepared. I find myself pointed diagonally into the current as we make our way up the deck. Made it to the bow but we're 15 minutes into a planned 20 minute dive so it's time to turn the dive. We just followed the our land marks back along the deck to the up line. If viz had been better I would like to have tried an alternate route but safety is the best part of wisdom.
I will let another report on the Sandusky dive.
