Not just shipwrecks

[ComputerJoe]

Thunder Bay and Alpena, Michigan is known as "shipwreck alley" but we have more than just wrecks to explore. Most of this video was shot in Middle Island Sink Hole (75'). But some was from a deep sink Robert Ballard's crew found in 2002 (330').

YouTube - Lake Huron Sinkholes

We have an additional collection of 5 or 6 sinks just 2 miles from Rock Port ON LAND that are 60' + deep and little explored. (Sink Holes click on the green circles for pictures) And with the water up the Misery Bay sink might again be accessable from the lake as the Township and State of Michigan closed off both land based motorized access points.

 

[diver_paula]

Congrats on this as well....

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary bill clears committee

5/22 - Alpena, Mich. – The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved legislation by Sen. Carl Levin to significantly expand the boundaries of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The expansion, which would make Thunder Bay more than nine times its current size, would help to preserve the rich history of "Shipwreck Alley" for historians and divers, where dozens of ships perished in the waters of Lake Huron. Following the approval by the Commerce Committee, the bill now goes to the full Senate.

"The Commerce Committee's approval of this bill is great news, and I am hopeful that the Senate will take up the bill quickly," Levin said. "By expanding the boundaries of the Thunder Bay sanctuary, we will be able to preserve countless irreplaceable treasures for historians, divers and students for generations to come. It is truly a one-of-its-kind aquatic museum."

Levin's bill, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve Boundary Modification Act, would extend the sanctuary's boundaries to include the waters off Alcona, Alpena and Presque Isle counties and would extend the sanctuary east to the International Boundary. The current sanctuary includes 448 square miles of water and 115 miles of shoreline, and the expansion would include 4,085 square miles and include 226 miles of shoreline.

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve was created in October 2000 as a unique federal-state partnership. The sanctuary preserves the maritime history of the Great Lakes, offers educational opportunities for students and researchers and provides a fascinating site for divers and snorkelers to explore.

The Alpena News

 

[diver_paula]

Congrats on this as well....

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary bill clears committee

5/22 - Alpena, Mich. The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved legislation by Sen. Carl Levin to significantly expand the boundaries of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The expansion, which would make Thunder Bay more than nine times its current size, would help to preserve the rich history of "Shipwreck Alley" for historians and divers, where dozens of ships perished in the waters of Lake Huron. Following the approval by the Commerce Committee, the bill now goes to the full Senate.

"The Commerce Committee's approval of this bill is great news, and I am hopeful that the Senate will take up the bill quickly," Levin said. "By expanding the boundaries of the Thunder Bay sanctuary, we will be able to preserve countless irreplaceable treasures for historians, divers and students for generations to come. It is truly a one-of-its-kind aquatic museum."

Levin's bill, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve Boundary Modification Act, would extend the sanctuary's boundaries to include the waters off Alcona, Alpena and Presque Isle counties and would extend the sanctuary east to the International Boundary. The current sanctuary includes 448 square miles of water and 115 miles of shoreline, and the expansion would include 4,085 square miles and include 226 miles of shoreline.

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve was created in October 2000 as a unique federal-state partnership. The sanctuary preserves the maritime history of the Great Lakes, offers educational opportunities for students and researchers and provides a fascinating site for divers and snorkelers to explore.

The Alpena News

 

[Divers Incorporated]

That was seriously cool...
thanks
Rich

 

[alpenadiver]

Thanks Paula, and Rich. I for one am for the expansion whole heartedly, we need to get those pristine wrecks into the Marine Sanctuary. Rich the Misery Bay, and Middle Island sinkholes are a nice dive when the wind kicks up. However the township has put the brakes on any vehicle traffic getting back to the Misery Bay sinkhole, even though there is a road goining back to the Lake. The Rockport sinkholes are under the control of the DNR, and they are not receptive on using motorized vehicles to travel the 2 miles of well worn trails created by quads, and motorcycles to the sinkholes, however there is a group including Computer Joe who regularly attends the meetings to convince the DNR that once Rockport becomes a State Park the vehicle access to the sinkholes, and Rockport Springs should be permitted.