Open Charter Saturday August 29th out of Milwaukee

[StreetDoctor]

I spoke to Tracy with Divers Delight and they're trying to put a charter together for this satuday the 29th. We'll be diving the Dredge #906 which we dove yesterday and was a lot of fun. The other dive will be the Tug Gillen unless we can get a big enough group willing to do the Car Ferry. Price for a two tank dive is $85 I can't speak highly enough about the crew of diver's delight, great group of guys and the boat is fast. They even had a divemaster in the water with us which suprised me. The charter departs out of south shore marina in milwaukee. (Very easy parking and food onsite)

Charter Website: Divers Delight


Dive Site Info:

Dredge #906

The Dredge #906 is a large crane barge that capsized during heavy winds on May 23, 1956. Nine members of her crew drowned in the accident, and some of the bodies are rumored to still be aboard. The 906 now sits upside-down with equipment and debris scattered around her. Depth is 30 feet to the top and 75 feet to bottom of the wreck, making this a suitable dive for intermediate level divers.

Maximum depth: 75 feet
Distance from surface: 30 feet
Moorings: One mooring buoy attached to the 906

Tug Gillen

Different sources say different things on this wreck. One sources say the tug sank while conducting cable test with the Coast Guard. Another source says it sank in heavy seas. But both sources agree that the tug went down in 1981. The Gillen was a 64 foot or 56 foot (again, same two sources with different information)wooden-hulled diesel fueled tugboat that lies intact in about 70 feet of water. Experienced divers have been known to penetrate the pilot house and engine room. Divers Delight strongly advises against penetrating this wreck

 

[StreetDoctor]

Nobody wants to get out of the quarry and do some real diving? Vis last weekend was easily 60-70' on the car ferry and at least 40' on the dredge and we got there just as another group was leaving so things were stirred up a bit. This is a great price for two dives. Most places around Chicago are charging $100+

 

[ScubaInChicago]

Count me in, I'll assume we can set up a car pool if more Chicago divers are willing to get out and see some really cool wrecks.

 

[SouthSideScubaSteve]

Just curious, what are the current temps at depth on each wreck??

 

[jpiwaron]

The temps this summer have been falling. That's right. Falling. Last May, the bottom temp on the Northerner (Port Washington) was 45F. At the surface, it warmed all the way up to around 45F. Two weeks ago on the Milwaukee, the bottom was 39F and 46F at the surface.

It just hasn't warmed up around here this summer in the water.

Bring a drysuit or your dive may be shorter than you'd like.

 

[ScubaInChicago]

Just curious, what are the current temps at depth on each wreck??

jpiwaron is correct, the temps are very low this year and a dry suit is preferred. There was a guy diving a semi-dry and getting about 35-40 minutes of bottom time. There was also a guy with a farmer john wetsuit and I could only feel sorry for him. He was visibly shaking after each dive and his buddies with drysuits continued to dive with him. Did you get your repair/replacement on your semi-dry completed yet?

 

[StreetDoctor]

Yup, I would expect low 40s for these two and if we do the car ferry high 30s. Last week I had 37 on the car ferry and 41 on the dredge.