River Diving...?

[PvtStash]

Heyhey, are there any popular river access dive sites in NW Ohio, SE Michigan?

I've gotten 20 dives in post-cert but they're all Quarry dives and I'm looking to expand my experience base a bit...

River diving? anyone? anywhere? special regulations/permits needed?


thx.

 

[Busdiver]

St. Clair River just north of Detroit. Kevin out of Sea Side Dive shop in St. Clair Shores 586/772-7676 runs a weekly drift dive on Tuesday nights. He tries to hit the wrecks that are on the northern end of the river but is planning on drifting as much of the river as possible this season. We dive the river on Sunday mornings but it is more a get negative, pull yourself on the bottom and artifact hunt. I believe Rick out of Bruno's also has an organized drift dive once a week. Rick has a post somewhere on here about dive spots in Michigan. He has a great write up on diving the river. It is worth the read. I would hit those two spots up first then let me know in August if you want to dive on a Sunday morning. I will gladly take you.

 

[rickydazla]

Probably diving the river in Port Huron tomorrow. Always keen whenever though...

 

[Barracuda2]

I've gotten 20 dives in post-cert but they're all Quarry dives and I'm looking to expand my experience base a bit...thx.

It's been a while, but I have dove the St. Clair right near the bridge several times. I've been on the Tremble on the American side several times and the Monarc on the Canada side once.

Busdiver, do you think that just 20 post-cert dives is enough to take on the currents in the St. Clair? I had many dives under my belt before my first St. Clair dive and found the dive very "interesting", meaning it challenged me. Or maybe there is a part of the river that is a little less challenging that you are talking about. IMO, you better have a lot of confidence (experience) in yourself and your equipment to dive the St. Clair, at least near the head waters off Lake Huron.

PvtStash, do your homework on this dive and hook up with divers that really have experience diving the St. Claire and stay tight with them on your first dive. It's a great dive---good luck.

 

[Busdiver]

Busdiver, do you think that just 20 post-cert dives is enough to take on the currents in the St. Clair? I had many dives under my belt before my first St. Clair dive and found the dive very "interesting", meaning it challenged me. Or maybe there is a part of the river that is a little less challenging that you are talking about. IMO, you better have a lot of confidence (experience) in yourself and your equipment to dive the St. Clair, at least near the head waters off Lake Huron.

The river is over 34 miles long. The area you are talking about has the fastest most challenging currents. I agree that it is important that you dive that area with experienced individuals. That is why I put Rick and Kevin's name down as good guides. Rick is a more than capable instructor out of Bruno's Dive Shop and Kevin is an excellent instructor out of Sea-Side. Kevin dives this area on a weekly basis. The river is dangerous because it has to be treated as an overhead environment. You cannot just surface with out fear of getting nailed by a boat. That is why I did not say I would take him on that part of the river. It would be beyond my own skill set to have him just with me. Rick and Kevin would need to talk with him, assess his skill level, and go from there. Just because he only has 20 dives should not exclude him from a great dive site. (Heck he is way past PADI AOW at that point, LOL). He needs to do that dive site with really capable folk (i.e. Kevin or Rick).

Now, where I dive the river it is more mellow. The way the break wall comes out and the river bends, a lot of the current is negated. I would not have a problem having him dive with me there. I have had folks in the river at 10 dives and they have loved it. They just need to be next to me and listen to my briefing before we go in. I am a very safe diver and do not believe in putting people in undue risk.

I hope that answers some questions. Please come dive the river. It is fun, it is challenging, it is different. Dive it with the respect it deserves and dive it with people who know it.

Bus

 

[PvtStash]

that is a "must have" for river diving?


I havent gotten a knife as yet and in a quarry enviroment thats been fine, but I'll get one (or 2) before doing a non-quarry dive.

SMB ? I dont have one... I suppose that means a reel too, don' have one of those...

snorkel recommended?

 

[Web Monkey]

that is a "must have" for river diving?

A really big SMB and a spool, so when you get blown off the wreck, the boat can find you and with any luck, nobody will run you over.

Note this doesn't help much in shipping channels, since by the time the freighters and tankers see your marker, they can't do much except pray.

Terry

 

[CDNScubaMoose]

I dive the St. Clair river on a weekly basis around the town of Port Lambton (just down river from Marine City on the American side). Similar to busdiver - main activity is get negative and pull yourself along the bottom looking for artifacts. We usually have two vehicles so that we can go in upstream and get a ride back after our drift dive (typically about 1 mile on an alum 80 in 45-50 mins). We often have very new divers join us (many have just completed their OW) and for their first couple times we partner them up with a more experienced diver.

Gear
1) Some type of digging tool. This includes a dull dive knife but more often screwdrivers or some type of pry bar attached to a lanyard. Purpose to help pull yourself along the bottom and to stop if your buddy finds "treasure". Likewise if you find "treasure" your are able to dig it out of the bottom.
2) Some type of cutting tool just in case you come across some monofiliment fishing line. There are lots of fishing lures that are snagged on logs and such - look don't touch!!
3) A goodie bag to hold all those artifacts that you find
4) We normally dive the river with a buddy line because vis is not ideal and it makes it easier to keep track of your buddy. Usually just use a rope 8-10' long with a float in the middle. Either loops at the ends or some type of clips
5) Good knee pads on your wetsuit/drysuit since there are lots of zebra mussels down there.
6) I usually go without the snorkel since the current can start to "play" with it and it can get very distracting and/or irritating

I dive the river most Sunday's, Monday's, Wednesday's, and Friday's - all are welcome if you feel like coming across the border.

As for the mouth of the river ... like has already been said, get some experience further downstream before you tackle those dives. The current is much stronger and boat traffic seems to be higher as well. Good news is that vis is usually better as well.

 

[Busdiver]

I dive with two knives and a pair of scissors. They are positioned on my body so I can reach them if I am trapped or wrapped up. I do not use a reel nor would I because that is just another thing to get wrapped up, especially in the current. Others may, I have heard of no one using one though.

For digging, I use one of those three pronged garden tools. They work great and when a freighter passes by I can put it in the ground to help me for support. I always have a small bag for goodies.

We do not tie up to each other. I did it once on a drift dive in the middle of the winter. We do hold hands and position ourselves next to one another if there is an inexperienced diver.


Some folks use heavy duty knee pads, like the one laborers would use.

One person I dive with currently has a six foot hole going. She digs like no one else I know.

Scubamoose, I will have to hop the ferry and come over for a dive.

The river should not be feared. It is neat. Viz can be 10 feet, it can be 1. Diving the river has given me an amazing amount of confidence.

Bus

 

[SpartanDiver]

I'd be interested in experiencing diving the river sometime, Bus. Do you usually find much during your dives?