SS Milwaukee Car Ferry & Deep Sea Detectives

[Captain CaveMan]

I got it on video(DVR) and I really cant wait to visit her this summer. Does anyone know the exact deepth of the dive?
As far as the rebreather goes didnt he have to take a class in Mexico when they did the show on the Cenotes and caves.

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

Was that something Bill and Ken didn't already know? On the camera they looked perplexed, or was that 'thespian acting'??

I should see Ken at the shop this week I'll ask him. Personally I thought they explained what I had already heard, bad storm, rail cars loose and crashed sea-gate.

The background on the design of the gate and the explanation of how those ships could slide backwards and ram it into the seas was enlightening to me, but I didn't get the impression that DSD were the ones to confirm any of that. More like they collected and presented all the stuff I'm too lazy to go find, which was worth the DVR space I figure.

 

[texdiveguy]

I got it on video(DVR) and I really cant wait to visit her this summer. Does anyone know the exact deepth of the dive?
As far as the rebreather goes didnt he have to take a class in Mexico when they did the show on the Cenotes and caves.

From a ref. book of mine she sites at 90-125ffw. The vis it says is in the avg. range of 15ft. or less.

 

[diverjed]

From a ref. book of mine she sites at 90-125ffw. The vis it says is in the avg. range of 15ft. or less.

That's about correct, depth wise. Very easy to go into Deco, because you want to explore the whole damn thing once down there.

Viz, on a very good day, after the zebra mussels have had their fill, can range up to 50ft, or even more. Again, a good day.

 

[Dean810]

I suspect that the theory of why it went down has been out there for awhile. I for one don't expect Deep Sea Detectives to go out and find the solutions to all their mysteries all by themselves. After all, there are a lot of people involved in the making of these episodes. The Milwaukee has been dived by a lot of people and I am sure it has been well surveyed. I think they are probably presenting the scenario that makes the most sense to them.

I believe that the detective theme is important to the show in order to appeal to the widest possible audience, just as the medical detective and real life whodoneits on the Discovery Channel keeps my wife glued to the tv so often. It's not just a show for divers, and more power to them. Maybe they will get more people interested in the sport, just as Sea Hunt did in days of yore.

I hadn't noticed Ritchie wearing a rebreather before either. Traditionaly, he is the slowest of the two to try new technology. I have the same attitude myself. Let someone else work out the bugs, while I use the tried and true!

 

[SwimJim]

I think they came up with a reasonable cause for the sinking. The water flooding in through the coal bunkers makes sense to me. I've dove this wreck several times. If I remember correctly you meet structure at about eighty feet or so. The ship rests in 125 fow. I have never penetrated this wreck and don't plan too. I have a video on this wreck by Southport Video. Its a really hoaky production, but they give you a tour of the interior thats pretty awesome. I've heard stories of poor viz on this wreck. The worst I have ever seen was forty foot. I remember hanging over the bow one day and being able to see all the way to the bottom, about fifty feet down, and then some. The wreck is best dove before memorial day or after labor day. preferably October. One thing to be sure and see is the pilot house which lies off the bow to the east. There is a guide rope from the bow that will take you to it. It lays on the bottom in 115 fow according to my depth guage.. Great photo opp, I need to get back there to take a few pictures myself. dive safe

Jim

 

[Willie]

Anyone aware of a good website with pictures and info on this site?

Willie

 

[ppo2_diver]

Bill Prince has a pretty good write up on the wreck. His web site is www.nordicdiver.com. I've got a short video on my web site of it.

We'll be doing two dives on the Milwaukee on April 22. We'll be doing light penetration and deco. CD_in_Chitown will be among us. The wheel house is an easy penetration as it lies off the wreck. There are some pretty challenging penetrations like the crews quarters and boiler room, where Ken and Richie went.

 

[moneysavr]

Vis on the site can be Great prior to several drops of divers /Mix masters,As this wreck and the Prins Will seem to be the major wrecks hit by the several dive opp's out of Milwaukee,A.M. Dives can be Great!
early and late in the year too as Jim said ,Last fall one dive Opp Capt. on her said they had close to 70+Vis that day early!
one major vis factor is how much poo-poo they dump out of the Milwaukee harbor,after major rains!
Dive safe!
Brad

 

[SDAnderson]

Anyone aware of a good website with pictures and info on this site?

Willie

http://www.len-der.com/shipwrecks_wisconsin.htm
http://www.pcdiving.com/images/Wrecks/Milwaukee/index.htm