Upper Lake Michigan Dive Sites?

[mempilot]

Are there any wrecks within RIB distance of Escanaba, MI? My father has a house on Stonington Pennisula between Little and Big Bay De Noc. What kind of depths are accessible in this part of the lake and what kind of dive sites are there?

Thanks.

 

[TCDiver1]

I'm not aware of anything on on that north side of Lake Michigan, (southern shore of the UP.) Now on the northern side of the UP, Lake Superior ... Munising, Whitefish, etc, your really in business.

That might be a bugger of a RIB ride from Escanaba though.

 

[mempilot]

How far off shore from Muninsing are there some wrecks and how deep? Are there LDS running tek trips out of there? And if so, do you know if they rent doubles?

 

[TCDiver1]

I have friend who dives Munising almost yearly via a small 8' inflatable so it is possible from a RIB. I couldn't tell you exactly how far off shore the wrecks are but some are close enough to consider for a good seaman. The main concern here is weather. Lake Superior be a fickle lady to the best of Mariner.

Check out This Op. Pete runs a nice operation. It is however very seasonal due to weather considerations. When you going to be there?

Oh and i have no idea if they rent doubles.

 

[diverbrian]

Out of Munising? Shallow stuff and basically in the harbor. The deepest would be the Smith-Moore at about 100 ft. Next deepest would be the Selvick at 60 ft. For that reason, I doubt that Pete rents doubles. From what I saw of his dive shop when I dove there a couple of years ago, it was strictly Al80's. I think that there are a couple of better wrecks in the area that may be accessible by someone not worried about trying to back in by a certain time. I am not certain on that. This time of year? I am sure that getting that far out would expose any small craft to some pretty nasty weather though.

Whitefish Point? Haven't been there. I plan to explore that area next year. I understand most of those wrecks are in waters that show the full effect of the fickle lady of Lake Superior and are deep. I know of a couple a operators that handle that area (I plan to use Abyss Charters next year), but many of the members here know of them and more.

 

[mempilot]

Thanks guys. I'm planning on coming up to check out the area sometime this winter, and then I'll be back to dive in the spring and summer. My father is buying a 12' RIB, and I thought I might be able to trailer it up that way from Escanaba during the summer months. For spring diving, I'd use a charter op. Doubles aren't a neccesity, but I'd rather at least use a single with an h-valve and DIN for my regulators.

I appreciate your input and suggestions.

So, what's the deal on the Edmund Fitzgerald these days?

 

[alpenadiver]

We dove the E.R. Williams, near St Martins Island? we put in at Fairport with two 14' inflatables. A very nice 100' dive, and excellent wreck even has a mooring buoy. This would be one to put on your list.

 

[SDAnderson]

You might try Bob3 on this board for information about the northern end of Green Bay - he hangs his hat in that general vicinity for part of the year and might be a good resource. I think you'll find that there isn't a lot within a RIB ride, however. Your end of the bay has always been less trafficked, which means fewer calamaties. There have, however, been reports that a wreck has been found near Poverty Island which may turn out to be the Griffin, lost in the late 1600's. That would be something special to dive...

Further south in Door County there are a number of wrecks definitely worthy of diving; too far for a RIB, though you could trailer. St. Ignace and the Straits of Mackinac have some great diving as does Paradise and Whitefish Bay. Neither are real close, but still doable as a day trip.

The Fitz is off limits these days. She sits in Canadian waters and the gov't there controls access. Then again, she's deep enough that only the very...brave...would even consider diving the site.

A good book for any Great Lakes diver to have in his bag is The Great Lakes Diving Guide by Cris Kohl. Many dive shops in the area have it in stock.

 

[mempilot]

You wouldn't happen to have coordinates for this wreck, would you?

We dove the E.R. Williams, near St Martins Island? we put in at Fairport with two 14' inflatables. A very nice 100' dive, and excellent wreck even has a mooring buoy. This would be one to put on your list.

 

[mempilot]

Thanks for the info. I'll get a hold of Bob3 before I come up.

You might try Bob3 on this board for information about the northern end of Green Bay - he hangs his hat in that general vicinity for part of the year and might be a good resource. I think you'll find that there isn't a lot within a RIB ride, however. Your end of the bay has always been less trafficked, which means fewer calamaties. There have, however, been reports that a wreck has been found near Poverty Island which may turn out to be the Griffin, lost in the late 1600's. That would be something special to dive...


Further south in Door County there are a number of wrecks definitely worthy of diving; too far for a RIB, though you could trailer. St. Ignace and the Straits of Mackinac have some great diving as does Paradise and Whitefish Bay. Neither are real close, but still doable as a day trip.

The Fitz is off limits these days. She sits in Canadian waters and the gov't there controls access. Then again, she's deep enough that only the very...brave...would even consider diving the site.

A good book for any Great Lakes diver to have in his bag is The Great Lakes Diving Guide by Cris Kohl. Many dive shops in the area have it in stock.