Water Temp's

[SouthSideScubaSteve]

Ok, my diving thus far has been limited to Haigh and Ft Lauderdale, but this summer I plan to start diving the wrecks in Lake Michigan (mainly out of Chicago and Milwaukee)

My questions are: What are the typical water temps at depth (say 60ft & 90ft)?

Also, how much do they vary from say: Memorial Day, to 4th of July, to Labor Day??

 

[gtxl1200]

The Lakes never really warm up at depth. I have dove in August, and the temps were still only in the low 50's.. Unless your name is Ken. Drysuits are recommended for Great lakes wreck diving.

 

[DiverBeth]

Lake Michigan temps can vary quite a bit below the thermacline. Generally, the lake doesn't start really warming, from my limited experience, until the end of July. So I would estimate temps about 40 (give or take) at depth around Memorial Day and by Labor Day mid 50s and above.

But like I said this can vary quite a bit depending exactly where you are and on conditions. I've only been diving in the lake for a couple of years and I've experienced temps from 42 to 67. I start diving mid May and go to mid October.

Generally, Lake Michigan is mostly dry suit diving, though some do it wet even in the colder temps.

 

[Notso_Ken]

The Lakes never really warm up at depth. I have dove in August, and the temps were still only in the low 50's.. Unless your name is Ken. Drysuits are recommended for Great lakes wreck diving.

Making I'm softening up in my old age, but from December thru May, I'll concede use of a dry suit.


Ken

 

[terfmop]

Does anyone have some reccomended charters in that area? Like Steve, I'd like to take in some dives in Lake Michigan this upcoming summer. I don't have a drysuit yet and my 7mm will just have to suffice. Right now the weather outside is making me wish April would get here soon; I don't think I'll be back in the water until a planned Panama City trip in April. But I might decide to take the plunge maybe in late March somewhere nearby.

 

[superstar]

It is my understanding that as the warm westerly winds blow the warm surface water to the east shore of Lake Michigan, it pushes the deep cold clear water to the west shore. I hear it is always cold 38*-50* top to bottom on the Wisconsin shore with 80'+ visibility. Over here, July-Sept are the warm months with temps in the 50*-70* top to bottom with 30' visibility. An excetption would be when we get an east wind for a few days and the water flips and we get 40*-50* temp top to bottom and 80' vis. On these days I always wonder if the Wisconsin side gets poor vis and warms up.

 

[ComputerJoe]

Lake Michigan and Huron are about the same in their unpredictability. I had a friend that was sensitive to cold, only had a wet suit, and had not been very deep. I went on a dive to the Grecian and found that the heavy winds and currents in the days before had pushed 68 degree water down to 100'. On arriving at the dock I called him and scheduled to take him out the next day.

Next day came calm and sunny, we arrived at the dive site, geared up and rolled in. I thought it felt a little cooler...through my dry suit. When we hit the deck at 80' I looked at my gauges and was suprised to see it told me that the water temp was 48!

Needless to say I was called quite a few things that day, but thanks to the untrollable shivering after surfacing he was unable to catch me before he calmed down.

"Hope for the best, expect the worst."

 

[scubafritz]

Just figure it's going to be very cold, if it's warmer call it a bonus - a freebie of sorts!

 

[LKMIDiver]

Just figure it's going to be very cold, if it's warmer call it a bonus - a freebie of sorts!

Yeah, I dive from st. joe up to south haven alot during the summer and 30- 70 ft of water. One dive this summer at the Rocks off of S. Haven temp was 65 at 30ft, couple weeks later at the Rockaway at 65 ft. the water was 42*, Most times I dove the Havana this summer temps were 50-55, Im glad I picked up a drysuit last year though.

Nate

 

[ppo2_diver]

I normally tend to side on the cold side when planning Lake Michigan dives. If you're diving out of Milwaukee, you're probably looking at the deeper wrecks. A few people wear wet suits for the shorter dives, but you are looking at dry suit temps. I've experienced bottom temps from 38F to the mid 60s in Lake Michigan.

You certainly will enjoy our wreck diving.