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HAIGH QUARRY OPENING FOR THE 2012 SEASON IN jANUARY?
Capt. Darrick Lorenzen
1/7/2012
No, the season at Haigh Quarry is not opening this weekend! It will open for the 2012 season on Saturday April 7th, but because of our unusually warm weather Tina has decided to give Midwest divers a chance to scratch th...

SCUBA DIVERS LEFT BEHIND IN FLORIDA
Capt. Darrick Lorenzen
10/6/2011
The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday that it was investigating RJ Diving Ventures of Miami Florida. The investigation was initiated because the dive operator left behind two tourists while they were scuba diving.   D...

10 WORST MISTAKES MADE BY RECREATIONAL DIVERS
Capt. Darrick Lorenzen
9/30/2011
1.      Don’t make safety decisions based on financial considerations! Many fatalities and injuries occur because people want diving, dive training or dive travel to be cheap, easy and fast. Always use the proper equipme...

MSD FORUMS - MIDWEST SCUBA DIVING
TOPIC: First Lake Michigan Dive
bpautsch
Posted: 6/7/2007 12:11:01 PM

Joined on
1/5/2006

 I recently ordered a drysuit and it's arriving in a week or so. After practicing with the drysuit at Haigh Quarry, I plan to make my first Lake Michigan dive later this summer.

Does anyone recommend any particular wrecks and why? I think the first few dives should be fairly basic and easy. Then move onto the deeper, more challenging sites once I become more comfortable.

Brian Pautsch
brian@midwestscubadiving.com
MgicTwnger
Posted: 6/7/2007 12:55:15 PM

Joined on
6/1/2006

I won't mention wrecks, but instead a dive operator:


http://www.npursuitcharters.com/

N'Pursuit works the southern end of the lake, wrecks are in the 30 - 50' range. A good way to get your feet wet, so to speak.

I am not the one who needs mental help. I just need to vent.

Carmella Soprano

Captain Dale
Posted: 6/7/2007 1:17:59 PM

Joined on
3/31/2006

For a diver new to the Great Lakes, I can recommend diving the wreck of the steamship, Lady Elgin. 

Lady Elgin is probably the most historically significant shipwreck on the Great Lakes.  When she sank in 1860, she carried more souls to Davy Johnes locker than any other wreck on the Lakes.  She also altered the political course for Milwaukee for all time.

As a dive site, Lady Elgin offers a look at an old side wheel steamer, with a large wooden windlass.  There iare two anchors.  One anchor is a beautiful iron anchor with a wooden stock, standing upright on the bottom.  There are no areas to penetrate and very minimal entanglement hazards.  The depth is between 50 and 55 feet, just deep enough to make buoyancy control easy and yet, not shallow enough that there is plenty of no-decompression time.

Dive safe,

Captain Dale Bennett

Charter Captain & Instructor Trainer

Open Water through Advanced Trimix

 
Dean810
Posted: 6/7/2007 1:20:34 PM

Joined on
5/22/2006

 I second that!  There are some real nice shallower wrecks down there that he covers, like the Tacoma and Material Service Barge.  The Louisville is also interesting.

Join the Chicago Scuba Meetup Group!  http://scuba.meeup.com/105 
Dean810
Posted: 6/7/2007 1:24:12 PM

Joined on
5/22/2006

 My post was relating to N'Pursuit.  I agree that the Lady Elgin is a very significant wreck, probably the most significant in terms of history.  And it does have a nice windlass and a couple of ship anchors that you don't see too often on wrecks.  But this ship broke up as it was going down and is very broken up at the bottom in several debris fields.  The boats I mentioned are much more intact.

Join the Chicago Scuba Meetup Group!  http://scuba.meeup.com/105 
MgicTwnger
Posted: 6/7/2007 1:33:56 PM

Joined on
6/1/2006

 I have dove the Elgin on a number of occasions with Capt. Dale and it is a fascinating, if scattered, wreck. The history behind it is amazing.

I am not the one who needs mental help. I just need to vent.

Carmella Soprano
bpautsch
Posted: 6/7/2007 1:35:30 PM

Joined on
1/5/2006

 Thanks guys...this is great info. I'll try to get to both areas this summer. With my second kid due in 5 weeks, it's difficult to find time to dive.

MgicTwnger - That website no longer exists...it's expired. I'll have to try to find them through searching the web or yellow pages.

Captain Dale - When I'm ready to go, I'll give you a call to make reservations on the Enterprise...probably August or September. Your article on Lady Elgin in the magazine was great. Sounds like a great intro dive in Lake Michigan.

Brian Pautsch
brian@midwestscubadiving.com
diveindia
Posted: 6/22/2007 11:55:17 AM

Joined on
5/30/2007
Brian, let us know if you do plan a charter trip to Lady Elgin

d_indie