1st dives in Lake Michigan (Milwaukee)

[skdvr]

I just got back from a short trip up to Milwaukee to dive with Capt Jerry on the Len-Der. Damn what fun that was!!!!!

The air temp was in the low 70's to start the say and in the mid 80's in the afternoon, with a very mild breeze from the west, which made for PERFECT conditions on the lake...


The first dive of the day was on the Milwaukee car ferry. We had talked about mooring to the rear of the Milwaukee, becuase there is supposed to more to look at there than at the front. When we got out to her there was already one boat on the rear mooring line and one in the middle, so we went to the front. We got geared up and go in the water and headed down to the ship. Vis was about 20ft, which is great for what I am use to here in Mo. Water temp at 100' was 45*, which was feeling pretty good after being topside on the boat getting ready. We spent about 20 min at the bottom looking around. It was nice but a lot of the wreck is caving in on its self, which is another reason that the rear of the ship is supposed to be nicer. There is supposed to be more to look at with the flood gates (which is why she went down) and the train cars (that slammed into the flood gates). All in all I thought that the dive was great and I would love to go back and check it out again.

Next we headed to the Prins Willem V. This was another AWESOME dive. I thought that the vis on the Milwaukee was great until I got down to the bottom with this wreck. We had 50 ft of vis down there. I was in awe when I got to the bottom. Water temps were very similar to the Milwaukee. This ship sits on her side which kind of made the view a little interesting. There are lots of nice swim throughs on this ship. I have to say that this was my favorite wreck of the weekend...

After diving The Willie we headed back to the dock. a few of us went to RipTide for luch, which was very good food. Then we headed back to the hotel. We were trying to figure out what we wanted to do that night and I ended up falling asleep watching tv around 5:30 and woke up around 8:30 when my wife called. I guess I was pretty worn out from all the lugging my doubles around, sun, and diving. I was up for a few hours and then right back to sleep I went to get ready for 2 more dives on Sun.

Sun morning we headed out to #6 dredge, which sits upside down so again it made for an interesting perspective. Vis again was very nice at about 30-40ft, with water temps right around 50*. It sits up off the lake floor so you can swim up under it and look around, and up at the top of the dredge. Very interesting dive that I would like to do again sometime.

For our last dive we headed back to The Wille. Everyone on board wanted another look at her. This time we did a few more swim thoughs and I would say to date this was my favorite dive I have done. It was just so darn interesting to look around this ship that has been sitting down there for a long time. It is kind of nice with it sitting on its side because you can actually see a little more of the ship this way. It is a little disorientating but fun none the less.

I would recommend diving with Len-Der charters if you are ever up in the Milwaukee area. Jerry is a super nice guy that really knows what he is doing. He has been on that lake for a long time and has some very interesting stories to tell during the surface interval. All you have to do is ask about things he has done and seen and everyone will be gathering around. I think that I was a little spoiled with this being my first trip and having such perfect conditions. Several of the other divers on the boat (who also happened to come up from Mo.) said that they had been up there 4 times before and this was the first time that they got all 4 dives in over the 2 days. They said that each other time they came up the got blown out at least one of the dives. For the dives that they did do they had pretty rough water. It was just about like glass for us this past weekend.

I had a great time and I will certainly be back up there diving in the Great Lakes again checking out some of the other wrecks up there...

Phil

[navyhmc]

Great report. I hope to get up that way one of these days. thanks for the report.

[digitalman]

I'm hoping to get up to Lk Mich. sometime in the near future. Thanks for the report.

[sravin1]

great report. i live in chicago, IL. I think I will go on this dive this summer.

thank you

[skdvr]

Originally Posted by sravin1

great report. i live in chicago, IL. I think I will go on this dive this summer.

thank you

There are a good number of good charters up in your area... I wish I lived up there..

Phil

[skdvr]

Here are a few pics....



















I have got to get a fiberoptic cable for my camera so that I can cover up the built in camera flash. All the scatter is driving me nuts. But this is really my first attempt at taking pics underwater....

Phil

[sravin1]

nice pictures thankyou.

[texdiveguy]

Great report and photo's....you've been bit, no turning back now!

[Ryanh1801]

Nice Pics. Can't wait to get up there and get some diving in.

[tonka97]

Originally Posted by skdvr

I just got back from a short trip up to Milwaukee to dive with Capt Jerry on the Len-Der. Damn what fun that was!!!!!.................

I had a great time and I will certainly be back up there diving in the Great Lakes again checking out some of the other wrecks up there...

Phil

Phil,

Great post, and dramatic photos! Good job, and thank you!