Category Archives: Scuba

Thursday Thirsty – River Dive

August 8, 2019Scuba, Water-RelatedGrubbing, MI, River Diving, St. Joseph River NilesDWMack

Today was a rare day in that it appears that the St. Joseph river, as it flows along Riverview Park in Niles, MI is finely available for diving.

Normally, we are in the river at least once a week by this time in the summer but last year’s river flooding and this year increased rain fall has resulted in high water levels, lousy visibility in the water and extremely fast currents.

Add in the extreme riverbank erosion and resultant embankments being under washed has resulted in unheard of numbers of uprooted trees and riverbank shrubs in the water’s edge. This has increased the dangers of impalement and entanglement and entrapment.

But with that said today we cautiously entered the waters from Capt. John boat along the far shore embankment.

There were 4 of us diving, all experienced in fast river current and aware of the entrapment hazards. It was noted that the usual use of an inner tube float and basket with diver down flag was not feasible in today’s dive as the basket would act as a sea anchor and drag you down stream and most likely in an uncontrollable manner.

We securely anchored the boat about 15 feet from shore in water about 7 feet deep. We put dive flags on the boat and two trailing 20 feet behind the boat. Then put out a line from the front of the boat to the rear.

One diver went in first with his river stick and made it to the shallows and stood up and gave us a report on the current effect and bottom features felt or seen. With that information the remaining divers suited up and entered the water.

By keeping close to the shoreline, usually in less than 5 or 6 feet of water one could see 2 to 4 feet if not in someone’s silt path. The river is very strong and there were lots of snags, tree limbs and shoreline brush BUT being slow and very careful it was dive able.

Grubbing resulted in several nice bottles, china, and misc. ceramic items recovered.

The river is open BUT with the current is ripping, visibility 2 to MAYBE 4 feet, with the riverbank full of snags and sharp pointy things we strongly recommend only experienced rivers divers entering the waters at this time.

Down trees and shrubs have created a rich environment for entanglement, impalement and entrapment – Observe extreme caution at all times.

Even the water birds are staying out of the water.

July 14 – Dive the shipwreck “Havana”

Today was a blue sky day with very moderate sea’s so a few Muddies and I went to dive the wreck of the schooner “Havana” and then do a little bottom searching on the way back in to shore. We had some old “targets” (potential wrecks or underwater structure) that we wanted to see if they could be relocated. The picture’s give you a little look at what we see leaving the DNR docks in Benton Harbor to the entry to Lake Michigan.

We had a second boat that came out behind us that was going to spend more time searching of additional bottom targets. As the seas picked up at the end of the day it became too bouncy to get decent results on our bottom scanners and we all went in.

The Havana is called a sand wreck or rubble wreck because she is shallow, about 50 feet, and has been down for over a 100 years. Being shallow storms and currents have taken a toil on her. Depending on the season and shifting sands, portions of the wreck become uncovered or recovered. Being shallow, wave action and currents do have an unpredictable effect on visibility and temperature at depth.

It is an excellent wreck dive for the less experienced and newer diver.

As you can see, the river is high and the docks are almost underwater.

The Inn – newest hotel on the water front.

USCG station at the entry to the North pier.

Looking at the lake bottom while going to and from the “Havana” wreck.

Havana Buoy – Placed by the SW Michigan Underwater Preserve in 2019. The Havana sank October 1887 with a lost of 3 of the 7 crew. She was carrying 800 tons of ore (yep- sank like a stone)

Today was a low visibility day but you can still see the vast accumulation of Quagga mussels on the ships deck and side ribs.

Mack & Kirk geeking the GoPro on the acsent line

Entering the harbor – the south pier and Silver Beach were crowded today

All ashore- preping Capt.John’s boat for travel

Steak Fry Afternoon & Metal Detecting Dive Day

2019-06-29: Saturday was a blue-sky morning that lasted all day. This was a very good thing as it was the biggest event day of the “July 4X4 Watervliet Independence Celebration & Carnival” that had been going. As part of the celebration there was a “Fly In” & “Steak Fry” at the Watervliet Airport (40C) which I attended.

With all the rain we have been having here in SW Michigan there were no war-birds showing up as the grass field was a bit on the wet mushy side and was only suitable for light aircraft like the Piper Cub or Cessna 150’s. As always “Fly In’s” are great meet and greet events, an opportunity to show off your plane, swap flying tales, and hopefully get some non-flyers interested in aviation.

And afterward, if you wanted to cool off on this hot & muggy day, you could do so at Forrest Beach park. Though Big Paw Paw lake is getting to be very weedy and has rather heavy boat traffic towing water toys on holiday weekend like this, it was still a good day to get in a scuba dive.

Since I anticipated the heavy boat traffic I decided to stay in the shallows and do a bit of metal detecting. Now with that said, the water was warm and I kept my diving to less than 15 feet deep. Since the water in the shallows were warm there was no need to have a wet suit hood or gloves. Having garden gloves or something to protect the hands when grubbing thru the bottom muck is highly recommended though.

Finds for the day did not include any coins or rings but a lot of rusty can’s, nails, and a varied assortment of rusted metal junk including one old fashion plow tip. I was only out about an hour and by the time I finished my dive the park was packed, and the parking lot filled and spilling over.

Its summer people so get out there and enjoy it!

Forrest Beach Park just before the crowds enveloped it.

Forrest Beach Dive – Paw Paw Lake, Watervliet, MI

2019-06-06: Today was a short notice pickup dive to see who would show up. We had it at big Paw Paw Lake on the Watervliet side at Forrest Beach. Its a nice place to get checked out in if its been awhile since you have gotten wet or want to try new gear. The site has ample parking and in the summer it has a porta-john which is always a nice addition. It seems you only even REALLY need one when there is none around. And, besides, if you need to, you can change into your suit inside.

The beach has a pier which makes staging gear nice and keeps you and the gear out of the sand (and bugs). The area around the pier is firm hard pack sand and stays shallow (less than 6 feet) until you get out maybe 100 feet or so from the shore.

Today we found the weeds thriving and in some places clustered in a very dense pattern, the visibility was maybe 10 feet at best due to the cloudy skies (and light rain) and to the divers in front stirring up the bottom silt with their flippers.

The drop off is gradual and the first slope goes down gradually to about 15 feet deep. The zebra mussels (fresh water invasive species) that have enveloped the great lakes has spread to many of the inland lakes also. It will be interesting to see if the quagga mussels over take the zebra like they have done in the Great Lakes. Todays surface water temperature was in the mid 60’s and only 52 ̊F at 35 feet. Almost did not need gloves if you stayed on the drop off.

If your ever in the area come on out and dive with us, somebody is diving every weekend!