Category Archives: Water-Related

Thirsty Thursday – River Dive

Misc:, Scuba, Water-Related

August 22:  Thirsty Thursday’s Latest Dive

Todays dive started in the sun and ended in the dark. It was back to Niles, MI and the river along Riverview Park. Big John, Rob K and Mack entered the river down at the Marmont launch and putted upriver to dive near the Broadway Bridge. The current today was not bad at all when within 20 feet or so of shore which was plenty of space for grubbing. Water temp at 74F, visibility before grubbing varied consider ability but was at least 3 feet. Lights were not needed but it was close. everybody got out with at least 1000# remaining. Good Day, Good Dive, Nice Treasures (bottles and creates an impalement hazard.

Marmont Street Launch- Niles, MI

Nice boat launch area but there is a almost  foot drop off at the edge of the concrete ramp that’s makes getting the trailer out a bear especially if you do not have a true 4 wheel drive. 

River looks nice but the calm looking surface belies the undercurrent. Great day with lots of sun (even at 5:30 pm) and mild air temperatures.

We anchored close to shore just below Main Street bridge. Makes getting in and out much easier.

Well it was light when were started but diving but it was time to get out about now. At this time of the year we lose minutes of daylight daily..

No major finds today but there were a few keepers. The wallet was a mess and only had two items of plastic within with a name to track down. You are always curious how the wallet (etc) got in the river but often times the owners never want to be contacted.

It is always pretty along the shore on the ride back to the launch point. You always get a few bugs in the face on the trip back as they are attracted by the boats lights and our speeding along in the night.  (Thats the AmTrack train  headed into the Niles RR Station)

Michigan Underwater Divers (MUD) Club Picnic

Scuba, Water-Related,

Aug-17:       Michigan Underwater divers (MUD) Club Picnic.

This was held Saturday at High Noon at the Riverside Park in Niles, Michigan.

It was an overcast day but very nice overall for a Mud Club Picnic. No wind, very mild temperature and no insects. The first picture is of the early birds who went early and secured us a shaded spot and set up the grills. We had a great turn out and a couple of divers even hit the river afterwards. If you went away hungry it was your own fault!

The St. Joseph river flowing thru the Niles area is very fast. Here’s a sample video snip it of the river current flowing thru the weeds just before you get to the faster section 🙂 Sorry but you have to go here to see it. Https://www.facebook.com/donald.mcalhany/videos/10220346641316449/

 

 

 

 

Thursday Thirsty – River Dive

Scuba, Water-Related, , ,

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.
Motley river divers
Grubbing treasures found

   

SW Michigan Beach & Shore Line Aerial Tour

Fly Days, Water-Related, , ,

August 1:

As I often do when flying, I like to take pictures. The beaches are always gathering places during the summer months and provide interesting photo opportunities. It’s also easier to see and appreciate the effects of lakeside erosion caused by rain, wind, and waves. With that said, I’ll let the pictures do the talking. 

Jean Klock Park, Benton Harbor, MI. – One of the largest and nicest beaches around

St. Joseph, MI. – Silver Beach

Bridgman, MI. – Waco Beach

St. Joseph, MI. – Cliff erosion getting nearer to the Rail Road tracks
South Saint Joseph, MI. – Cliff erosion may have been minimized with adequate rip/ rap and sea wall.
South Saint Joseph MI shoreline. It appears that sea walls helped minimize erosion when compared with the shore line without.

Rock the Boat

Miscellaneous Ramblings, Water-Related, ,

July 18:   Rock the Boat 2019 in St. Joseph yesterday evening was fun as usual.

This was  the fourth annual ‘Rock the Boat’ cardboard boat races hosted by Whirlpool Corporation at the “Inn” at Harbor Shores, with proceeds benefiting United Way of Southwest Michigan.

The life-size boats are made of cardboard, duct tape and polyurethane, and powered entirely by human paddling. The event was open to the public and there was food, drink and t-shirts available for sale. This year’s event had over 65 boats’ entered.

The boats, in sets of 2 or three, started at a marker buoy then at the sound of the air horn raced a straight-line course for the finish line buoys as a timed event. At the end of all the runs, the top 5 boats with the best times raced against each other. If you missed it this year be sure to attend in 2020, I think you’ll like it.

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.

Dive gear on board and ready to go
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.
North Pier Light House
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
Back to our ride home
Entering the harbor – the south pier and Silver Beach were crowded today
All ashore- preping Capt.John’s boat for travel

 

 

Just before the Fireworks Began

July 3:  This year Saint Joseph (Mi) switched their day for fireworks from July 4 to July 3 to reduce crowds and so people who have to work the Friday after Independence Day won’t need to stay up late that night.   Here is a picture, lightened up a good bit, so you can see the people gathering and the number of boats anchored offshore of the piers about 20 minutes before the show started. According to the Berrien County Parks Department the estimated crowd size was 5,000 people just before the fireworks show began.

Saint Joseph Bluff – Picture of the park, silver beach and the boats off shore for the fireworks display

Fly Day & Shore Line Pictures

June 30:  As I may have mentioned before,  on my way back from Michigan City, Indiana (KMGC) and watching tandem skydivers landing, the air was smooth enough to take a few shore line pictures  on the way back to Benton Harbor airport.   As you can see the beaches of South West Michigan are the most popular places to be in the summer months.

It even looks like the intake water crids at the nuclear plant are smiling, or maybe that’s a fat fish?
Weko Beach – Bridgman, MI.
Saint Joseph Mi. – Silver Beach
Tiscornia Beach Today
Jean Klock Park – Maytag Ironman 70.3 Steelhead Triathelon