Mackinac

Date: June 22-24

Intermediate & Advanced Divers
It’s amazing how many shipwrecks are scattered by the Mackinac Bridge! Many are intact and the visibility is usually excellent with water temperatures comfortable. There are a variety of schooners, steamers and freighters to explore. Signature wrecks include the Cedarville, a steel freighter laying on her starboard side in 105ft of water. The Eber Ward, sits upright, postcard perfect in 140 ft. Shown in the picture is the Sandusky, a schooner with jib booms, bowsprit, two anchors, deadeyes and replicate figurehead on the bowsprit. A favorite is the William Young that was discovered in 2002. She is a intact wooded schooner barge that sits upright in 120ft. Her bow split open when she hit the bottom and her chains and anchors are spilled onto the lake floor. Her wheel, deadeyes, pulleys, and other equipment are scattered about the wreck.

Package Includes:
Mackinac City accommodations Friday - Sunday based on double occupancy, two tank boat dives on Saturday and on Sunday, hotel breakfast daily, Sub-Aquatic Sports T-shirt and SASS dive guide.

Cost: $429

Check out pictures from previous Mackinac dives.

Milwaukee

Date: July 6-8

Intermediate & Advanced Divers
A 5-hour drive will put you on the west side of Lake Michigan where you can explore some unique shipwrecks. Signature wrecks include the Prins Willem V, resting in 80ft of water. She was destined to be underwater. In 1940, before even completely built, the Netherlands army scuttled the ship to block the New Waterway River at Rotterdam from Germans. Once recovered and reconditioned, she was used extensively in the St Lawrence Seaway. In 1954 she collided with not one but two ships and once again sits on the bottom. The Car Ferry Milwaukee is another popular dive site. She is 318 ft steel railroad car ferry that was loaded with 27 box cars and 52 passengers. This site has plenty of things to explore such as railcars, cars and bath tubs. Penetration is possible for the trained and experienced diver. She sank during a storm. Theory has it that the rail cars became loose during the gale and crashed through her Seagate, allowing water to come over the stern. Lives lost: all 52.

Package Includes:
Hotel accommodations Friday - Sunday based on double occupancy, two tank boat dives on Saturday and on Sunday, hotel breakfast Sub-Aquatic Sports T-shirt and SASS dive guide.

Cost: $399

Check out these videos of the ferry at Milwaukee and the Prins Willem V wreck:

Prins Willem V Wreck at Milwaukee on YouTube

Ferry at Milwaukee on YouTube


Tobermory

Date: July 20-22

Beginner & Intermediate Divers
There are 20 historical shipwrecks beneath the clear cold waters of the Bruce Peninsula and all are part of the Fathom Five National Marine Park. Those new to diving will be comfortable on the sunken tugboats off the beach and exploring the rock formations around the lighthouse. Signature sites include the Niagara II which was intentionally sunk for divers in 1999. This steel sand sucker is intact with her wheelhouse at 45ft and both the bow and stern decks at 65ft If the group feels comfortable, we will explore the Arabia at 110ft. The Arabia is a three-masted, 131 ft long schooner built in 1853. The Arabia foundered during a storm. She sits upright with the captain's wheel and a memorial stone on the starboard side.

Package Includes:
Waterside hotel accommodations Friday - Sunday based on double occupancy, two tank boat dives on Saturday and on Sunday, hotel breakfast daily, Sub-Aquatic Sports T-shirt and SASS dive guide.

Cost: $429

NOTE: YOU NEED A PASSPORT TO ENTER CANADA


Whitefish

Date: August 3–5

Intermediate & Advanced Divers
Located at the top of the Michigan Upper Peninsula is Whitefish Point, a wonderful place for those who love diving and the outdoors. The isolated location of this port offers the solitude and charm of a small town with plenty to see and experience. For many years, our focus on Whitefish Point has been for technical divers but not this year. We will explore the ships sitting in 50-130ft of water. Possible dives will be on the Panther, a 237 ft wooden steamer in 110ft of water. Divers can see two anchors in the bow area, grain cargo and tools in the stern. The Niagara is a three-masted wooden schooner-barge that capsized during a storm in 1887. The Sagamore is a unique Whaleback Barge measuring 308ft in length; she sank in collision with the Northern Queen in 1901. Three lives were lost and she now rest in 65ft of water.

Package Includes:
Waterside motel accommodations Friday - Sunday based on double occupancy, two tank boat dives on Saturday and on Sunday, Sub-Aquatic Sports T-shirt and SASS dive guide.

Cost: $429

Great Lakes Trips Policies

Payment: $100 deposit is necessary to guarantee space on this trip. Final payment is due 30 days prior to departure.

Cancellation Policy: This trip is non-refundable unless you or SASS can refill your space. If space is refilled all money will be refunded except for a $50 fee to cover administration fees and advertising cost.

Weather Policy:As we like to say, ‘those ships are on the bottom for a reason’. The Great Lakes can be rough and your safety is our utmost concern. Sometimes it is necessary to cancel charters without much notice due to wave conditions. These cancellations are at the discretion of the charter boat captain. SASS does not control cancellations or refunds for missed dives.

Thermo Protection: Most people dive with 7mm wetsuits and hoods, boots, gloves. A drysuit is wonderful but not necessary to explore our Great Lake Shipwrecks. Water temperatures depend on the location and currents. You can expect temperatures to be in the high 40’s to low 60’s.