LOCAL DIVE SITES

Lake Huron

Of the nine underwater preserves in Michigan, the thumb area is within easy reach of two such protected preserve areas.  The Sanilac Shores Preserve covers 163 square miles and contains many different types of wrecks, from schooners and tugs to freighters and steamers.  Depths are generally within 120' and all the wrecks are buoyed in the summertime which makes them easily accessible by charter or private boat. 

One of the more popular sites include the Regina, a 250' steel package freighter that sank in the gale of 1913,  It rests upside down in 80 feet of water.  Another popular dive site is the wreck of the Sport, a 57' tugboat that sank in 1920.  It lies upright in about 50' of water.  Other wreck sites include the Checotah and New York, which lie within a few hundred yards of each other in about 120' of water, the Mary Alice B., which lies upright and totally intact in 94' of water, and the Eliza H. Strong.

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                      The Regina now rests upside down in 80' of water.

Pushing on up to the tip of the thumb is the Thumb Area Underwater Preserve which covers 276 square miles and contains 14 major shipwrecks.  Among the most popular are the Philadelphia and the Albany, which collided in 1893.  The Philadelphia rests upright in about 100' of water.  The Albany, a 267' steamer, lies in 150 feet of water.  Other wrecks include the Goliath, an early steamer, and the Dunderberg, which has her distinctive alligator figurehead still in place and lies in 161' of water.

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                       The distinctive alligator figurehead of the Dunderberg.

 

 

The St. Clair River

"Go jump in the river!" - the St. Clair River, that is.   The St. Clair River connects Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair and is located on the east side of Michigan, separating it from Canada.  A very busy river with an extremely swift current, this dive is not for everyone. 

The river is used by 1000 foot freighters as well as pleasure boaters and personal watercraft users who sometimes confuse a dive flag for a slalom course.  Divers must take extra caution on ascent, coming directly to the surface in heavy boat traffic could cause a very serious accident.   Always have a dive flag marking your entry point.  A dive tool can come in handy due to fishing lines and debris that can entangle a diver or his/her gear. 

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Steve goes over dive tables with students.           Boaters must stay 200' from a dive flag.

 

 

Dive Inn Watersports - 627 Huron Avenue - Port Huron, Michigan 48060 (810) 987-6263               email:diveinn@advnet.net

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