Eastern Lake Erie Wreck Diving
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The eastern end of Lake Erie is cold and dark - but the wrecks are in pristine condition except for the zebra mussels everywhere. They are a catch 22 - they scum up the wrecks, but keep the water crystal clear. Water temps are low 40's at depth. It's quite dark, so you will want a BFL, to be sure. Viz on all wrecks but the Passaic, which is shallow and above the second thermocline, was an astonishing 80-120 ft.
July 17-21, 2000
Normoxic Trimix Training on the M/V Southwind, Westfield New York; with Captain Jim Herbert of Osprey Dive Charters. Captain Jim and mate Roger run a most excellent tech diving trip. |
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| Dive partner Peter (left, in blue) and I tie off a lift bag. |
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Wrecks we dove:
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photo by Lonnie Sharp, technical instructor |
Passaic - 198 ft propellor package freighter carrying lumber, sunk in about 80 ft of water in a gale in 1862 just off Dunkirk, NY. When the crew was paid, they were docked 2 days pay for the time they were awaiting rescue. The Passaic was thought to be the Dean Richmond, so was dynamited by salvors who wanted her safe. The boilers, firebox, gears, and engine are still standing. Nice dive.
Washington Irving - 81 ft, two-masted schooner carrying coal and pig iron, sunk mysteriously in 1860 near Dunkirk, NY in 120 ft of water. Both masts are still standing but leaning as the entire wreck lists to port. There were lots of deadeyes which were covetously fondled by the east coast divers among us. The bowsprit is quite long and is intact. A very nice dive.
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Me, on the Dean Richmond.
Gear:
double Al 63's 21/30 trimix
Al 63 stage, 50% O2
DUI TLS350 SP drysuit
AUL Meteor 4 cannister light |
Oxford - 114 ft schooner carrying iron ore, sunk in 160 ft of water off the Erie PA harbor entrance in a collision with the steamer Cataract in 1856, taking the captain, his family, and 2 crew members. Her large tiller is prominently visible as are the masts, as one descends. The damage from the collision that sunk her is visible on the starboard bow. She is amazingly well preserved because of her depth. The offset centerboard, rigging, winches, windlass, and bilge pumps still in place give one the Erie feeling that she is about to set sail once again. Beautiful dive.
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Dean Richmond - 238 ft wood twin propellor carrying flour and pig iron foundered in a storm on Oct. 31, 1893, sinking in 110 ft of water after having departed on Friday Oct 13. Entering a gale with a damaged rudder appears to be a more likely cause of her demise. Two crew members perished with her. She lies somewhat turtled on her starboard side, so a swim along the deck allows easy entry into her open hatches. Penetration should only be attempted by those trained in wreck penetration techniqeus. Her engine room entrance is buried in siltand should not be entered without extensive training and experience. One propellor remains, the other having been salvaged with the safe years ago. We searched a debris field for some of her zinc ingots without success. This was a really fun dive.
Here's part of her pilothouse, covered in zebras.
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Cracker - this 118 ft 3 masted scow is still unidentified. Captain Jim reported the name was given as the crew who located her were eating crackers at the time. Little else is known about this truly well-preserved wreck in 190+ ft of water. The cabin is intact and contains a chimney pipe. She's easy to inspect from the exterior using a good light. There is a beautiful carved figurehead on her blunt bow. A few snagged nets give the feeling of a fantasy Disney movie. This was my favorite wreck and my favorite dive.
John J. Boland - 253-ft bulk freighter (canaler) with triple expansion steam engine, took on water in high swells as her holds were open to accommodate an oversize cargo. She sank suddenly in 135 ft on October 5, 1932, 7 miles from Barcelona, NY, taking 4 crew with her. She lies on her starboard side, so after ascending on the he tie-in at the prop, it's easy to follow her deck to the bow. Huge hatches are open and chunks of coal can be found in the silt outside. Her pilothouse can be explored without penetrating. Another awesome dive.
I highly recommend a trip to these wrecks with Captain Jim. Take your drysuit.
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| Our totally excellent instructors: |
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| Lee Livingston |
Joel Silverstein |
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| Cast of Characters, from left: Joel Silverstein, Peter Kohut, Lonnie Sharp (back,) Luann Lee, Jay Wells, Jim Brannigan, and Lee Livingston. Not pictured: Bob Bondi |
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