Exploring Underwater Ruins, Part II: “The Caissons” in Lake Michigan

While this site may not have the same caliber of mystery and age that the Yonaguni Monument possesses, it still represents an important piece of Chicago history.

After the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, Chicago was faced with an opportunity and a challenge. Chicagoans had the chance to change the face of their city, but even as they realized this they were left with a problem: what were they going to do with all the debris? The fire had consumed much of the primarily wooden city; there was wreckage everywhere.

Some of it was shoveled to the edge of the lake to serve as landfill as part of a project to extend the shoreline and create Grant Park and other public lake front spaces, but not all of it. They actually loaded much of the debris onto enormous barges, sailed due east of the Chicago River, and dumped it between 6 and 10 miles out into Lake Michigan.

How do I know this? Because now, it’s a dive site.

Though much of the debris is now buried, the site is diveable, marked by two caissons that were dumped as well as some ships and barges that were sunk loaded with garbage (including one that was burned to the waterline, then sunk). If you dive this site intending to do some treasure hunting, bring a hand trowel and be ready to get dirty; you can take whatever you find (since it’s considered garbage, it is not a protected area). There have been many objects pulled up over the years: bricks, china, weapons (including, if the rumors are true, Civil War-era daggers and swords), glass bottles, silverware, more bricks, gas streetlamps, porcelain, and bricks, to name a few (there are lots of bricks).

The bad news? The site stretches across four miles of lake; you could find something amazing, or you could find nothing, and you always have to dig in low visibility to find it. The odds may not be in your favor, but the history that Lake Michigan can yield should be enough to intrigue any adventurous spirit.

Special thanks to Captain Jim Gentile, owner of Windy City Diving, who answered my questions and passed along a couple of anecdotes. Check out his dive charters on Lake Michigan at his website: windycitydiving.net.

Exploring Underwater Ruins, Part 1: The Yonaguni Monument

If exploration is in your blood, there are some truly unique diving experiences to be had in the vast expanse of our oceans and waterways, not just on coral reefs or shipwrecks, but on the streets of submerged cities and ruins whose construction and destruction is often a mystery. They can be found around the globe or in our own backyard, and they are all worth exploring... If you can track them down. We'll start with one of the greatest mysteries of underwater archaeology...

Yonaguni Monument, Japan


These structures have puzzled scholars and scientists alike for decades. Discovered off the coast of Japan's Yonaguni Island in 1986, they appear to be large, complex pyramidal structures that have been chiseled out of the existing rockface, not placed there or constructed from free-standing rocks. The question is, chiseled by what?

There are two theories: that the monument is artificial, the remains of a forgotten (but very powerful) civilization, or that the monument is a naturally-occurring effect of erosion by strong current and rock movement along the sea floor. For a natural formation, there is a huge concentration of clean lines and angles.


Check it out with...
The man who discovered it, of course! http://www.yonaguni.jp/en/

New Discoveries in Lake Michigan!

Every city that borders Lake Michigan has its own stories about ships that set off across the treacherous lake, never to return. Among the oldest families are tales of family members lost to the lake in the years when unpredictable weather and a violent winter made sailing Lake Michigan as dangerous as sailing open ocean. Our own Lake Michigan is shrouded in mystery.

Two weeks ago, a local Michigan man named Ross Richardson (pictured to the left, courtesy of sleepingbeardunes.com and credited to Chris Doyal)came a step closer to solving two of these unsolved mysteries. While diving in a secluded area of the lake near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, he discovered two new shipwrecks that have not yet been identified; one appears to be a sailing vessel, the other a steam-powered ship. He also dove a third vessel that has already been identified as the 'James McBride.' He says that one of them contains many artifacts; however, he made the decision to leave them all on the wreck, contenting himself with pictures and videos taken on the wrecks. He told the Traverse City Record-Eagle, "My trophies are the stories, the videos and the photos I can share with people."

His attitude is admirable; it's not uncommon for new wrecks to be "plundered" for historical artifacts, most often for personal collections (see the case of the missing Wells Burt deadeyes). He has so far kept the exact location of these wrecks a secret, just as he did when he discovered the Westmoreland in 2010.

Check out his website, michiganmysteries.com, to watch some amazing videos and follow his progress; learn more about this story from Sleeping Bear Dunes's Blog.

A Shark Lover's Review of the Movie "Shark Night 3D"

As an outspoken shark conservationist (and a lover of all films gimmicky and badly made), I felt that it was my prerogative—nay, my responsibility—to go see this movie. In 3D. At 10:00 at night. In other words, conditions were perfect to enjoy this film that featured sub-par plot development, terrible character motivation, and lots and lots of truly absurd shark behavior. All supplemented by some not-so-bad 3D action and lots of screaming (by the characters, not by the other two people in the theater).

For those of you unfamiliar with this film, I believe I can sum it up in three sentences (spoiler alert: don’t read this part if you still want to see it): a standard group of college students take a weekend trip to a Louisiana saltwater lake expecting a weekend of drunken fun, but instead encounter terror beyond belief thanks to some rogue sharks that have been placed in the water by local hillbillies trying to make underwater shark attack videos and sell them on the internet (I’m not kidding). Limbs are severed, sheriffs turn bad and rock out to Guns n Roses, and bull sharks repeatedly outrun both speedboats and jet skis going 60mph, easily. The most normal characters make it out alive.

There you have it. Shark Night… 3D.

There are some things I feel compelled to point out that may put your mind at ease if this film leaves you hesitant to enter any large body of water for fear of losing limbs to flying bull sharks, great whites, hammerheads, tigers, or flesh-eating cookie-cutter sharks.

1. The aggression the sharks display in this film is 10x that of a shark moving through its’ natural habitat. Can sharks be worked into a “feeding frenzy?” I’ll grant you, that can happen; they’re apex predators. However, sharks do not move and swim in a perpetual frenzy motivated by munching on some tasty human. Sharks are very curious animals, but they eat so seldomly that they swim in a manner that optimizes energy conservation.
2. A shark cannot outrun a jetski going 50 miles an hour. In fact, unless the animal is accustomed to the sound of boats, they generally shy away from unnatural sounds, especially one as loud and pervasive as a motor. They would have no motivation to pursue a strange sound coming from an inedible object on the off-chance that something edible is on top of it. Which brings me to my next point…
3. Bull sharks can’t leap out of the water. The only shark ever documented doing that is the Great White, which supposedly wasn’t “released” until the end of the film.
4. Hammerheads, though supposedly fierce and aggressive, have never been implicated in an attack on human beings. Ever.
5. Sharks ultimately kill to eat, not sever body parts and move on, and they very rarely consume humans. Most shark attack fatalities result from blood loss due to a bite wound because they take exploratory bites to determine the strength of the potential prey; they don’t consume people because we’re larger and more powerful than their average fare (smaller fish, birds, garbage and in the largest cases, seals).

I will close with a note to filmmakers everywhere: putting a blurb in a bad rap at the end of the film about a shark conservation website does not undo the damage that your scary shark film does to the public perception of sharks. This movie is terrible, not only because the plot is almost as bad as the CGI, but because it serves to reinforce a false perception of sharks as evil, bloodthirsty maneaters. That image tends to make people unconcerned about their fast-approaching extinction. We need sharks, and if you need a reason why, check out any number of shark conservation resources such as www.projectaware.org, www.savingsharks.com, or the documentary film Sharkwater.

Join us as we clean up Lake Michigan

Local scuba divers and SCUBA EMPORIUM will participate in Project AWARE’s "Dive against Debris" project by doing a clean-up dive event this Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, at Burnham Harbor in Chicago, IL. As part of SCUBA Emporium's commitment to protecting the ocean and inland lakes, trained divers will not only remove underwater debris such as bags, bottles, fishing line, and other trash but also identify and document everything we see underwater in a larger effort to prevent marine debris.

We are taking a positive, practical approach to the marine debris issue by cleaning up one of Chicago’s landmark harbors from the bottom up. Patrick Hammer, founder of SCUBA Emporium, has been training divers here in the Midwest since he opened his first store in 1974. Mr. Hammer cannot believe all the debris he sees underwater today and wants to get it cleaned up.

"Dive against Debris" is a new program organized worldwide by Project AWARE Foundation, a nonprofit organization mobilizing divers to protect the ocean and inland lakes. This new project has an underwater approach that’s totally unique. It’s a year-round, citizen science program to tackle trash beneath the surface and address its negative impacts.Marine debris – or our trash in the ocean and inland lakes – makes its way to our underwater environments by the ton through poor garbage disposal practices, inland runoff, and deliberate use of the water as a dumping ground. SCUBA Emporium, along with divers around the world, is demanding a permanent reduction in and prevention of the disposal of garbage into the water because it severely damages sensitive marine ecosystems—even in some of the most remote corners of the globe.

Scuba divers are uniquely positioned to tackle the global marine debris issue, to take action every day and prevent debris from entering the ocean. For more information on the Burnham Harbor Clean up Dive, in Chicago on Lake Michigan, contact mark@scubaemporium.com.

Keeping our waterways clean is important and helps the environment. Dive against Debris efforts with Project AWARE will assure clean and safe water for our children.

For additional information in Project AWARE’s Dive Against Debris program and to join the global movement for ocean protection visit www.projectaware.org.

Another Ecoloigcal Success Story: The Southern Right Whale

The eighteenth through the twentieth centuries were dark times in whale history. When whale oil was the currency of the western industrial world, many species of whale were hunted to local extinction; essentially, the species were hunted until the remaining adults simply didn’t know where their breeding rounds were anymore. A famous American example is the east coast island of Nantucket, whose population of right whales has only recently begun to recover from a centuries-long local extinction.

Dubbed the right whale because it was the “right” whale to kill, the right whales were an easy target due to their habits of breeding close to shore and general playfulness. They could be taken down in a longboat launched from shore and brought back in, floating, to the mainland to harvest their blubber. The southern right whales, which spawned in New Zealand, were driven to local extinction that was all but complete by the middle of the twentieth century.

But the more we research marine biology, the clearer it becomes that, given some time and some help, the ocean has a way of recovering from even our most complete efforts to destroy the life within it. A small number of southern right whales have once again moved back to their ancestral breeding ground off the coast of New Zealand and have begun to birth and raise their calves there.

One of the amazing things this demonstrates is that whales have the ability to maintain and pass down vital cultural information from mother to calf, in this case migration and breeding information. This implies that right whales maintain a cultural memory. In much the same way we (often unconsciously) teach our children to recognize and respect the most important aspects of our culture through our behavior, marine mammals also pass vital information to their calves by following the patterns they themselves were taught. When this species was hunted to local extinction, the remaining animals essentially “forgot” where they were born and how to return because they stopped migrating there. Now, it seems that the establishment of their breeding grounds as a protected area has brought them back.

Even though there are only a handful of animals returning this year, they expect the numbers to grow as the whales recognize the area as a safe place to give birth to and raise their young. This also benefits New Zealand tourism; right whales are playful and very visible, often leaping out of the water. If anything, this should serve as a positive message: ocean conservation works! Protected species do recover. However, steps do need to be taken in order to protect the animals that are being hunted to extinction. The recovery of humpback, right, and sperm whales has been slow but steady since the banning of whaling. Take action for your oceans; continue to support whale protection and ocean conservation legislation.

For more information or to read the complete report, check it out at sciencedaily.com.

If you’re interested in learning about the history of whaling in the United States, there is a fascinating book called In the Heart of the Sea: The Wreck of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick. It’s primary focus is on the shipwreck that inspired the climax of Herman Mellville’s Moby Dick, (namely, a sperm whale ramming and sinking the boat) but there is a lot to learn from it about the culture of whaling in that time period.

Mexico is very safe

I just came back from Cancun. I am sorry I have not been there for ten years. I am also sorry that we hear so many bad things about our Mexican friends. I had forgotten how wonderful the people were and now they bend over back wards to please us. Looking for a great trip? My wife sells Apple Vacations and we had a fantastic trip, we flew direct to Mexico. I did not miss the three hours in Miami. We stayed at a wondeful hotel called Dreams. The dives were with the best operation in Cancun or so I think it was, Solo Buceo, they are on the property. If you have not been to Mexico in a while you need to go. It was a wonderful trip. And a very safe place to be.

PADI SELF - RELIANT DIVER

We are glad to offer a new program to those divers looking to do SOLO dives. This is a great program and details safe ways to dive SOLO. For more information contact, Patrick Hammer at patrick@scubaemporium.com. Patrick started his SCUBA life over 45 years ago solo diving, he has a vast knowledge of being a Self-Reliant diver and will teach you the safe ways to solo dive.

DUI DEMO DAYS

This is great you can join us at PEARL LAKE, and try a DUI DRY suit. What a nice thing they do (DUI) and this offers you a chance to try a Dry Suit before you buy one.

Join us for a weekend in the country and Pearl Lake Resort, June 6 and 7. Stop in or call(708) 226-1614 to purchase your tickets.

Teaching Instructors

They all passed and were so happy they dived into the 58 degree water. What a great group. My next week long IDC in Illinois is July 23

Working Hard at the Jamaica IDC

What more could I say about this IDC other than I dig class! I am having so much fun here in Jamaica and the candidates are loving the course. Though I do feel a bit guilty calling this “Hard Work”. The weather is amazing, the water temperature is the perfect, and I have a great group; all of which I believe will pass.



And when they do pass, I’m celebrating by teaching them our new Invasive Lionfish Specialty! This will be unbelievable fun, and then it will be time for the cook out. I can’t wait to find out what the Lionfish tastes like. What do you think should I offer them my Gourmet Diver Specialty?

Have a Great Day Diving
Patrick Hammer

I have a new entry for the Coolest Fish Ever Award. The Barreleye!

This Barreleye usually lives at between 2,000 to 2,600 feet, is only a few inches long, and is thought to eat smaller fish and jellyfish. The best observations scientists have made of this little guy have been with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and attempts to bring intact specimens to the surface have often been thwarted by the fragile structure of its head. Oh, have I mentioned that its head is TRANSPARENT!

 That’s right. As you can see in this photo, the Barreleye has a transparent forehead and its large green eyes are actually inside its head. The eyes are often found looking up through its forehead scanning for prey, but they have found that the eyes can look forward; usually when feeding. Above the mouth it looks as though the Barreleye does have squinty eyes, but those are actually its olfactory organs; much like our nostrils.

Check out this awesome ROV shot video footage of the Barreleye from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)

 

Start a Career in Diving!

It is true one can make a living from the DIVE Industry!

I am conducting a PADI IDC in Jamaica, this week. What is wonderful about the PADI Instructor Development Program (IDC) is that it has become the most sought after dive program in the world. Not only do we have local Jamaicans in the program, but we also have a gentleman from New York. This is what makes the course so interesting: the diversity of the candidate’s backgrounds and goals. The locals are looking to more than double their income by becoming Dive educators, and the divers from the states look to complete the program and then return home to teach in the local stores. Now if fact, I am also seeing an increasing number of people over 50 who are retiring, and teaching diving becomes a way that they can enjoy their golden years, and not tap into their investments.

Our IDCs are offered all over the country, and in the Caribbean. This Jamaican IDC for example is at Sandals Resort. While you might not normally think of Sandals and diving, they have over 20 properties around the Caribbean, and Sandals just might have more Dive boats and Dive Instructors than any other property in the Islands. They by far put more divers in the water than any other company. Sandals are known for their quality and comfort, and that is one reason they want their staff to be PADI educators.  
What is really nice is that I have seen beach attendants who have in a few years moved up to the instructor rating, doubled his pay, and increased his standard of living.  Sure makes me feel real good!

My next Instructor program is at SCUBA EMPORIUM in Orland Park, Illinois starting on May 14. If you are looking for a way to enhance retirement, or just want to have more fun and do more diving, think about our Instructor Development Program. 

post by: Patrick Hammer

Lavacore Is Here!

Scuba Emporium has finally gotten it's order of Lavacore in!

BEHIND THE TECHNOLOGY OF LAVACORE

Lavacore is a technically advanced fabric, constructed and engineered exclusively for water sports requiring the ultimate in thermal control and superior comfort. This unique synthetic construction closely matches the stretch and movement of a traditional lycra rash vest, while providing the insulation qualities similar to that of a Neoprene wetsuit. Close to the skin, Lavacore's soft internal fleece and high 4-way stretch produces the ultimate comfort>warmth>weight ratio, a true leader amongst any fabrics within the water sports industry.

Wet or dry, hot or cold, Lavacore helps control your core temperature longer, whether worn as a stand alone garment, or under your wetsuit or clothing.  

OUTER lycra layer is a 180 g/sqm knitted knylon wrap knit Tricot with water repellant treatment to ensure fast water run off and anti wind chill properties.

INTER layer is an impermeable breathable Microporous high stretch PU film which is wind proof and breathable allowing perspiration to be drawn away in hot conditions.

INNER Fleece layer is a 240g/sqm 4 way stretch polyester fleece with elastane. It has Anti Pill treatment, as well as Anti Microbial treatment to reduce odour and eliminate bacteria. 

CORE FEATURES 

• Water resistant outer layer on all lavacore suits facilitates fast water run off and is incredibly quick drying.
  
• Wind proof middle layer provides anti wind chill properties and ensures you stay warm in cold conditions.
• Antibacterial inner fleece minimising odour and eliminating bacteria.
• 4-way stretch makes Lavacore incredibly comfortable to wear.
• Breathable middle layer allows perspiration to be drawn away in hot conditions.
• Lavacore is neutrally buoyant so you won’t be unnecessarily weighted down.
• All Lavacore seams are overlapped during flatlock sewing to ensure maximum water integrity
• Full gusset incorporated into the underarm to offer exceptional arm movement and stretch.
• Sun protection of SPF 30+
• Male & Female specific cut available in full length suits, shirts and vests.
• Lavacore is designed and developed in Cooperation with AERIS, your guarantee of quality.

Check out the catalog here, or stop by Scuba Emporium and check out this fantastic product in person. You wont believe how it feels!

If you Can’t Beat ‘em, Cook ‘em!

So why is a fish that is so beloved in the Pacific the newest Evil Boogeyfish of the Atlantic and Caribbean? Because it breeds at an amazing rate, it eats a large number of tiny reef fish, and it has no natural predators here to keep it in check.

Every month a single Lionfish has the potential to lay 30,000 eggs. If each egg hatches and they also lay 30,000 eggs, you would end up with 8.1 quintillion Lionfish after just three months. Since Lionfish have been known to eat up to 53 juvenile fish before they finish digesting the first, you can imagine how quickly the voracious Lionfish can devastate a reef when no natural predators are there to gobble up a good number of these aggressive ornate guys.

So how do we thin the herd until balance is returned to the reef? 

I would say PADI’s new Invasive Lionfish Tracker Specialty would be a great way to start. The Invasive Lionfish Tracker Specialty class will teach you about the skills and equipment you need to successfully capture, transfer, transport, and euthanize a Lionfish: without incident or injury. And by a surprising coincidence Scuba Emporium’s newest specialty is Invasive Lionfish Tracker. 

Then the only question left is… what do you do with all these tasty, humanely euthanized Lionfish?

I say Eat ‘em Up!

Once you’ve learned to safely deal with the Lionfish’s venomous spines in the your Invasive Lionfish Tracker Specialty class, check out this website to find some great Lionfish Recipies. I think my favorite is the Fluffy Battered Lionfish: maybe the Lionfish Ceviche.

And if you want to learn more about the how the Lionfish is being dealt with in the Caribbean, check out two of our previous posts Shark are Showing their Worth Again and Lionfish, the Beautiful Outlaw.

16th Century Wreck filled with Jade, Coins, and History

Deep Blue Marine Underwater Recovery thinks they uncovered a wreck of the Dominican Republic that sank not long after Columbus “Discovered” America.

The wreck has been tentatively named after the Captain of the ship that found it: “Rawson’s Wreck.” Locals have secretly known Rawson’s Wreck, but it is thought that the actual discovery of this wreck by other treasure hunters was hindered by its close proximity to a sunken German Steel-Hulled wreck. Deep Blue Marine feels any previous sweeps of the area that set off magnetometers would have been attributed to the German wreck and not investigated. It wasn’t until they moved the mast of that German ship that they were able to pinpoint the artifacts under the sand with there own metal detectors.
 
It is though that most artifacts have settled deep into the sand, but Deep Blue Marine reports “simply moving the sand between the coral and rock fissures, we have found silver coins, silver discs with imprinted seals, indigenous stone figurines, small pieces of gold jewelry, and other artifacts such as stone cannon balls and small iron balls covered with lead.  Additionally, we have found a 5-link iron chain (encrusted with sulfides) that was used to support the boat rigging.  At this point we are quite certain that this ship went down sometime in the middle of the 16th century as most of the coins appear to have been minted in the original Mexico City mint prior to 1550.”

My favorite detail from this story is how they determined that the ship sank in a Hurricane. “While the prevailing winds in this area typically blow from east to west, hurricane winds are quite the opposite and blow from west to east.  The position of the ballast stones and the artifacts on this site suggest that the ship blew in from west to east, as would happen in a hurricane.”

As they search deeper into the sand, I can’t wait to hear what else they find. Hopefully they will continue to uncover treasures and stories of early European exploration. And continue to excite us all with what can be discovered as we dive under the surface of the sea.

Loggerhead Sea Turtles: the compass of the sea

I’ve got a confession to make. At times I park my car, go into a store, and when I come out I have to use my key fob to beep my way back to my car. I can’t tell you how many cars I lost before I bought a car with an electric key fob. That is why I have always been amazed at how animals can migrate thousands of miles and find there way back to the same locations months and years later.

Recently a new study from the University of North Carolina thinks it has unlocked the secret of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle’s migration.

The BBC reported “although several species of turtles are known to use magnetic cues to determine latitude, it was believed that this wasn't possible for longitude. However, the loggerhead turtles have managed to surprise researchers by developing a method that involves using the strength and angle of the Earth's magnetic field.

Nathan Putman, the lead author of the research, emphasized that "the most difficult part of open-sea navigation is determining longitude or east-west position".

 

"It took human navigators centuries to figure out how to determine longitude on their long-distance voyages."

Loggerhead hatchlings, however, are able to manage this feat as soon as they reach the sea from their nests.

On reaching the sea, the hatchlings are able to establish the correct course to the open ocean. The young loggerheads then spend several years successfully navigating complex migratory routes over thousands of miles of ocean.

To carry out the research loggerhead hatchlings from Florida were placed in circular water containers and tethered to electronic tracking systems to monitor their swimming direction. The hatchlings were then exposed to magnetic fields that replicated the fields they would come across in two locations on the same latitude but different longitude along their migratory route. The turtles reacted to each magnetic field by swimming in the directions that would, in the real location, take them along their circular migratory route. The researchers say this shows that the hatchlings are able to determine longitude-using information from the magnetic field.

Nathan Putman explains that "along the migratory route of loggerheads, nearly all regions are marked by unique combinations of intensity (field strength) and inclination angle (the angle that field lines intersect the surface of the Earth)".

"Thus, turtles can determine longitudinal position by using pairings of intensity and inclination angle as an X, Y coordinate system.”

Nathan Putman’s collogue, Dr Kenneth Lohmann said “This not only solves a long-standing mystery of animal behaviour but may also be useful in sea turtle conservation”

If you want to learn more about Loggerhead (and other) Sea Turtles, stop into Scuba Emporium and ask us about our Sea Turtle Awareness Specialty Program.

Sharks are Showing their Worth Again

Photograph by Antonio Busiello

Off the coast of Honduras the Caribbean Reef sharks are being fed Lionfish in hopes of giving them a taste for the new invasive species. The Lionfish population is growing fast, and until the local predators learn to eat the exotic visitors, the Lionfish will continue to consume the reef’s population of small fish; which are needed to help keep the reef clean and healthy.

Photograph by Antonio Busiello

Unfortunately the oceans shark population is disappearing fast, and if we don’t stop over-fishing them for fins, food, and trophies we may loose there help forever.




If you want to help make a change click on over to Project Aware’s webpage and sign the petition to Help Give Sharks a Fighting Chance.

What's Hard, Black, and Ready for Action...The New SeaLife Mini II

After months of waiting he new SeaLife Mini II has arrived at Scuba Emporium!!! The long awaited return of this Amazing little camera has had Underwater Photographers jumping out of their dive boots in joy. This feature rich, ultra tough little camera is priced perfect for the entry-level underwater photographer, and loved as a back up camera by even the most experienced of shooters.

• Waterproof to 130ft / 40m
• Shockproof 6ft / 2m
• Fully Rubber-Armored
• Large, wide spread 3-button operation for easy operation
• Easy Set-up mode 1-2-3 graphic on-screen guide for setting camera mode – no complicated menus.

• Land Auto mode for action land pictures & videos in extreme conditions
• Dive and Snorkel modes for underwater exposure control and color correction – no more blue pictures
• External Flash mode for integration with external flash to enhance color and brightness underwater.                                                                             

   

• Video mode at 30fps with Sound
• Soft Rubber grip design for sure grip.
• Spy Mode – The camera automatically shoots continuous pictures at set time intervals.
• Compact, Slim design (pocket size)
• 2x AAA batteries Alkaline(included), NiMH rechargeable or Energizer Ultimate lithium batteries.
• Self-contained dive camera (no housing)
• 9 megapixels for sharp, high-resolution pictures.
• Large 2.4" TFT Color LCD for easy on-camera viewing
• Instant focus lens from 2 ft to infinity
• SD and SDHC card compatible (8GB recommended). 

So stop by Scuba Emporium and check out this little beauty in person; or click on over to Scuba Emporium’s Website.

One Month until we start Diving Lake Michigan!!!

The Best Wrecks in the Mid-West are lying just under Lake Michigan’s surface and waiting to be explored. There are beginner’s wrecks in just 15 feet of water, and more advanced and challenging wrecks lying in water over 100 feet deep. You can get over 70 feet of visibility in the right conditions, and the cool fresh water keep these historic wrecks preserved in incredible condition.

Scuba Emporium and Windy City Diving have joined together again to offer twelve great day trips to the best wreck in our area. We’ll be checking out wrecks such as:

Thomas Hume The schooner Thomas Hume, which was operating in the busy lumber industry hauling lumber from Muskegon to Chicago, went missing with six men aboard during a squall on Lake Michigan on May 21, 1891.

Buccaneer Chicago’s newest dive site is ready. Built in 1925 as an Ice Breaker, the M/V Buccaneer is resting upright on the bottom of Lake Michigan, 10 miles off Chicago in 70FFW. Straits of Mackinac Intentionally sunk in 2003, this 204′ car ferry offers something for every diver. Sitting upright in 82 feet of water with her main deck just over 45′ down, the “Straits” has become Chicago’s premier dive site. Wells Burt Sitting in only 40 feet of water, this three masted schooner was built in 1873. Though she sank in 1883, she is considered by many to be one of the best shipwrecks in Illinois waters. St. Mary This 120’ wooden schooner sits in 105 feet of water. Although the wreck has collapsed on itself all the pieces are there including the ship’s wheel, anchors and more. Rotarian A 147’ side-wheel paddle steamer that was intentionally sunk in 1937. Today she sits in 85 feet of water. Illinois & Holly Barge At the time of her sinking in 1907, the Illinois was the largest hydraulic dredge on the Lake. Today she rests in 35 feet of water near another dive site, the Holly Barge, Chicago’s first intentional shipwreck. Wings of Wind Built in 1855 this 130’ wooden schooner sank as a result of a collision in 1866. In salvaging her cargo of coal the stern section of this wreck was destroyed. Resting in 40 feet of water, today you can dive her 65’ bow section with bowsprit and windlass. Many excellent photo opportunities exist. Tacoma Sunk in 1929 this 72’ wooden tug sits upright on the bottom in 35 feet of water. The large propeller offers great photos Material Service Barge This 239’ self-loading barge was built in 1929. Her unique design allowed her to navigate under the bridges of Chicago without them being raised. She sank during a storm in 1936. Today she sits upright in 30 feet of water. So come by the store and sign up while we still have room. …and here is GREAT article to check out about Diving into Adventure in the Windy City from the Dive News Network