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