Lake Superior - Whitefish Point - Trip Report

[Omicron]

This weekend Doug, Al, George H, Chris H, Bob B and I dove Whitefish Point using Abyss Dive Charters () who I highly recommend.

On our arrival Friday night the weather was horrid - 20 knot winds with rain and the air temperature was 50 degrees. We stayed around a campfire for all of a minute or so and then retired to the tents. Early Saturday morning we were up and on our way to the harbor. Air temp was low-mid sixties with a forecast in the mid seventies. The water was virtually glass - maybe, MAYBE the occasional 1 foot wave.

We went to the shipwreck of the Vienna first, a wooden steamer. This is a deeper dive but you can do the wreck and still stay within the 130' recreational limit. This wreck was our favorit - absolutely GORGEOUS! It's intact and upright with damage on the bow. The stern still has complete railing and water marks, rudder and prop. The engine/boiler is massive. As you swim from stern to bow on the port side you find these circular grate covers in the deck. Looking in the cargo holds you can find firehoses. Midship there is a lifeboat leaning on it's side on the shipwreck - AWESOME!! Our dive was done at an average depth of 125 and we were already approaching NDL's by the time we reached the lifeboat at midship - by the time Doug and I made it back to the ascent line we were entering deco. Max depth was 127'.

Our next dive was the wreck of the Sadie Thomson, a wooden barge with cranes and work materials on it. It took us a LONG time to get a proper hook on her as she wasn't buoyed, but we got it eventually. The wreck is upside down at an angle, supported by her crane. It's a fun wreck with LOTS and LOTS of stuff to see - huge gears, machinery, tools, various pipes/fittings. The huge bell is still there and if you look around you can still find these old, large worklights affixed to the scaffolding on the wreck. There are also some large bitts to look at on the underside of the wreck which was fun to explore. While at first sight it doesn't seem like there is much to see on this wreck, every time you made another pass you saw something more. It was very fun. Max depth as 111'.

We were back at the dock by 1.30PM, the reason we were so late was we spent so much time hooking the Sadie T. That afternoon we went and viewed the great waterfalls in the area and enjoyed a local microbrew.

The next day we were up earlier and broke camp and packed up. Once again, temps were going to hit mid seventies and the water WAS glass. We were on the boat early and out to the wreck of the Vienna once again - the general consensus was that we could have all dove that wreck a dozen times without complaints. This dive was similar to first for Doug and I, except that we travelled all the way to the bow (last time having turned around after viewing the lifeboat midship). We swam through the cargo hold looking at the timber, ladder and firehose - this gave us our deepest depth on this wreck, 143'. We examined the bow looking at the damage from the collision that sunk it, and the huge chain amid the wreckage. Once again we were entering deco and we went back to the line to do our deep stops and begin our ascent.

Next, we had a 30-45 minute trip out to the shipwreck of the Panther. I was a little apprehensive as it has been described as pile of junk on the bottom - but not so! While this wreck has seen significant damage, it is still a great shipwreck to dive. There is still intact decking, the MASSIVE boiler system, a stack that you can swim through, some big gears off to the side of the wreck...lots of Burbot hiding in nooks and crannies, and a lot of the sculpin (spelling/name??) fish all over the wreck. It was as fun dive, max depth was about 98'.

Overall, it was a great weekend - I would highly, highly, highly recommend the shipwreck of the Vienna to anyone with the training and experience to do so, and the rest of the wrecks as well. It was a GREAT trip!

[jasondbaker]

Great report! That looks like a heck of a drive. Where did you camp?

[Omicron]

We kept a pretty steady 65MPH pace with two short bathroom breaks and made it in about 6-6 1/2 hours.

We camped in the River Mouth section of the Tahquamenon State Forest - not a bad campground at all. We tented in the semi-modern campground (no electricity, pit toilets, etc...traditional camping) but apparently running water/showers were available a short walk to the modern campground where the RV'ers stayed.

Here's a small link to info about the park:

[FreediveWI]

Another nice recrreational wreck up there is the Sagmore.

She is a mostly intact whale back sunk in only 65' of water. You can swim through her hull form one end through to the opening in her stern- where she was smashed. She lies over close to the Samual Mather, which is much deeper but still remains my favorite wreck up there.

Did you get down to the park at Taquamenon? They have their own new brew pub, icecream shop and an outside fire pit with rocking chairs for 50 people.

Jon

[Omicron]

I was definitely interested in the Sagamore as I've read about that one a few times and I would love to see the famous tug rings and pig nose on one of those boats. Unfortunately we didn't make it to that one.

We did make it to the park though - and visited the brewpub for a good stout ;D

[FreediveWI]

Me on the bow- taken by my old dive buddy, Peter.

Jon

[Chris H]

I have to agree with Jason, this was a great trip. Knowing there are other good dives up there make it even better. great picture Jon. I suspect Doug will share a few of his after he gets them doctored up a bit. The few I saw on his laptop at the campground looked pretty promising.

[Omicron]

I'm jealous of that picture Freedive - I would really like to have seen that one...maybe next year!

And yeah Chris, doug got some great photos. I can't wait to see them!

[dfreeman]

Great diving up in the UP. Got some great pictures and will be posting some good ones. Would like to dive the Vienna again.

The Panther was also very interesting. Here is Jason checking out some of the part with his Light Cannon.

Doug

[dfreeman]

Jason Checking out the lifeboat on the Vienna. Not getting away on this boat. This is at over 110 foot depth. That Light Cannon comes in handy down here.

Doug