Local News Article on Great Lakes Shipwrecks

[Swimjim]

Three months to get certified in '77? I got certified in '78 and it only took six weeks. Of course I only got a basic card. It took a few more dives to get "open water". Todays equivelent is advanced.
I know the industry would never go for it, but I think the sport would be better off if they went back to more class and pool time like they had in the old days. I got recertified a couple years back and it was tooo easy. Just my opinion.
I remember those old days well. I dove the Niagara before the *******'s destroyed the paddle wheel. It is true that many divers dove to strip the wrecks. They would justify thier actions by saying if it werent for them noone would get to see the stuff they brought up. By doing what they did nobody got to see it anymore, thats for sure. Many a great lakes treasure sits in some morons garage rusting away for nothing. The good news is that with the laws currently alot of these people no longer dive as they can no longer loot things. At least without the fear of getting busted. Some are still out there. I've seen thier calling card. Oh well. I'll get off my box now. Please for give the rambelings of a diver who's been around a bit.

Jim