lake michigan water temp - in summer???

[FreediveWI]

August is when you want to go.

I've had 74 degrees inside the break wall doing training dives and 69 outside the wall on the wrecks- down to 100'+.

The big factor is wind. If you go in after a big eastrly blow you get all that warm surface water coming in from across the lake. It builds up on this side of the lake and pushes the thermocline down deeper.

There have been plenty of dives where Jerry and I were diving in our swimsuits on the Willy, Wisconsin, Norland, #6 Dredge and others in the Milwauke area - and south.

Pick and choose your times carefully and you'll be fine. 8)

For some reason the water is always cold off of Port Washington. ??? We could be diving swimsuits in Milwaukee on a Wednesday night charter and end up wearing a drysuit for a weekend dive on the Niagra- go figure?

A 6/7mm suit is needed and a drysuit is always the best bet if you want to do any amount of diving here at all. If you must have warm water temps I've gotten 82 degrees in the local lakes, during July and August, many times.

If you get into any of the "bay" areas water temps go way up- just like on the inside of the breakwall. Try up in Door County or over in some place like Tobermory.

One last thing to keep in mind with the warmer temps- vis goes down, somtimes WAY down.

Jon