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Eastern Lake Erie Wreck Diving
July 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 2001 |
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Fun diving - Boat is $500 per person;
tanks and fills for trimix and nitrox extra Below are some photos from the July 17-21, 2000 trip |
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Normoxic Trimix Training on the M/V Southwind, Westfield New York; with Captain Jim Herbert of Osprey Dive Charters. Captain Jim and mate Roger run a most excellent tech diving trip. The fresh water on the eastern end of Lake Erie is cold and dark - but the wrecks are in pristine condition. The water flow ends up over the Niagra Falls. The zebra mussels cover most of the wrecks everywhere. They are a catch 22 - they scum up the wrecks, but keep the water crystal clear. Water temps are low 40's at depth. It's quite dark, so you will want a high powered lighting system to be sure. Visibility due to the helpful filter feeders is spectacular. It was not uncommon on the deeper wrecks to have clarity extending for upwards of 100 feet. |
| Peter (left, in blue) and Luann tie off a lift bag. |  |
| Wrecks we dived: |
photo by Lonnie Sharp
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| Passaic - 198 foot-long propeller package freighter carrying lumber, sank in about 80 feet of water in a gale in 1862 just off Dunkirk, NY. When the crew was paid, they were docked 2 days pay for the time they were awaiting rescue. The Passaic was once thought to be the Dean Richmond, so was dynamited by salvors who wanted her safe. The boilers, firebox, gears, and engine are still standing. Nice dive. Washington Irving - 81 foot-long two-masted schooner carrying coal and pig iron, sank mysteriously in 1860 near Dunkirk, NY in 120 feet of water. Both masts are still standing but leaning as the entire wreck lists to port. There were lots of deadeyes which were covetously fondled by the east coast divers among us. The bowsprit is quite long and is intact. As you swim around the wreck it's easy to envision the crew milling about on this sunken treasure of a wreck dive. |
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Luann and Peter on the Dean Richmond |
| Oxford - 114 foot-long schooner carrying iron ore, sank in 160 feet of water off the Erie, PA harbor entrance in a collision with the steamer Cataract in 1856, taking the captain, his family, and two crew members. Her large tiller is prominently visible as are the masts. The damage from the collision is visible on the starboard bow. She is amazingly well preserved due to the fresh cold water and incredible pressure. The offset centerboard, rigging, winches, windlass, and bilge pumps still in place give one the eerie feeling that she is about to set sail once again. Beautiful dive. |
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| Dean Richmond - 238 foot-long wood twin propeller carrying flour and pig iron foundered in a storm on October 31, 1893, sinking in 110 feet of water after having departed on Friday Oct 13. Entering a gale with a damaged rudder appears to be a more likely cause of her demise. Two crew members perished with her. She lies on her starboard side, so a swim along the deck allows easy entry into her open hatches. Penetration should only be attempted by those trained in wreck penetration techniques. Her engine room entrance is buried in silt and should not be entered without extensive training and experience. One propeller remains, the other having been salvaged with the safe years ago. We searched a debris field for some of her zinc ingots without success. This was a really fun dive. Here's part of her pilothouse, covered in zebras. |
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| Cracker - this 118 foot-long three masted scow is still unidentified. Captain Jim reported the name was given as the crew who located her were eating crackers at the time. Little else is known about this truly well-preserved wreck in 195 feet of water. The cabin is intact and contains a chimney pipe. She's easy to inspect from the exterior using a good light. There is a beautiful carved figurehead on her blunt bow. A few snagged nets give the feeling of a fantasy Disney movie. All would agree this was our favorite dive. John J. Boland - 253 foot-long bulk freighter (canaler) with triple expansion steam engine, took on water in high swells as her holds were open to accommodate an oversize cargo. She sank suddenly in 135 feet of water on October 5, 1932, seven miles from Barcelona, NY, taking four crew with her. She lies on her starboard side, so after ascending on the tie-in at the prop, it's easy to follow her deck to the bow. Huge hatches are open and chunks of coal can be found in the silt outside. Her pilothouse can be explored without penetrating. Another awesome dive. We will be diving these wrecks again next spring. Check out our course/dive schedule for dates. |
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| Lee Livingston, Technical Instructor | Joel Silverstein, Technical Instructor |
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| Cast of Characters, from left: Joel Silverstein, Peter Kohut, Lonnie Sharp (back,) Luann Lee, Jay Wells, Jim Brannigan, and Lee Livingston. Not pictured: Bob Bondi | |