Courtesy GISGeography

Lake Michigan — the only Great Lake entirely within the United States — stretches from the industrial ports of Chicago and Gary to the remote wilderness of the Upper Peninsula. Its underwater preserves protect a diverse collection of wrecks, from massive ore carriers to wooden schooners, all shaped by the lake’s unique geography and fierce weather. This specialty explores Michigan’s geological story, its shipping legacy, and the ecological issues that define it today.

This specialty is one of six required for the Great Lakes Master Scuba Diver certification.

What You’ll Learn

Classroom / Online Presentations covering:

• The geological processes that created Lake Michigan
• Its place and function within the hydrological network of the five Great Lakes
• The development of shipping technology commonly used on the lake
• The background and basic causes of its shipwrecks
• The history of its marine preserves
• Ecological challenges — past, present, and future
• Resources available for researching shipwrecks for open water dives

Confined Water Training

Skills reviewed and practiced during confined water sessions include:

• Configuration and management of the scuba kit to be used on dives
• Establishing optimum weighting and buoyancy control
• Rescue techniques
• Appropriate fin kick skills
• Deployment, use, and retrieval of penetration lines

Independent Research

You will conduct independent research into specific shipwrecks available to recreational divers within defined underwater preserves. This includes visiting a maritime museum and utilizing suggested reference materials — books, videos, and websites.

For each wreck, you will prepare information covering:

• Type of ship, design, and construction details
• Circumstances of its sinking
• Areas or configurations requiring extra care for safe recreational diving
• A recommended dive plan for exploring the wreck

Open Water Dives

Four dives on at least two different wrecks within Lake Michigan’s underwater preserves. During the dives you will:

• Conduct a navigation and overview of the wreck
• Take measurements and map its orientation and structures
• Document specific features through sketches, photos, or hand-drawn maps
• Practice penetration techniques outside of the wreck