Chicago Rebreather Diving

ntokyo · 12th January 2008, 00:34

I have to go to Chicago in February-March, and I do not know the area at all.

Can you dive nearby Chicago (I am staying in Evanston) ?
Is there any Rebreather Friendly shop ?

Advice and information is welcome !

Nicolas

Skipbreather · 12th January 2008, 16:13

Quote: (Originally Posted by ntokyo)

I have to go to Chicago in February-March, and I do not know the area at all.

Can you dive nearby Chicago (I am staying in Evanston) ?
Is there any Rebreather Friendly shop ?

Advice and information is welcome !

Nicolas

Hi Nicolas-

Unless you are into ice diving, there’s not much diving in Lake Michigan in February. March is very, very early in the dive season here and most boats are not chartering yet. Wrecks in immediate Chicago area exist but are strictly recreational depth & have been beaten up by the ice of many winters. Better wrecks are accessible out of Milwaukee, just a couple of hours drive north. Most boats will allow rebreathers but rebreather specific support is spotty. Be ready for *very* cold water.

Useful links:

Nordic Diver Home Page, Recreational and Technical Scuba Shipwreck Diving on the Great Lakes. Milwaukee, Lake Michigan, Superor, Huron, Trimix, Nitrox, Car Ferry Milwaukee, Charters, live aboard, Shipwreck

Enterprise Marine

Len-Der: Milwaukee scuba diving charters to local shipwrecks, survey and salvage services, Lake Michigan, Great Lakes

The Len-Der is steel hulled and my understanding is they charter year round if ice is not blocking the river where they tie up. I’ve not dived with them but have seen them on the lake many times from my own boat. I’d suggest you contact the above to find shops w/ support. Of the threes charters listed, the Nordic Diver is the ‘techiest’. They are the boat Chatterton & Kohler dove from when shooting the Car Ferry Milwaukee episode of History Channel’s ‘Deep Sea Detectives’.

The Enterprise is based in Waukegan, a town/ port roughly an hour north of Chicago.

Diving wrecks in the Great Lakes can be a lot of hassle, especially for a traveling diver, but is DEFINITELY worth the effort. Just think: Where else in the world can you dive a 150 year old wooden schooner that still has ALL the wood intact? I don’t doubt it can be done, but I’m sure the places are few and far between.

Hope this helps & good luck-

Ken

h2odragon1 · 12th January 2008, 18:09

I personally don't dive in the winter here in Illinois, but I can start you on a journey to find someone who might help you.
Welcome to Illinois Institute Divingin Glen Ellyn & Chicagoland, Your Full Service SCUBA Snorkeling Dive Center! Everything from Instruction, Sales to Full Service!
Sea Lions Dive Center
About The Chicago Scuba Meetup Group - The Chicago Scuba Meetup Group (Chicago, IL) - Meetup.com
Chicagoland Scuba
Good luck!
Diving is much better in the spring,summer, when you don't need an ax to submerge.

ntokyo · 14th January 2008, 00:14

Quote: (Originally Posted by Skipbreather)

Hi Nicolas-

Unless you are into ice diving, there’s not much diving in Lake Michigan in February. March is very, very early in the dive season here and most boats are not chartering yet. Wrecks in immediate Chicago area exist but are strictly recreational depth & have been beaten up by the ice of many winters. Better wrecks are accessible out of Milwaukee, just a couple of hours drive north. Most boats will allow rebreathers but rebreather specific support is spotty. Be ready for *very* cold water.

Useful links:

Nordic Diver Home Page, Recreational and Technical Scuba Shipwreck Diving on the Great Lakes. Milwaukee, Lake Michigan, Superor, Huron, Trimix, Nitrox, Car Ferry Milwaukee, Charters, live aboard, Shipwreck

Enterprise Marine

Len-Der: Milwaukee scuba diving charters to local shipwrecks, survey and salvage services, Lake Michigan, Great Lakes

The Len-Der is steel hulled and my understanding is they charter year round if ice is not blocking the river where they tie up. I’ve not dived with them but have seen them on the lake many times from my own boat. I’d suggest you contact the above to find shops w/ support. Of the threes charters listed, the Nordic Diver is the ‘techiest’. They are the boat Chatterton & Kohler dove from when shooting the Car Ferry Milwaukee episode of History Channel’s ‘Deep Sea Detectives’.

The Enterprise is based in Waukegan, a town/ port roughly an hour north of Chicago.

Diving wrecks in the Great Lakes can be a lot of hassle, especially for a traveling diver, but is DEFINITELY worth the effort. Just think: Where else in the world can you dive a 150 year old wooden schooner that still has ALL the wood intact? I don’t doubt it can be done, but I’m sure the places are few and far between.

Hope this helps & good luck-

Ken

Hi Ken,
Thank you for the valuable information.
It is bit what I was expected. As I am staying more than a month, I will investigate seriously the different links. I am not focused on Technical Diving only, and the wooden schooner seems quite exciting...
Thank you again,
Nicolas

ntokyo · 14th January 2008, 00:17

Quote: (Originally Posted by h2odragon1)

I personally don't dive in the winter here in Illinois, but I can start you on a journey to find someone who might help you.
Welcome to Illinois Institute Divingin Glen Ellyn & Chicagoland, Your Full Service SCUBA Snorkeling Dive Center! Everything from Instruction, Sales to Full Service!
Sea Lions Dive Center
About The Chicago Scuba Meetup Group - The Chicago Scuba Meetup Group (Chicago, IL) - Meetup.com
Chicagoland Scuba
Good luck!
Diving is much better in the spring,summer, when you don't need an ax to submerge.

Thank you for the links ! I will investigate whether I come again this summer, or I bring my Japanese axe...

12th January 2008, 00:34	#1 (permalink)
ntokyo New Member Current Rebreather/s: rEvo Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 98	Chicago Rebreather Diving I have to go to Chicago in February-March, and I do not know the area at all. Can you dive nearby Chicago (I am staying in Evanston) ? Is there any Rebreather Friendly shop ? Advice and information is welcome ! Nicolas __________________ http://tokyoeuropeandivers.over-blog.com
(Offline)

12th January 2008, 16:13	#2 (permalink)
Skipbreather Reads the fine print Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet MK 15.X Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Posts: 584	Re: Chicago Rebreather Diving Quote: (Originally Posted by ntokyo) I have to go to Chicago in February-March, and I do not know the area at all. Can you dive nearby Chicago (I am staying in Evanston) ? Is there any Rebreather Friendly shop ? Advice and information is welcome ! Nicolas Hi Nicolas- Unless you are into ice diving, there’s not much diving in Lake Michigan in February. March is very, very early in the dive season here and most boats are not chartering yet. Wrecks in immediate Chicago area exist but are strictly recreational depth & have been beaten up by the ice of many winters. Better wrecks are accessible out of Milwaukee, just a couple of hours drive north. Most boats will allow rebreathers but rebreather specific support is spotty. Be ready for very cold water. Useful links: Nordic Diver Home Page, Recreational and Technical Scuba Shipwreck Diving on the Great Lakes. Milwaukee, Lake Michigan, Superor, Huron, Trimix, Nitrox, Car Ferry Milwaukee, Charters, live aboard, Shipwreck Enterprise Marine Len-Der: Milwaukee scuba diving charters to local shipwrecks, survey and salvage services, Lake Michigan, Great Lakes The Len-Der is steel hulled and my understanding is they charter year round if ice is not blocking the river where they tie up. I’ve not dived with them but have seen them on the lake many times from my own boat. I’d suggest you contact the above to find shops w/ support. Of the threes charters listed, the Nordic Diver is the ‘techiest’. They are the boat Chatterton & Kohler dove from when shooting the Car Ferry Milwaukee episode of History Channel’s ‘Deep Sea Detectives’. The Enterprise is based in Waukegan, a town/ port roughly an hour north of Chicago. Diving wrecks in the Great Lakes can be a lot of hassle, especially for a traveling diver, but is DEFINITELY worth the effort. Just think: Where else in the world can you dive a 150 year old wooden schooner that still has ALL the wood intact? I don’t doubt it can be done, but I’m sure the places are few and far between. Hope this helps & good luck- Ken __________________ "Entropy RULES! Enjoy the interim."
(Offline)

12th January 2008, 18:09	#3 (permalink)
h2odragon1 New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Illinois usa Posts: 3	Re: Chicago Rebreather Diving I personally don't dive in the winter here in Illinois, but I can start you on a journey to find someone who might help you. Welcome to Illinois Institute Divingin Glen Ellyn & Chicagoland, Your Full Service SCUBA Snorkeling Dive Center! Everything from Instruction, Sales to Full Service! Sea Lions Dive Center About The Chicago Scuba Meetup Group - The Chicago Scuba Meetup Group (Chicago, IL) - Meetup.com Chicagoland Scuba Good luck! Diving is much better in the spring,summer, when you don't need an ax to submerge.
(Offline)

14th January 2008, 00:14	#4 (permalink)
ntokyo New Member Current Rebreather/s: rEvo Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 98	Re: Chicago Rebreather Diving Quote: (Originally Posted by Skipbreather) Hi Nicolas- Unless you are into ice diving, there’s not much diving in Lake Michigan in February. March is very, very early in the dive season here and most boats are not chartering yet. Wrecks in immediate Chicago area exist but are strictly recreational depth & have been beaten up by the ice of many winters. Better wrecks are accessible out of Milwaukee, just a couple of hours drive north. Most boats will allow rebreathers but rebreather specific support is spotty. Be ready for very cold water. Useful links: Nordic Diver Home Page, Recreational and Technical Scuba Shipwreck Diving on the Great Lakes. Milwaukee, Lake Michigan, Superor, Huron, Trimix, Nitrox, Car Ferry Milwaukee, Charters, live aboard, Shipwreck Enterprise Marine Len-Der: Milwaukee scuba diving charters to local shipwrecks, survey and salvage services, Lake Michigan, Great Lakes The Len-Der is steel hulled and my understanding is they charter year round if ice is not blocking the river where they tie up. I’ve not dived with them but have seen them on the lake many times from my own boat. I’d suggest you contact the above to find shops w/ support. Of the threes charters listed, the Nordic Diver is the ‘techiest’. They are the boat Chatterton & Kohler dove from when shooting the Car Ferry Milwaukee episode of History Channel’s ‘Deep Sea Detectives’. The Enterprise is based in Waukegan, a town/ port roughly an hour north of Chicago. Diving wrecks in the Great Lakes can be a lot of hassle, especially for a traveling diver, but is DEFINITELY worth the effort. Just think: Where else in the world can you dive a 150 year old wooden schooner that still has ALL the wood intact? I don’t doubt it can be done, but I’m sure the places are few and far between. Hope this helps & good luck- Ken Hi Ken, Thank you for the valuable information. It is bit what I was expected. As I am staying more than a month, I will investigate seriously the different links. I am not focused on Technical Diving only, and the wooden schooner seems quite exciting... Thank you again, Nicolas __________________ http://tokyoeuropeandivers.over-blog.com
(Offline)

14th January 2008, 00:17	#5 (permalink)
ntokyo New Member Current Rebreather/s: rEvo Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 98	Re: Chicago Rebreather Diving Quote: (Originally Posted by h2odragon1) I personally don't dive in the winter here in Illinois, but I can start you on a journey to find someone who might help you. Welcome to Illinois Institute Divingin Glen Ellyn & Chicagoland, Your Full Service SCUBA Snorkeling Dive Center! Everything from Instruction, Sales to Full Service! Sea Lions Dive Center About The Chicago Scuba Meetup Group - The Chicago Scuba Meetup Group (Chicago, IL) - Meetup.com Chicagoland Scuba Good luck! Diving is much better in the spring,summer, when you don't need an ax to submerge. Thank you for the links ! I will investigate whether I come again this summer, or I bring my Japanese axe... __________________ http://tokyoeuropeandivers.over-blog.com
(Offline)

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