Late-May Visit to Port Huron Area

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Pearldiver07

Contributor
Messages
792
Reaction score
8
Location
York, PA
# of dives
500 - 999
OK, here we go....

I've been diving for years, but never back where I grew up in the Detroit area.

It looks like my wife and I will be going up to Michigan in May for an event my wife will be attending.

We'll be staying at my family's house in Macomb, MI., so that expense won't be anything. But in all of the years I've been diving I never seriously thought about diving the lakes up here.

As my sig block implies, I'm pretty experienced, and would like to get in some wreck diving over that weekend. I have my own dry suit, side mount, and all required equipment for technical diving. I have Adv. Nitrox/Deco Procedures and experience to 150' in lake environments (you know - dark, no viz, cold). Although I don't intend to do any serious deco (unless I can rent a bottle with high-O2% ?? - never rule anything out completely).

Short answer is I believe I'm going to be pretty comfortable with diving wrecks down to 150' or so, with little/no penetration.

Complications? The easy ones are I'm going to need to rent tanks/weights. The hard one? I really am hesitant to dive buddies with someone I don't know either directly or by recommendation. So, bottom line question is are there any operators that are going to be OK with me diving solo off of their boat? FYI - I do always develop and file a plan before falling overboard.

Any help/comments/considerations/recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Please note that often I can only visit the board daily, so some replies may not be very quick.
 
Andy,

Thanks for the tip on the op. I'll check with them to see what their policies are.

There's a few reasons I hesitate to use other divers as buddies, not just a fear that they may not be "good enough." I always insist any diver I don't know and buddy with sign a full release. You'd be amazed at those that take this personally.

As far as finding another board'er, that's what I do hope to do as things firm up. But we'll see as I get closer.

I looked at your site - some very nice shots! And if the lakes' viz is anything close to what you show it'll be great. I'm used to 10' being an above average day. At depth, 5' is more the norm that I find. Even in spring the best we usually encounter is in the 15-20' range.
 
Andy,

Thanks for the tip on the op. I'll check with them to see what their policies are.

There's a few reasons I hesitate to use other divers as buddies, not just a fear that they may not be "good enough." I always insist any diver I don't know and buddy with sign a full release. You'd be amazed at those that take this personally.

As far as finding another board'er, that's what I do hope to do as things firm up. But we'll see as I get closer.

I looked at your site - some very nice shots! And if the lakes' viz is anything close to what you show it'll be great. I'm used to 10' being an above average day. At depth, 5' is more the norm that I find. Even in spring the best we usually encounter is in the 15-20' range.

You might want to check into diving the St. Clair River while you're hear also.
 
Really? I grew up spending my summers literally on that river just outside of Algonac.

What particularly is there that you'd say makes a good dive? US or Canada side?
 
I for one, don't think I would be on your buddy list. Having done a wide variety of dives in the Great Lakes, open ocean (including 100'+ night dives and drifts in the Galapagos); I never signed a "buddy" release.

Lot to loose or son of Billionaire? Would love to hear this explanation. I guess you have a solo cert of some sort related to cold water etc., or do you sign an additional release for the dive boats.


Andy,

There's a few reasons I hesitate to use other divers as buddies, not just a fear that they may not be "good enough." I always insist any diver I don't know and buddy with sign a full release. You'd be amazed at those that take this personally.
 
I for one, don't think I would be on your buddy list.
Lot to loose or son of Billionaire?

I agree.

You never dove in the Great Lakes but yet you dont want any guidance from those of us who have?????? Have fun pal. I dont think I would want to be your buddy even without the signing of the consent form..
 
See - I would never object to signing one, but many people do. And my personal finances aren't up for review.

I don't fear the diver, but I do fear what their family will do if something should go wrong. Having some experience with group travel and having been around when a crisis arose, I can't tell you how quickly the family engaged legal support to slap a suit on ALL that were around. I don't need that hassle. Why I dive solo whenever possible. In this specific case, the individual had multiple blocked coronary arteries, so the suit failed very quickly. But if it hadn't, the cost and headaches are still there, regardless of one's involvement or culpability.

I wouldn't mind guidance at all from those with experience in the area/environment, but just as I will sign away any opportunity for me or mine to sue if it goes sour, I would like that same assurance.

That said, I've dived many sites with no in-water assistance. This makes it simpler for all. If I suffer a catastrophic issue, I'll have the rest of my life to figure out a solution. It wouldn't be the first time, and no - not in water, those have just been annoyances - equipment failures, etc. I do, however appreciate site briefings and input. I don't even mind in-water running into others.

I just have never relied on others for my well-being, nor will I expect that someone plan on depending on me in lieu of taking care of themselves. As a diver, I feel my safety is my responsibility.

I do however, wonder why many take this so personally. In a sport where buddy diving is encouraged, I have found that many weaker divers rely on others, and expect them to bear a legal burden when they are compelled to dive with that buddy.
 
I don't have issues with solo diving, having done so in the Great Lakes, including deep dives form various boats (including Gary's), caves etc. But it does seem to come off strange that the guy with no experience in a certain local/conditions is asking others to sign for the "privilege" to be your buddy.

I know most of the local operators in Sanilac area and while they don't have issues with people they know diving solo, I don't think you fulfill that requirement.

I'll just buddy up with Ted or Bonecrusher or dive solo myself.

Enjoy and dive safe.
 
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I find it incredibly shocking that a PADI Course Director would (1) seriously consider solo diving in an environment they have absolutely no experience in and (2) would insist on unknown dive buddies releasing them in writing from any liability in the event diving with them results in an accident. Seriously? Think about it.
 
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