About
Whitefish Point -
Map
Located at the top of the Michigan Upper Peninsula near
Paradise, Whitefish Point is a wonderful place for those
who love SCUBA Diving and the outdoors. The isolated
location of this port offers the solitude and charm
of a small town with plenty to see and experience. |
|
| |
|
For
history enthusiasts there are several shipwreck and
lighthouse museums to visit, including several in
Sault Saint Marie, MI. Those interested in natural
sights, a visit to the upper and lower Tahquamenon
Falls or Pictured Rocks are a short drive away. An
hour away at Sault Saint Marie there is gambling,
nightclubs, restaurants and shopping.
|
|
Activities
available near Paradise
|
|
- Blueberry
Festival the 3rd weekend in August
- Great
Lakes Shipwreck Museum
- Picture
Rocks
- Oswald's
Little Bear Acres
- Pt.
Iroquois Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
- Taqhuamenon
Falls
- Shopping
|
- Whitefish
Point Bird Observatory
- Whitefish
Point Lighthouse
- Soo
Locks
- Freighter
Museum (actual freighter moored at Sault Saint
Marie)
- Gambling
- Canoeing
and Fishing
- Mountain
Biking
|
Diving
Conditions
Conditions at this dive destination can be the best
in the Great Lakes. Since the wind blows the warmer
surface water west in Lake Superior, water temperatures
in Whitefish Bay can reach 60-65 degrees at the surface
during late July through the end of September. The thermal
cline can be as deep as 90 feet during the warmest periods.
At depth, temperatures can be between 45 and 55 degrees
depending on weather conditions and time of year. Due
to the geographic nature of Whitefish Bay, wind and
waves can usually be avoided by going either southeast
or northwest to put land between the boat and the wind.
Most of the shipwrecks are less than 10 miles from port
so the diver spends more time in the water and not riding
in the boat. Visibility at depth can be 50-60 feet depending
on weather conditions. A 30-foot range is almost a guarantee. |
Book
List
Steve Harrington's Divers Guide to Michigan
Fredrick Stonehouse's Lake Superior's Shipwreck Coast
Chris Kohl's The 100 Best Great Lakes Shipwrecks |
|
Related
Web Sites of the Area
|
| |
|
|
|
Lodging
Traveler Motel
PO Box 174
Paradise, MI 49768
(906) 492-3364
|
|
|
Note: For camping and other hotel listings see the
above websites
|
Dive
Locations
It seems ironic that one of the most notorious stretches
of Lake Superior's navigable waters would today provide
some of the best recreational diving opportunities in North
America. The numerous shipwrecks which have occurred within
the boundaries of the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve
offer many uniquely different dive sites of both wood and
steel constructed vessels.
| These
shipwrecks provide safe yet challenging choices for
divers of all levels and experience. Dive in crystal-clear
waters. The excellent underwater visibility of Lake
Superior during the diving season is 30 to 50 feet at
a depth of 100 ft. A surface temperature of 60°
within Whitefish Bay is normal from July through September.
July and August are the best months for diving because
the weather is most stable. There are few protected
areas in this region of Lake Superior and the nearest
U.S. Coast Guard Station is about an hour away so boaters
must exercise extreme caution. |
| Discovered
Shipwrecks for Diving and Depths |
- Alex.
Nimick - 1907, 15' to 20' deep
- M
M Drake - 1901, wood steamer, 40' to 50'
- Sagamore
- 1901, whaleback, 45' to 65'
- Myron
-1919, wood steamer, 45' to 55'
- Miztec
- 1921, wood steamer, 45' to 55'
- Eureka
- 1886, wood steamer, 50' to 55'
- Panther
- 1916, wood steamer, 90' to 110'
- Sadie
T. - Wood barge, 80' to 140'
- Samuel
Mather - 1891, wood steamer, 140' to 170'
- Comet
- 1897, wood steamer, 200' to 230'
|
- Niagara
- 1887, wood schooner, 90' to 100'
- Indiana
- 1858, wood steamer, 100' to 115'
- Vienna
- 1892, wood steamer, 120' to 148'
- John
Mitchell - 1911, steel steamer, 120' to 140'
- John
M. Osborn - Wood steamer, 145' to 165'
- John
B. Cowle - 1909, Steel steamer, 170' to 215'
-
Zillah - 1926 wood steamer, 230' to 250'
- Superior
City - 1920, steel steamer, 190' to 270'
- Aurania
- 420'
- Edmund
Fitzgerald - 1974, 535'
|
Charter
Boat Information
Diver Pickup Location: The public boat launch ½ mile
south of Whitefish Point lighthouse
Boat Name: Abyss Diver
Boat Type: 29' 281 Chris Craft w/twin engines
Parking: Public parking next to launch
Departure
Times
AM Trips…. Divers need to be loaded and read to leave
at 8:00 am
PM Trips…. Divers need to be loaded and read to leave
at 1:00 p.m.
Safety Equipment on Board: Emergency Oxygen, first aid kit,
flames, dive and hailing flag
Air Fills: Curley's Motel in Paradise, MI
Phone Number: 616-485-7778
Tips
- Restaurants
in Paradise don't open before 7:30 a.m. and stop serving
early, plan your meals or bring food to the boat to snack.
- Travel
time between Paradise and the boat launch is approximately
15 minutes
- Air
Temperatures tend to be 10-15 degrees cooler than lower
Michigan and northern Illinois
- Cabins
that sleep large groups are available (see related web
site)
- Try
www.MapQuest.com
to find the fastest route to this dive destination
Brochures
|
