Posted by Steve Harrington on August 13, 19100 at 21:03:55:
In Reply to: Munising Wreck Damage by Glass Bottom Boat posted by Ted Bruesch on August 13, 19100 at 16:12:38:
: I have been diving and up until recently enjoying
: the wrecks in the Alger Underwater Preserve for
: close to twenty years. Since the advent of the
: glass bottom boat tours, visibility on the
: Bermuda has deteriorated to the point it is as
: bad as some inland lakes. The prop wash also
: appears to be knocking the railings off. The
: starboard railing has been down for a while
: and the stern railing is loose.
: Worse than the damage to the wrecks is the
: potential for damage to divers! While diving the
: Herman Hettler 10 days ago, with both alph and
: red dive flags on my boat, I heard an engine and
: looked up. The glass bottom boat was nearly
: overhead!
: I have also noticed, all the tour boat activity
: seems to generate a significant amount of wave
: action in the bay, when the open water is calm.
: Munising has some really wonderful people living
: in one of the nicest spots in the country. Most
: residents really care about their environment and
: their tourist guests. I hope a few don't spoil
: the good thing they've got going.
: I'm interested in hearing other's thoughts,
: whether they are in agreement or not.
: Ted Bruesch
You'll have to learn to share the shipwreck or you'll run the risk of being prohibited diving it at all during certain hours as is the case on the America at Isle Royale. You have to remember that these shipwrecks belong to everyone in the state, not just divers. The more people we have interested in them, the more protection they will have.
Who were you diving with? One charter operator up there purposefully puts divers in harms way--bad divorce.
As far as damage from prop wash--I've been on that wreck more than 50 times in the last few years. I haven't noticed any changes.