Re: A newbie with a bunch of questions

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: : Greetings. : : After reading posts on this list for about a year and doing some research of my own, Ive finally decided that Im going to learn to dive before I turn 30<in October> : : My first question is what is my first step toward achieving that goal? Whereisa good and reputable location to take lessons? : : Also, what is proper 'ettiquette' for approaching a shallow wreck that is bouyed, where there are people already diving? I have been interested in snorkeling the Sebastopol and I dont want to start off on a bad note with anyone who may be already there. : : Also are theyre any other shallow wrecks that I could snorkel in the Milwaukee area? Ive heard about the Volunteer and Dale but Ive never been able to pinpoint where they lie. : : Thanks in advance, : : Dave : > : > : I can't help you with the former, but can give a few suggestions regarding the latter. : > : Several years ago my brother and several buddies had just submerged on the Queen Of The West in Lake Erie, a wreck which lies in about 80 feet of water, and onto which we had just dropped a weighted buoy. : The wind and current were out of the West and hence we had anchored slightly South and West of the wreck so that we had drifted just South of the buoy. : Out of the South East two Owens type wood boats appeared loaded down with divers. : They motored up to where we were anchored, looked at our dive flags and then dropped their anchors practically on top of ours and backed North. : When I saw what they were doing I waved and pointed at our anchor line. : They ignored me and began to suit up to dive as their boats drifted around and banged into ours. : My brothers friend Dennis and I pushed them off and asked them to anchor North or South of us. : They raised their anchors and instead of dropping them again in a line with ours, they motored right over the wreck and dropped only 20 feet away from a plume of bubbles! : Then they motored in reverse, this time to the East to set their anchors! : I swear, if my brother's boat had carried a deck gun, I'd have used it. : A couple of minutes later my brother and his buddies popped to the surface in a not too happy state. : The appearance of the anchors and the silt they kicked up when they were dragged along the side of the wreck had ruined their good dive buzz. : We had words with these inconsiderate, stupid, dangerous assholes as they piled into the water. : Fortunately we have never seen them since. : > : The moral of the story is, so long as you don't do anything to endanger the other divers or screw up their dive you will be fine: : Look where the other boat is anchored and set alongside, up or down wind from it. : Motor around the dive site when other divers are in the water. : Don't drop your anchor on or near other divers. : Try not to drag your anchor through the dive site, especially if other divers are already down there. :

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