the great lakes Premier scuba diving symposium
Welcome to Shipwrecks and SCUBA a 40 Year Legacy of Exploration
Shipwrecks and SCUBA is an annual event that started in 1984 at the Fremont Yacht Club. Since its humble beginnings Shipwrecks and SCUBA has become the Midwest's finest Scuba Symposium. Typically highlighting six day time speakers and an evening keynote dinner program, it draws divers, shipwreck historians and Great Lake enthusiasts from across the Midwest and Canada.
The conference highlights the Great Lakes rich maritime history and we through in some warm water and pretty fish just for good measure.
KIMBERLY KENYON
Queen Anne’s Revenge Blackbeard’s infamous flagship
Kimberly Kenyon is the lead archaeologist for the site of Blackbeard’s infamous flagship, formerly the slave ship La Concorde. Hundreds of thousands of artifacts have been raised from the shipwreck of Queen Anne’s Revenge since full excavation began in 2005. Ms. Kenyon will share her experiences and insights into what the artifacts from this significant archaeological discovery reveal about the Golden Age of Piracy and how it intersected with the transatlantic slave trade.
Thomas Adams Where's No. 2 Locating the Marquette Bessemer No.2
Take a fresh look at the December 1909 loss of the Marquette & Bessemer No.2.. The No. 2 was lost between December 7th and 9th in a brutal winter storm that sank two other vessels and claimed at least 59 lives. Her final resting place is an enduring mystery. Reexamining as much of the original source material as possible. and, several repeated historical errors were uncovered which impact the narrative of the ship’s loss. A cursory examination of the ship’s design will also be undertaken as this likely affected the captain’s decision-making process. Wreckage location, weather patterns and currents will be examined as well, with the ultimate goal of establishing the most likely resting place of the wreck itself.
Michael Passwater Historic Shipwrecks and Rescues on Lake Michigan
As mishaps and disasters multiplied, a dedicated lifesaving service emerged. Braving perilous conditions, these rescuers saved the crew and passengers from certain death. Unfortunately, not all rescues ended in success, .
Author Michael Passwater chronicles the stories of shipwrecks and the courageous men and women who risked their lives against Lake Michigan
Sarah Miller Pivoting as a Dive Professional: How YouTube Saved My Scuba Career
After losing my dive shop in Indonesia in 2021 due to global shutdowns, I moved into a van and began sharing my scuba diving adventures on YouTube. I created a series called the DIVE DRY ROAD TRIP, highlighting dive sites around the Pacific Northwest, and it became a launching pad for a new career as an independent instructor and expedition leader.
David Mekker For The Love Of A Ship The Sad Saga Of The Alvin Clark
Launched in 1846 and lost in 1864, the Clark was discovered in 1967 on the dark and murky bottom of Lake Michigan. The ship was virtually a submerged time capsule, and was in perfect condition. Could the ship be raised and what would be the outcome?
The Alvin Clark became one of the most exciting and yet controversial shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. A haunting story from beginning to end, the odyssey of “The Mystery Ship from 19 Fathoms” will long be remembered.
In Memory – Joyce Hayward
Dave is honored to have been able to assist Joyce and to be able to present her final and favorite presentation. This was one of Joyce’s best presentation. As she was battling cancer Dave was working on a remake of the presentation, unfortunately her heath took a turn for the worse and the remake was not complete. Joyce Hayward, after a multi year battle with cancer, died August 26, 2009.
This is basically the original slide show Joyce created in her own voice
Molly Sampson Sandusky Bay’s Boatbuilding Tradition
Embark on an engaging exploration into the boat-building history of Sandusky Bay! Join us as we delve into the fascinating stories of local craftsmen who shaped the region's maritime legacy. Discover how iconic boat builders like Lyman, Matthews, and Russell Boats (later Sandusky Boats) revolutionized production methods, adapting to changing times and even expanding into non-wooden boat types. From their contributions to World Wars to weathering the challenges of the Great Depression, these craftsmen's resilience shines through. Journey with us through the postwar pleasure boating boom and explore the modern-day shift toward boat restoration in our area, highlighting a case study of the Museum’s restoration efforts. Join us for a captivating voyage through the rich maritime heritage of Sandusky Bay, where history meets innovation and tradition meets evolution.
roger roth Dominica Secrets
Dominica might very well rank up there with some of the best diving in the Caribbean. There
are huge fields of barrel sponges, some being as tall as 5-6’! Numerous species of tube sponges
and some of the largest yellow elephant ear sponges in the Caribbean can also be found in
Dominica. Large schools of Atlantic Spadefish may follow divers around during dives while
swimming past some of the largest yellowtail snappers in the world. You can see electric rays,
southern stingrays, pipefish, seahorses, macro shrimp, crabs and lobsters of all sizes and even
red-lipped batfish! The Piece de Resistance for Dominica are her sperm whales. Many
operations will take divers and non-divers alike out on the sea in search of these giants hoping
to see them surfacing or diving deep with the wave of a tail.
