Presentations
The 2006 North American Shipwreck & Dive Show™ features presentations from some of the best scuba divers, shipwreck explorers and underwater photographers anywhere. Join in the excitement and wonder of diving and exploration in the Great Lakes and around the world.
- David Trotter hosts the first run presentation of the discovery of a shipwreck which laid undisturbed for 110 years. The Steamer A. Everett steamed into history on April 30, 1985, when she sank in deep water 20 miles above Point Aux Barques in Lake Huron. Share the excitement with the first explorers from Underwater Research Associates as they visit an "ice water palace" - the 212' steamer A. Everett sitting upright on the floor of Lake Huron.
- Valerie Olson van Heest and Craig Rich of Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates present Icebound Found! The Ordeal of the S.S. Michigan. In 1885 the S.S. Michigan became icebound off West Michigan during one of the worst winter storms in history. After 40 days the ship was crushed by the ice and sank, forcing the crew onto the ice-covered lake. MSRA members searched 50 square miles over three years to find the sunken remains of this 200-foot steamer. Their efforts were rewarded in 2005 when they found and explored the wreck in deep water off Holland, Michigan.
- David Trotter of Underwater Research Associates presents Two Ships Frozen In Time. This is the story of the 328' Steamer W. C. Gilbert and 163' Barqentine H. P. Bridge. The H. P. Bridge is one of the most unique wrecks of sailing vessels discovered in the Great Lakes. It has all 3 masts standing, all cross arms on the foremast, an intact bowsprit, a beautiful figurehead and many other one-of-a-kind items. An excellent story about a great shipwreck. Built in 1864 and sunk in 1869, it is perhaps the best of the sailing vessels on the floor of the Great Lakes.
- Rick Kruzel of Great Lakes Tech Diving presents the North Wind: Huron's Forgotten Wreck. The North Wind was one of six sister ships built in Cleveland by Globe Iron Works. Built in 1888, she was 299 feet long. The wreck of one of her sisters, the North Star, lies off Port Sanilac in Lake Huron. On July 1, 1926, the North Wind was steaming along Lake Huron's North Channel on, by most accounts, a beautiful clear day. Inexplicably, she struck Robertson Rock. The crew abandoned ship and the North Wind sank. Questions remain to this day. Why would she run aground under perfect weather conditions? Did the crew do all they could to save the ship? Why does the wreck show no signs of damage? Today, the wreck of the North Wind is very nearly intact and lies at moderate depths, ranging from 80' to 130'. This presentation will take you on an extensive tour of the North Wind, both inside and out, as she is today.
- Decompression on the Fly: Planning for Contingencies - Have you ever found yourself at depth with a misbehaving computer, the wrong decompression tables, and no idea how to get out of this fix with the least amount of stress... mental and physical? Steve Lewis will discuss some straightforward techniques to generate a workable ascent schedule using nothing but your fingers and a pencil.
- The Hart of Superior - When “Lake Superior” and the “Gales of November” are spoken together, many people think of the Edmond Fitzgerald tragedy and Whitefish Point. Yet in 1942, a similar gale of November on the biggest of the Great Lakes claimed the life of a different freighter, the Judge Hart. The story of the Judge Hart and the valiant struggle of both ship and crew against a raging November storm is remembered well by the residents along the northern Lake Superior shore, but the actual wreck of the Judge Hart remained hidden from explorers for nearly 50 years before it was found in 1990. The location of the Judge Hart is remote and not explored by many divers. The wreck sits upright 200 feet below the surface, well preserved by the clear, cold Lake Superior water. Terry Irvine presents the story of the Judge Hart and the adventures of his group in finding and exploring the wreck.
- Saginaw River Ship Builders: Their Legacy to Divers - The Saginaw River basin was the birthplace of hundreds of ships. The largest wooden vessels ever to ply the Great Lakes were built here, and many of them that were wrecked have become popular dive destinations. Join Bill Atkins as he goes back in history to see their origins, and then go diving to visit 6 wrecks of varying size, type and depth: the E. Ward, D. J. Morrell, T. P. Sheldon, H. Hettler, Panther, and Wm. P. Rend.
- Dive Travel Planning
- Report on Dive Safety Statistics from Divers Alert Network
- More Presentations to be announced...
Presenters Welcome
Are you interested in making a presentation at the 2006 North American Shipwreck & Dive Show™?
If so, please contact us! If your presentation meets our needs, we can provide you with an exciting venue. Please contact us right away.
