Chicago Area Divers...November 12th

[reefraff]

25 Fathoms
The Wrecking Crew

A Dive Club for Divers

You’re Invited!


Want to dive more often?
Want to dive some new sites?
Want to dive with a group of dedicated veteran divers?

If you are an active diver and answered yes to any of these questions, we want to talk with you about a group of divers assembling in Chicago this Winter to plan diving in Lake Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes – home to the greatest freshwater diving in the world.

More and more, the local dive clubs are focused on social events and so busy with pumpkin carving and quarry diving that they just can’t find much time to go diving out on the lake. The shops are booking charters but if you’re tired of the same beginner sites and diving with another boatload of brand new divers, you’re out of luck. Book your seats on your own and you end up at the mercy of the manifest, with little or no say about where the boat is headed. Arghgh – what’s a diver to do?

It’s time for the veteran divers in our community to get together and assert some control over our diving. We think you will be interested in a new group that we’re putting together, code-named THE WRECKING CREW, intended to advance the cause of “serious” local divers: to dive more often, to dive more places, to have more fun. We're interested in some deeper wrecks, some longer dives and lots more of them.

If you're an active Great Lakes diver, please join us in an informal gathering to discuss the possibilities and to see if, together, we can’t turn the Chicago/Milwaukee dive scene dial up to 11:

6:30pm, Saturday, November 12th, 2005

Union Park Restaurant (Free Parking)
228 S. Racine (between Adams & Jackson)
Chicago, IL 60607
Union Park directions:MAPQUEST (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=228%20S%20Racine%20Ave&city=Chicago&state=IL&zipcode=60607-2815&country=US&title=228%20S%20Racine%20Ave%20Chicago,%20IL%20606 07-2815,%20US&cid=lfmaplink2)

The meeting is free (pay your own bar tab, however) and open to any active divers in the area, but we'd like to ask that you sign up on our website (www.25fathoms.com (http://www.25fathoms.com)) if you can attend so that we can be sure to hold a seat for you. You can find out more about the group on the website, too. We hope you’ll at least give us some consideration: we’re planning on diving and would like for you to join us – and the fun.

[do it easy]

You could just join Julies's dive club!!!

Sign me up, but what's this business about having to pay my own bar tab? And who is bringing the pizza?

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it, but I would rather miss the meeting than the diving. Just don't tell Julie that I joined another dive club.

Tony- VP of Midwest Divers

[juls64]

Wrecking Crew.....hmmmmm

It does sound interesting. Unfortunately, that is the night of the DiveHeart Luau. The other problem is thats not far at all to go if its for diving, but its a helluva long way to drive for a meeting.

Steven, I will be very interested to hear how the meeting goes. We are currently looking to breathe a little new life into Midwest Divers as well. If you think you want to try to work together in some capacity, we could be open to that.

Keep us posted and good luck!

Julie

[Atlaua]

The other problem is thats not far at all to go if its for diving, but its a helluva long way to drive for a meeting.

That was my thought as well....and it's a lot closer for you!

[Laser]

I'll try to make it.

[MgicTwnger]

The other problem is thats not far at all to go if its for diving, but its a helluva long way to drive for a meeting.

Yeah, what she said. Keep us posted, Steven. There are a lot of us who dive the big ponds but don't live in the Chicago area.

[nitroxbabe]

Hiya Steve -

I'm not sure if I'll make it either, but I'm very interested in your idea. Sign me up as a member anyhow!

I may show up if I can find someone to come with me - I'll let ya know. Kurt's going to Bonaire that week (the dirty rat) so I'm somewhat at loose ends. A trip to Chicago might keep me entertained.

[nauifins73]

Wish I was closer - sounds like what I am looking for. Instead of the Sun afternoon Softball games that the group I know has.

[reefraff]

Hey, all, thanks for the good wishes. Juls, if it were up to me, all of the Chicago clubs would combine into one and we'd jettison the social calendars, but (probably for the better) it isn't up to me. We've discussed this a little in the past and this just seems like the answer for the hardcore divers.

This isn't, by the way, a club for technical divers only. Many of the founding members are technical divers but we also do recreational diving and we're not averse to associating with you lesser mortals. :D The club is all about diving and there is room in the tent for many genre. If you're more than the occasional diver and looking for some new horizons, we want to make you comfortable.

To those of you who are interested but can't make the meeting, I understand. Driving across the state to drink beer and talk diving sounds like a pretty good time to me, but the drive home mostly bites. If you're interested, please go to the website www.25fathoms.com and let us know that you can't be there but would like to be kept up to date. I'll see that we keep in touch with you.

As far as a tie-in with Midwest Divers, I don't have any issues with the idea but we'd have to have one of those conversations that involves words like "synergy" and "partnering" and I'd like for someone else to start that discussion. In less high-faluting terms, what's in it for us and what's it cost?

[nitroxbabe]

Well, consider me in.

The weather is looking pretty sketchy, so looks like a dive is out.

See ya'll Saturday pm!

-Carla

[juls64]

Hey ReefRaff!

How 'bout doing another meeting of this club to coincide with OWU. That way it gives those out aways two reasons to make the drive. Maybe even a meet and greet over drinks one evening. DoItEasy and I talked and our people would like to talk to your people. I will send you an email when I get a little time, to describe more what we can do on our end.

Julie

[reefraff]

Just a last minute reminder: the Wrecking Crew thing is tomorrow (Saturday) night and we're looking forward to meeting with a big group - some old faces, some new, all divers. If you're serious about diving and would like to stop in, please visit the website (www.25fathoms.com) and sign up so we can be sure to set enough seats for everyone.

Julie, I think the group is willing to entertain most any ideas that would result in more time spent underwater in the lake, but no promises. The feedback that I'm getting is that the group would like to stay meticulously independent, even if that means no sponsorship support. I don't think we need the money enough to risk getting tangled up in the store wars and charter wars - not to mention the pressure to expand the membership beyond it's narrow focus on serious, seasoned divers.

Meanwhile, there's talk of what the crew wants to do next summer. Maybe a "get acquainted" charter on one of the bigger boats in the early spring, there's talk of a technical trip to Rossport next summer and possibly a project to hunt down the UC-97 - but I'm getting ahead of myself. Those at the meeting will help decide.

[Captain Caveman]

Steve i would love to go but im not going to make it. You still know im going to join the group.. let me know how it goes.
chris

[Laser]

Crap. Work reared it's ugly head, and I wasn't able to attend. Any highlights?

[do it easy]

I'm sure will get highlights as soon as ReefRaf recovers from the hangover!

[Captain Caveman]

I'm sure will get highlights as soon as ReefRaf recovers from the hangover!
:D :D :D :D :D :D thats allways fun:p

[reefraff]

Hey, wait a minute. Let's all remember that real divers don't get hungover.

Thanks to all who braved the rain on this past Saturday to take part in the inaugural gathering of The Wrecking Crew. We had 10 hearty souls willing to leave the comforts of home behind and trek through the rain to the noisiest quiet saloon (sorry – I’ve been there several times before and it’s never been as loud/hot/smoky as we experienced) for a get-acquainted session. We also had another ten or so folks that let us know that they were interested but that they couldn’t make the meeting – not a bad start to what increasingly looks like it will be a successful endeavor.

The folks that made it downtown were quite a bunch of divers. Everyone at the table was an experienced and dedicated wreck diver. We had folks with advanced training from TDI, GUE and NSS-CDS, just to name a few. When you get a group together and the “newbies” are either DIR/F trained or exploring rebreather diving, you’ve got a pretty sweet pile of divers. It was nice to see that we were all able to get along, despite whatever agency and style differences were represented.

Discussions were held about keeping skills tight this winter with some dives out of Milwaukee and a trip to the caves of Roubideaux if the flow ever lightens up. Next summer we've tentatively scheduled a trip to the Gunilda and Isle Royale and at least some of us are going to pool some time and money to see if we can't find (and dive) the UC-97, a WWI German submarine that was sunk in Lake Michigan. It looks like competition is going to be fierce to put together the big dives and there will be no shortage of weekly diving as we work up to the big stuff together. Everyone seemed comfortable with the idea that each member should be organizing an event or two for the benefit of the group every year so I expect that we'll be hearing more ideas over the next few weeks and months. The gang was in agreement that holding the line on organizational frippery was almost as important a goal as diving so, for now, no regularly scheduled meetings, no dues and no secret handshakes. No pumpkin carving, either, but we are working on t-shirts.

In lieu of regular meetings, the group decided to try and conduct as much of its business on-line as possible. The original website, www.25fathoms.com (http://www.25fathoms.com/), will continue to be active, mostly as a tool for communicating with the rest of the world but we have a new Yahoo site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wrecking_Crew that will be used extensively for coordinating activities and keeping the members abreast of new developments. That’s where the action will be, so if you missed your invitation, stop by and knock on the door. Active, experienced Lake Michigan wreck divers will be happily admitted and we don't intend to be "tech only" but this is a highly experienced bunch and for now it isn't our intention to provide a venue for new divers or those new to the diving the lakes.

We had fun at the gathering and now we're going diving. I love it when a plan comes together.

[Captain Caveman]

thanks for the info about the new site. im going there now. I syre would be up for that sub dive. if i could do it on a single tank and a back up air im in.

[Laser]

thanks for the info about the new site. im going there now. I syre would be up for that sub dive. if i could do it on a single tank and a back up air im in.


I believe it's in roughly 300ffw.

( http://www.atrecovery.com/Pages/GermanUBoat.htm )

[Captain Caveman]

I ges thats a No. who here is cert to go 330ffw? I only know 1 person and i work with him. he was a navy diver back in 95 and used the hard hat system.

[SLIM]

330 ffw cool, that would be fun. Almost as much fun it go 282 in a cave. Later this year I will be doing a 300+ in a cave also. I am just so scared of diving in OW. Remember more divers die in OW diving. Scary aint it.

SLIM

[CaptnDale]

I ges thats a No. who here is cert to go 330ffw? I only know 1 person and i work with him. he was a navy diver back in 95 and used the hard hat system.

I am not sure about other organizations but when I issue a TDI Advanced Trimix card on the bottom it says, "to 300ft/90 metres." That is as deep as TDI will certify anyone to dive. That said, there is no dive cop at 300 feet to turn you away.

There is a great deal of disinformation that has been intentionally propogated as to the depth and location of UC97. I have chased quite a few red herrings, myself. Look for some factual information soon.

[Laser]

I am not sure about other organizations but when I issue a TDI Advanced Trimix card on the bottom it says, "to 300ft/90 metres." That is as deep as TDI will certify anyone to dive. That said, there is no dive cop at 300 feet to turn you away.

There is a great deal of disinformation that has been intentionally propogated as to the depth and location of UC97. I have chased quite a few red herrings, myself. Look for some factual information soon.

Hey Dale.......looking at charts the 300ft depth could be problamatic -- as in where is the lake actually 300ft deep matching the story of her sinking.

[reefraff]

I ges thats a No. who here is cert to go 330ffw? I only know 1 person and i work with him. he was a navy diver back in 95 and used the hard hat system.I am. You're correct, however, there aren't all that many of us.

The general location of the sub is known and the water in the target zone isn't this deep, however. Close, but not quite.

[Captain Caveman]

I am.

The general location of the sub is known and the water in the target zone isn't this deep


So your saying I still have a chance;)

steve