Michigan UnderWater Divers Club

Paw Paw Lake Ice Dive

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack

Jan 15 2012

Starting point for dive - Paw Paw Lake Yacht Club across from clay banks

: Under the ice

Nice day for a dip beneath the cool waters of big Paw Paw Lake in Coloma, Michigan. We entered the icy waters off the Paw Paw Lake Yacht Club area with the intention of checking out the clay banks. Unfortunately we did not have enought rope for that type of dive so we checked out the old pier area and slope instead.

We had some sunshine, air temp from 16 to 28F depending if you checked the temp when we first got there to when we finished the dive, the water temp varied between 32 & 34 depending on whose gage you believed and no wind chill factor. Visibility according to Darrin was 6 feet clear of particulate, bottles and cans visible without having to grub the bottom. Did not see any turtles, crayfish, or fish period today.

Thankfully we had the services of Dave Faulkner and Mary Beth Thar as surface support and tenders, for without the surface people there would have been no dive.

Come on in, the waters fine

Paw Paw Lake, Watervliet, MI

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack

Jan 08 2012

Mack, Kirk, Dan, Darrin - Photo by David

Nice dive today on the Coloma side of big Paw Paw Lake. There was sheets of skim ice in the lake, water temperature at 34F, air temp at 38F, very little wind, and ~ 5 foot visibility.

Even this early in the season there was a bit of tall weeds out to the drop off, the bottom in this area semi-hard pack and with a noted lack of any sort of trash.

Still it was a nice day to be out with friends making sure the wet suits do not shrink. With no hard water, getting in a dive is easy. Join US next time

Wolfs Marine & Dive Shop

Posted in Local Dive Shops by dwmack

Jan 05 2012

Wolf’s Marine & Dive Shop

Dive Shop

250 W Main St
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269) 926-1068 Fax: (269) 926-1731
info@wolfsdiverssupply.com

Store Hours:
Mon-Fri	9:00 – 6:00
Sat	9:00-5:00
Sun	Closed
Nov. 1st-March 1st	Closed on Mondays

Wolf’s Divers’ Supply is one of the oldest SCUBA diving stores in the country, having been in business since 1956.

They offer a full line of products for the diver, featuring equipment by Aqualung (US Divers), Tusa, Harvey, Viking, Zeagle, Bare, Sealife and many others, as well as Zodiac, Avon, and AB inflatable boats and numerous davit systems to make transporting your inflatable easier and more secure.

They have Scuba classes, trips and other information for divers. For more details, please call them, email or stop in at their store.

http://www.wolfsmarine.com/DiveShop.aspx

2011-2012 New Years Midnight Dive – Singer Lake, Baroda, MI

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack

Jan 01 2012

Mud Club Before the Dive in 2011

After the Dive in 2012

Greeting in the New Year (Underwater)

On December 31, some time before the stroke of midnight, members of the Michigan Underwater Dive (MUD) club and friends began celebrating the changing of the year in their usual way, by entering the dark, icy water of one of Michigan’s numerous lakes.

This year, Larry Steelman (Niles), Ken Riemer (Berrien Springs), Mary Beth Thar (Niles), Jim Scholz (Dowagiac), Bob Sweeney and Don McAlhany (both of St. Joseph) spent the ending of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 diving beneath the icy water of Singer Lake in Baroda.

This dive event was accomplished with the assistance of Jeri Steelman, Lucy Riemer, Jake Thar and Kirk Wutzke who performed as surface support for all the participants.

At some time after midnight, during the hoots and fireworks from nearby residences, the divers rose from the beneath the icy water into the New Year. This was one of the mildest New Year dives made with tonights air temperature & water temp both at 38F, with visibility up to 20 feet depending how far from the entry point you went, and no wind chill factor. It was confortable for shore support and the 2 wet suiters:)

For those interested in Sport diving, they are invited to attend the monthly MUD Meeting held at Andrews University, Price Hall, on the third Tuesday of each month beginning at 7:30 pm. For additional club information check out the club web site at http://mudclub.scubaobsessed.com/ and/ or drop a line to muddydiver@aol.com

Illuminated Flags

Singer Lake, Baroda, MI – Snow Day Dive :)

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack

Dec 27 2011

Three Little Mud Puppies

Singer Lake Snow Day 2011-12-27

After Dive Debrief 2011-12-27

It was an interesting day, starting with snow then later in the day a bit of rain. The temperature at the dive site was 34F, the water had skim ice around the edges with a temp between 32 & 34F. Fortunately there was no wind and we did have the ice shed and one small toy box to dress in, both changing stations had heaters

The visibility according to our visiting diver from Valpo was 5 to 6 feet. The bottom was dark but we had surprisingly good visibility especially for grubbing. Items seen or picked up included two boats, lots of weeds, one very large cat fish slumbering in a hollowed out log, assorted beer bottles, one nice small milk bottle, anchor, fishing pole with a nice reel and an arrow.

After the dive we drove to the Silver Spoon in Baroda but found it was closed so we went to Martins in Stevensville for coffee, soup and a nice gab session.

Singer Lake, Baroda, MI

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack

Dec 21 2011

Reindeer Games - Mack

Reindeer Games - Darrin

A nice day for a little dip in Singer Lake since the air temperature was ~ 44f, very little wind, just a bit on the drizzley side with the water temperature in the high 30′s.

Visibility was ~ 10 if you were not near Mack, otherwise 4 feet to 1 feet was more like it. Found some bottles, cans and misc trash but only one keeper. A nice milk bottle from the Jasper Dairy, St. Joseph. We appreciated having shore support from Richard C and Kirk W, and even had a few visitors checking in to see what was happening there.

Afterward we went to the Silver Spoon in Baroda for coffee, lunch and talking about diving:)

There is no ice yet so your welcome to join us next week if you like.

Sub-Aquatics (SASS) – Battle Creek, MI

Posted in Local Dive Shops by dwmack

Dec 19 2011

1 - Sass Dive Shop - Battle Creek , MI

Divers Inc – Ann Arbor, MI

Posted in Local Dive Shops by dwmack

Dec 19 2011

Divers Inc - Ann Arbor, MI

Saint Joseph River Dive

Posted in Club Dives, Fresh MUD by dwmack

Dec 13 2011

: Whirlpool Basin Area – St. Joseph River

Today was an area checkout dive with MB in preparation for the New Years Eve night dive and as the picture indicates we actually had some visibility in the shallows and the calm water there belied the conditions away from shore.

Downing the primary gear went fine with MB quickly learning to manage the typical difficulities associated with working with thick mitts on. Simple items like being able to locate, grab, then slip on fins straps and snap the links or readjusting you mask over your hood face seam so it does not leak is NOT the same or as easy when you have thick mitts on.

Side to side visibility was several feet but the bottom was basicly black and you knew you were there by feel. And the water, well today it was “damn cold”, least way in wet suits it was:)

Todays after action (dive) debriefing and discussion reinforced what we already knew.

Get out of the water before the cold makes it “difficult” to function, reinforced how you can not swim up current especially when its at flood level but how easy it is to let the current carry you to the river bank, why its always good to have shore support handy with safety gear available in the event its needed, and having a dive flag with you really helps shore support be available in the area your actually in, not where you planned to be.

We had a good day, a good dive and good experiences.

2011-02 Newsletter

Posted in Newsletters by dwmack

Dec 12 2011

“MUD Club” Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Andrews University Biology Amphitheater, Price Hall Berrien Springs, Mi

Meeting starts ~ 7:30 p.m. (Every 3^rd Tuesday of every month except December)

February Meeting:

Welcome to our newest members of the MUD family: Jake & Mary Beth Thar from Niles and Paul Kuiper from Holland. Make sure you welcome them aboard when you see them.

If you know of a diver out there let’s see if we can’t drag in a couple of additional members this year.

As a reminder the grace period for $12.00 dues is the month of February. As voted upon at the January meeting the MUD club dues will increase to $15.00 a year beginning in March 2011 which is the first increase in over 35 years. If you cannot make the February meeting, make a check out to Ric Kling and note that it’s for 2011 MUD Dues.

Sir Larry intends to have the Club Phone Books available at the March meeting so make sure we have the most current home address, phone number, and email address. You can just email Mac with you email address when and if it changes.

We plan on taking club member photos at this month’s meeting for issuance of MUD Club Cards. Nothing fancy, just doing head shots

Status of T-Shirts & Polo’s:

Lazer Graphics in Benton Harbor was contacted for pricing of shirts and stickers. Their quote based on 25 T-shirts with 7 colors on the back and the MUD logo on the front was $20.07 each. Buying 50 brings the cost down to $13.00 each. (We only have 16 spoken for). They can also do Polo shirts with the club logo via embroidery or digital and these would cost between $23 & 30 depending on the shirt. MUD club decal stickers (for tanks etc) would be $6.00 each with a run of 6. I will have a sample MUD Club decal and polo shirt at the February meeting.

HELP populate the 2011 MUD Dive Schedule:

Be ready to suggest dive sites, dates, and identify if you will be the “Go To” person for that dive. You can also check out the “2010 Events” calendar on the Club website to refresh your memory where MUD divers did go last year.

As a reminder the 2011 Club Officers are:

Don McAlhany (President) Bob Sweeney (V.P.) Ric Kling (Treasurer)

dwmack@aol.com (269-249-5527) (269-429-6711) (269-944-5026)

2011 Dive Schedule

Feb 18-20: Our World Underwater (The 41^st), Convention Center, Rosemont, IL.

March 5: Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival, (Seahorses) Ann Arbor, MI.

March 19-20: Wolf’s 2010 Annual Open House – Sat 9-5, Sunday: 12-5

March 25-26: Ghost Ships Festival, Milwaukee, WI.

April 15/17: GLWC Meet N Greet 2011 (Gilboa Quarry west of Findlay, Ohio)

April 23: “Mysteries & Histories Beneath the Inland Seas” – Sat after MUD Club Meeting

May 21: Saturday after MUD Club Meeting

June 25: Saturday after MUD Club Meeting

July 23; Club Steak Fry & Dive: Saturday after MUD Club Meeting

August 20: Saturday after MUD Club Meeting

September 9-10-11 (plus): Cheboygan Wreck & Grubbing Diving Weekend

Sept 24: Saturday after MUD Club Meeting

October 8-9; Cooper River Dive Trip (Hunting for Shark teeth)

October 22: Saturday after MUD Club Meeting

November 19: Saturday after MUD Club Meeting

Nov 26: Saturday – Turkey Dive, Riverview Park

December 31: New Year Gathering & Dive (Mac’s House)

We are starting out the year getting in some nice ice dives – let’s keep the momentum going for this year - Lets Dive, Dive, Dive !

Mud Club February Newsletter Addendum – 2011

For SALE:

See Rick Kling at this month’s meeting. He has ALMOST new Scuba Pro equipment for sale. This include’s: (2) Scuba Pro BC w/ octopus inflators (2) Scuba Pro greglators & accessories, (2) scuba Pro dive computers.

Michigan UnderWater Divers Club

Someone from the club is diving just about every week…

Paw Paw Lake Ice Dive

Paw Paw Lake, Watervliet, MI

Wolfs Marine & Dive Shop

2011-2012 New Years Midnight Dive – Singer Lake, Baroda, MI

Singer Lake, Baroda, MI – Snow Day Dive :)

Singer Lake, Baroda, MI

Sub-Aquatics (SASS) – Battle Creek, MI

Divers Inc – Ann Arbor, MI

Saint Joseph River Dive

2011-02 Newsletter

Post Categories

Archieves

Meta

Latest Posts

Latest Comments