That explains why you are a grumpy man with no manners.

Detroit is a depressed area. Not too good for diving. Sorry to tell you.
Hate to burst your bubble boy.
_____________________________________________________________________
Well, the current contract in Cedar Rapids is coming to an end... After
seeing what the local dive spot looked like, I decided that I wasn't
quite that desperate for a dive... Close, but not quite... Although I
was hoping that the next contract to come up would get me back to Texas,
I was contacted by a company yesterday wanting me for a contract in
Detroit... Not sure if I'm going to take it though... Is there any
worthwhile diving around there at least? Is it at least warm enough in
the summer for just a wetsuit?

Sunken ships attract divers in and around Michigan.
     
You don't have to travel to the Caribbean Islands to scuba dive. You can
enjoy the sport in just about any body of water.

In Michigan, underwater shipwrecks and marine life attract droves of
scuba divers.

   "Scuba diving is one of the most exciting and relaxing
activities," said Heather Sellick, co-owner of the U.S. Scuba Center in
Rochester, where they teach scuba diving and offer certification and
specialty courses. "When you get under water in that neutral
environment, there are no horns honking, no people talking to you.
You're floating through space, only under water."
   
She said the sport has helped her appreciate the beauty of marine life.
The unfortunate wrecks that litter the floors of the Great Lakes
fascinate her.
   "It makes you more aware of your environment because much of it
is under water," Sellick said.

   If you've ever considered scuba diving, Metro Detroit has many
scuba shops that offer classes. You don't have to be in great shape, but
you do have to carry 45 to 50 pounds of gear on your body.

   The term scuba is an acronym for self-contained, underwater
breathing apparatus, which is an essential piece of gear divers wear on
their backs.

Generally, equipment includes an oxygen tank, breathing regulator, mask,
fins, snorkel, wet suit and a buoyancy compensation device, which keeps
you at a certain depth.

   This gear can cost from $1,500 to $2,000, but it can last from
10 to 30 years.
   Many organizations offer certifications, so the rules vary
slightly depending on where you go. Training starts in the pool and
graduates to open water.

   At U.S. Scuba, you must be 11 years old, complete home study,
training with an instructor, pass quizzes, open water exams and written
exams. The open water exam includes at least four dives at a depth of at
least 20 feet. Certification costs about $350. Students need their own
diving-quality mask, fins, snorkel and boots.

   Sellick said her clients range from 12 to 75 years of age. One
man learned to dive on his 75th birthday.

   "People who have a real love of life are the ones who tend to
get more involved in scuba diving," Sellick said. "They love adventure
and the aesthetics of what's under water. We see small children to
seniors to singles to family members.

   Michigan has numerous dive clubs. The Great Lakes Aquanauts
have been meeting for 30 years. The club has about 85 members. They meet
once a month and participate in a river clean up every year. They go on
a variety of trips throughout Michigan and abroad.

   "One reason Michigan is so great is all our ship wrecks," said
GLA president Tim Ouellette of Milford. "The marine history in Michigan
goes way back.
   "It's a Mecca in Michigan. It's not like going to Arizona."

   His favorite local dive spots include Alpena, Lexington and the
Straits of Mackinac.

   "I've wanted to dive ever since I was a kid," he said. "By the
time I was in high school, I was convinced I had to dive."

   He took his first dive in 1968, when he
was just out of high school. He and two buddies went to Silver Lake in
Washtenaw County.
   

Yes, there is diving in the Detroit area, and yes, its warm enough (in
some places) for just a wet suit. There are dozens of small lakes in and
around the suburbs suitable for diving. I have never done any diving
there, but water temps at the surface in the summer get up to 70-75
degree F. If you are thinking about any of the Great Lakes, temp. rarely
gets above 68-70. I'll try to find the name of the dive shop we went to
in Waterford Twnshp that has diving suggestions, and I think maps if you
want... just let me know, I'll be there this weekend visiting family.
We'll be boating, swimming and wakeboarding, but not diving, in Cass
Lake (though others have).

As far as living there, summer and fall are the best times of the year.
If you're connected with one of the Universities or the Auto Industry,
it is indeed a fine place to live, but of course it cycles with the economy.

- Sue

Have dove dozens of times in the St Clair and Detroit Rivers.  Viz
good. Current can rip and there are big 800 ft tankers out in the main
channel.  My wife and I dove in the rivers looking for bottles and
other useless crap.  You need something to anchor yourself against the
current. You have to watch out for boats and you have to get used to
the sound of the tankers rumbling by.  I like the diving around Mt.
Clemon Michigan. Under the international bridge between Sarnia and Port
Huron there is a neat wreck. Careful though, someone died on the wreck
earlier this year.  You can drift dive down river from the bridge. I
have only been in the Detroit River from the Canadian side. Not the
cleanest place to get wet but there is lotsa junk there.

On Thu, 30 Mar 2006 14:28:01 -0500, Lee Bell wrote:

Quoting someone quoting The New York Times? Are you waking from your
slumber?