This annual Intro to Shipwreck Diving is where the GLSPS invites youth groups such as the Boy Scouts of America (BSA Venture Crew 820) to experience shipwreck diving for the first time. Our typical platform is diving the S.P. Ely. However, depending on the Group and their experience, there is an option to dive the Hesper and the Madeira.
The fee for one day is $18.00 per person and $36.00 per person for both days will cover the split expenses for the food we provide aboard the RV Preservation. Cost is dependent on a number of meals eaten supplied by the GLSPS. If you bring your own food, please make special arrangements with the Leader of the event.
Special Announcement:
Due to the fact that social distancing is not possible onboard the RV Preservation. You must be at least two weeks past your final dose of your Covid-19 vaccination.
Starting in 2021, there will be a new and improved "Online Liability and Waiver Form" to complete 24 hours before you arrive at the event and board the RV Preservation. You must read, understand and sign electronically. Failure to do so will forfeit your permission to attend or perform any scuba diving activities at this event. So please complete your forms ASAP! If there are any questions, please contact the Project Leader. Contact information is listed below.
Here is the link.
https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/60be52a14e1cb/web/
Depending on the decision as to where the group decides to dive, We will bring the RV Preservation From Silver Bay to Two Harbors early Saturday morning and load up at the boat launch, if the group decides to dive the S.P. Ely. If the group decides to dive the Madeira and or Hesper, the boat will stay at Silver Bay Marina and load up at the Divers Dock.
If the decision is to dive the Ely in Two Harbors, it will require at least two GLSPS members/divers/crew to assist with cruising the boat to Two Harbors Saturday morning and back Sunday afternoon. (Weather Depending)! Up to 6 divers are welcome to stay/sleep on the Preservation Friday and Saturday evenings. BSA has there own camping/lodging arrangements set up.
We will be meeting divers and support at either the Divers dock in Silver Bay or the Two Harbors boat launch at 10:00 AM Saturday morning. Load equipment and motor over to the shipwreck (s) of the Groups choice or the break wall if the group chose the S.P. Ely, which is approximately 1 mile away in Agate Bay, right next to the S.P. Ely shipwreck.
As always, the schedule and boat access is dependent on the weather forecast for the weekend and lake conditions. This will determine if the boat will be available for the Two Harbors dive on the Ely. In which the back up is diving on the Hesper in Silver Bay Marina.
We will be diving most of the day and break for lunch between 12:00 and 1:00 PM, returning to diving when all divers have been feed and all tanks exchanged for full tanks.
The second dive will commence one hour after we have lunch. The youth group will be able to explore the shipwreck (under the supervision of their own Dive Master's and Supervisors).
We will be done diving about 4:00 PM and departing the break wall about 5:00 PM to transport the youth group back to the Divers Dock at the Silver bay Marina or the Two Harbors boat launch and dock to unload dive and other equipment.
Sunday is scheduled for GLSPS Members. BSA has other dives scheduled. GLSPS Members are welcome to dive Sunday only if they prefer. A small charge of $18.00 per day for food will be required to pay. (Unless you bring your own food). We will pick you up at the Silver Bay Divers Dock or if we are diving the S.P. Ely in Two Harbors, we will meet at the boat launch dock about 9 am.
Please let Dean Soderbeck, Project Leader for the Intro to Shipwreck Diving know if you have any questions. Registering for either event is REQUIRED! Please Register from the Calendar on the GLSPS website.
During the Project, and if we are at the S.P. Ely, GLSPS Members will be documenting the condition of the shipwreck and practice their still and Videography process (including the new process of Photogrammetry), to help in monitoring and documenting the shipwreck for deterioration.
After the photos and videos are edited and reviewed, the GLSPS Board of Directors will be voting on and appointing a stabilization project Leader and committee. They will decide on if, when and what we will be performing on the S.P. Ely shipwreck in the future.
If you would like to enjoy an easy shipwreck dive and help the GLSPS document shipwrecks and or help to show a youth diver a really cool shipwreck to cultivate a young persons interest in preserving maritime history, please register yourself or, contact us to register your youth group of certified divers to join us in a learning experience like no other!!
If you are interested and are registering for the project, please click on the link above for the "Online Forms". Please do this in advance, 36 to 24 hours before the event. ALL participants (including the BSA Youth Group) will be required to complete this form. There also may be a parent and or guardian that will be required to "electronically" sign the form.
The boat can't leave the dock until all the participants have completed, signed and submitted the forms through the online form system.
If you registered for this project, you will receive a final email a few days before the event with the link to the forms as well. Please watch for it.
Thank you for your interest in joining the GLSPS for another great Project.
Please Note: The GLSPS has the right to postpone or cancel this project at any time for any reason. Please watch your email as the event approaches.
Hope to see you on this project or, a future project.
Dean Soderbeck
Project/Event/BSA Leader
GLSPS Board Of Director
GLSPS 2nd Vice President
651-216-8596