Tag: technical diving

Weekend of diving in Picton, Ontario

macado

Not even a week after returning from Malta I find myself on yet another dive trip to Canada. This weekend the destination is Picton, Ontario. It’s about an hour past Kingston, Ontario which is about an hour away from Alexandria Bay, New York on the St Lawrence River. I actually stopped in Kingston, Ontario on the way for dinner to visit some Canadian friends at the Kingston Brewing Company. Some of the same Canadian friends I was just diving with last week in Malta. They can’t seem to get rid…

Gunilda and Judge Hart: Trip Report (Sept 2024)

macado

Just returning from a 2400 mile road trip to Rossport, Ontario. I haven’t written that many trip reports this year although I’ve certainly done a lot of dive trips. 🙂 Although I’ve done a lot of diving in the Great Lakes I really think Lake Superior is my favorite lake, in particular the Gunilda and the Judge Heart wrecks. I really love seeing shipwrecks without zebra and quagga mussels. I cannot get enough of these shipwrecks although it is really honestly hard to pick a favorite. The wrecks in Isle…

Trip Report: Vickery and Jodrey dives (St Lawrence River)

macado

I actually wrote a huge post but my entire draft did not save so I guess I’m fucking writing this entire post all over again. It’s honestly been a real struggle to want to jump back into sub-40 degree water after diving in Mexico. A few weeks ago during my first foray back into New England diving I went up to West Rutland where I was greeted with 39 degrees (4c), less than 4-5ft of visibility, a leaky drysuit boot and ripped dry glove. Welcome to New England diving.. 🙁…

Trip Report: Awesome Diving in Presque Isle, Michigan (Lake Huron)

macado

It’s been a few years but I have finally gotten back up to Presque Isle, MI in Lake Huron. It’s been far too long! I realize that I just went on-and-on about how Isle Royale is some of the best diving in the Great Lakes but honestly so is Presque Isle. I would say Presque Isle diving in Lake Huron is just as good as Isle Royale diving, some may even like it better. I still like seeing the mussel-less shipwrecks in Lake Superior but Presque Isle is pretty extraordinary…

The diving industry is one giant pyramid scheme.

macado

The diving industry is one giant pyramid scheme. The truth of the matter is the SCUBA diving industry (recreational, professional instructor and even in some cases technical diving) is one giant cluster fuck of a pyramid scheme solely designed to sell you cute little plastic cards (well ok now eCards™!) while separating you from your paycheck.

Trip Report: Roy A. Jodrey on Dec 11-12

macado

I decided to get one last trip on the wreck of the Roy A. Jodrey before the end of the season. “End of the season” is of course a bit of a misnomer. There is still plenty of diving to be done in the St Lawrence river in the winter but most charter boats are out of the water by mid-December and the ice starts to become an issue by February. If you get really desperate you can shore dive at the Islander or Bonnie Castle but you may have…

Trip Report: Wreck of the Baleen with Daybreaker

macado
Wreck of Baleen

I crewed on both the morning and afternoon charters this Saturday for Matt.  On the morning charter we went to Halfway Rock and Southeast Breakers with a group from East Coast Divers. On the afternoon charter we made it out to the wreck of the Baleen. In the morning we had a bit of an incoming swell but otherwise topside conditions were great. Divers reported approximately 10-20ft of visibility. They said it varied depending on depth.  We spotted harbor seals on the surface and a whale off in the distance.…

Great Lakes Diving: A week of diving in Presque Isle & Whitefish Point

macado
SS Comet

I wanted to do a quick recap of my Great Lakes diving trip to Presque Isle (Lake Huron) and Whitefish Point (Lake Superior).  This was my 2nd time diving up in this area. I went last year in July for the first time with my friend Shawn and was blown away by the diving up here.  This year we planned to do 4 days in Presque Isle, MI (Lake Huron) and 3 days in Whitefish Point (Lake Superior). What can I say? First of all, it was truly awesome diving with…

My CCR Cave Diving Course with Paul Heinerth

macado

A little background information first.  It was a while ago that I started my “full cave” journey.  In March 2012 I took Cavern/Intro/Apprentice with German Yanez in Cozumel, Mexico.   He was a great instructor and I really enjoyed class with him but this was all on open circuit and to be perfectly honest I haven’t dove doubles frequently enough in the last two years to want to complete my full cave on open circuit.  I still dive OC but I just prefer to be on a rebreather for most dives…