Some Light Reading – Reviewing Parts of “Divers Guide to Michigan”

Yes, I have been a slacker lately! I’ve been diving since my last post, just no place new. I dove Lake 16 a couple more times, not much different than the last time, except I got to play dead/distressed diver for the rescue diver class going on. So…since I haven’t been any place new, I thought I’d share some light reading I’ve done.

I picked up a couple books from the library (gotta love the library!!) Divers Guide to Michigan by Steve Harrington and Snorkeling Guide to Michigan Inland Lakes by Nancy S. Washburne.

The Snorkeling Guide is great for basic information on the lakes there, and is really aimed toward the nature diver. i.e. the people who just want to be underwater watching the fish. She doesn’t mention anything about what else is down there. But I do suggest reading it!

Divers Guide to Michigan is, well what it is called. A DIVER’s guide. He is pretty detailed about the locations. Only problems are: a.) The book is 10 years old. b.) Most of it is shipwreck/Great Lake diving.  BUT he does have a section in the back about some inland lakes in Michigan. Those I will share with you, so read on, or go get your own copy!

HIGGINS LAKE

Located in Roscommon and Crawford counties (North/Central Lower Penninsula).

“..is popular for night diving and for divers who enjoy observing aquatic life.”

“Higgins Lake is popular because of water clarity. During summer months, divers can expect visibility of 20 to 50 feet.”

ATTRACTIONS: To sum it up, it is one of the largest inland lakes in the state, very clear, has a “sunken island” where lots of fish can be seen in large school, and is a popular lake for boating and fishing, so look for dropped items, but not much else.

DEPTH: 135 ft

VISIBILITY: 20-50ft

GULL LAKE

Located in Kalamazoo County (Southern/Central Lower Penninsula).

ATTRACTIONS: Lots of fish, junk and farm equiptment. (He never said junk, my summary)

“In some areas, it was not unusual for residents to dispose of unwanted items, such as obsolete farm equiptment and even old cars, by taking them out on the ice. When spring came, the disposal was complete. Some even set up betting pools to guess on which day the ice would melt enough to give way.”

“These days, that practice is uncommon because of environmental concerns, but Gull Lake is one area where farmers’ “trash” became divers’ “treasure.” “

DEPTH: 110 ft

VISIBILITY: 8-30 ft

BROCKWAY LAKE

Located in southern Mecosta County (Mid lower penninsula).

ATTRACTION: Lots of fish, especially Northern Pike, and vegetation. There also was a marl mine here, so the walls are still underwater.  This is a small lake, so no speed boats. (Just a note here, he talks quite a bit about the fish here, so if that’s what you are diving for, pick up the book for more details)

VISIBILITY: 15-25

DEPTH: 30 ft

MURRAY LAKE

Located in northern Kent County (West Michigan).

ATTRACTIONS:

It’s a popular boating lake, so there are lost “treasures”, fishing gear, small boats, typical busy waters stuff. Lots of fish and great for just exploring.” Murray Lake is a popular ice diving site.”

“There is enough adjacent wetland to support an abundant fishery and wildlife.”

VISIBILITY: 10-25ft

DEPTH: (doesn’t state in the book, I might look it up later)

BAW BEESE LAKE

Located southeast of Hillsdale, Mi, off of the St. Joseph River (Southern lower penninsula).

ATTRACTIONS:

“hosts a variety of small boats, ice shanties, and weed beds that attract small game fish.”

“Divers will find a small cabin cruiser at the northeast end of the lake in 55 ft of water.”

VISIBILITY: 15-30ft

DEPTH: 70 ft

HEART LAKE

Located in southern Otsego County (Northern lower penninsula)

ATTRACTION: Remarkable water clarity.

“There was once a sawmill on the south end of Heart Lake and logs were floated across the alke to the mill. Before some logs made it to the saw, however, they became waterlogged and sank. As a result, divers can find massive logs on the silty to sandy bottom.”

VISIBILITY: (doesn’t say, just says “remarkable clarity”)

DEPTH: 125 ft (lake is “split” in half, one side is 125 ft deep, other only 20 ft)

HARDY POND

Located in Newaygo county (Central lower penninsula)

ATTRACTIONS: The pond is created by the Hardy Dam, when they created this they flooded a steel bridge that now rests under 60 ft of water.

VISIBILITY: up to 30 ft in some areas, but expect much much less.

DEPTH: 110 ft

 

Well there you go, my summary of Divers Guide to Michigan by Steve Harrington. I strongly suggest you pick it up, he gives much more detail than I gave, including directions and maps of the lakes (about a page description per lake) Not to mention the other 300 or so pages of stuff, including shipwrecks, underwater preserves, diving St. Clair river and diving laws. Lots and lots of stuff in this book for Michigan divers!

Hopefully I’ll get to hit some of these places soon!!

I hope I helped some more people out! Happy diving!