Several years ago an Around the Lakes feature told readers about diving in the water filled mine pits of Minnesota. Abandoned iron ore mines near Brainerd Minnesota are now filled with clean, clear (and very cold) water and, because of the many mining artifacts that remain on the bottom, are all very interesting to dive.
The Minnesota School of Diving in the town of Brainerd reported this month that they have received a shipment of new maps accurately showing where the diveable mine pits are to be found. The map, published by the Beanie Buddy Map company, is the first in a series of nine that the firm is planning to release to the dive community.
The first map highlights eight dive sites in the Cuyana Mine Pit region. It includes information on gear up areas, water entry points and dive highlights at each site. When the series is complete over fifty different pit sites will be described. Each water proof map will sell for approximately $10 Cd. For information about the maps visit their website at : www.mndiving.com or call 219-829-5953.
Thought of the Day
How much deeper would oceans be if sponges didn't live there?
Safety and the Web
Personal safety is one of the biggest concerns for people who like to travel and dive. Diving near war zones, high sea pirates, badly maintained dive boats and charter vessels that don't keep accurate track of their divers are some of the dangers facing the dive community in the 21st century.
Discussion of personal diver safety is a regular discussion topic on many of the Internet dive news groups and on websites. One dive medical website has gone so far as to list the 'Seven Steps to Survival'.
"Survival," reads the report listed on http://www.gulftel.com/~scubadoc/ "depends on the recognition that you are in danger of losing your life."
"The seven steps to survival are: recognition, inventory, shelter, water, food, signals and play. Of course, flotation is a prerequisite for any survival after only a short time in the water. Other factors come into play, the most important of which is unmeasurable, "the will to live", continued the report. "Play" comes into action as you have memories, fantasies and prayer (to think about). "Tell jokes and get rid of your anger."
City of Leamington wants Province to rewrite proposed shipwreck legislation
The City of Leamington has made a written appeal to the Ontario Provincial Government asking it to scrap a private member's bill that is slowly working its way through the House. Last month, Mayor Dave Wilkinson and his council sent a letter to the Province condemning Bill 13, a proposed law, if passed in its current state, that will restrict divers' access to shipwrecks.
Located on the north shore of Lake Erie, Leamington is the centre for wreck diving in Southern Ontario. The city, working with the Save Ontario Shipwrecks Society, dive clubs and other municipalities, has established mooring pins on a number of shipwrecks close to shore. The city's pro-dive policy has made Leamington a popular scuba destination for divers in both Ontario and Michigan.
"I strongly believe in preserving the shipwrecks. Here in Leamington, if our wrecks are abused, our burgeoning dive industry will be hurt. However," says Mayor Wilkinson, "our council feels that the wording in Bill 13 is badly flawed. The government should rip it up and try again."
Bill 13 was written by Toby Barrett a MPP who represents Port Dover, another Lake Erie community that caters to divers. His bill (which has already passed second reading) calls for stiff fines if divers disturb a wreck that is considered a heritage site. So tough is the current wording in Bill 13 that a diver kicking up silt inside a wreck could face a $25,000 fine.
Barrett has told Diver Magazine that he is prepared to rewrite the Bill before it heads for third and final reading. The government backbencher has also promised to hear the concerns of the dive community and to that end has met with representatives from the Ontario Underwater Council and a number of dive shop and dive boat owners.
However, in Leamington, the council has not heard back from Barrett and the Provincial Government. To date their letter of concern has not been answered.
"We are going to fight this," continued the mayor. "We must protect the shipwrecks, but, not at the expense of killing the dive industry."