Scuba diving is a fantastic sport. It's the closest we can come to being in a weightless environment while yielding sights that few get to see. While some may consider it an "extreme" sport, it's no more dangerous than driving a car. If you follow the rules it's very safe and enjoyable. SCUBA is an acronym for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus which is why you'll occasionally see it spelled using all capital letters but spelling it in lower-case has become common.

Milwaukee-area divers are the envy of scuba divers in many other parts of the nation and the world. Due to its' history as a shipping port there are numerous ship wrecks right off the Milwaukee shoreline, as well as many others along the Wisconsin shoreline, particularly around Door County. The cold, non-salt water of Lake Michigan helps preserve these underwater relics ranging from old wooden schooners to more modern steel-hull frieghters. (Check out this Milwaukee PBS program on Milwaukee-area shipwrecks.)

In addition to Lake Michigan, there are numerous inland lakes available to the recreational diver which are close to Milwaukee. My all-time favorite of these is Lake Geneva (see the maps and dive information below). The lake, with its' sorted past, holds many interesting artifacts with some dating back to the 1800s. (I personally recovered a wine bottle circa 1860.) Its' sandy bottom and relatively clear water negates the need for dive lights and its' warmer water temperatures are a refreshing change from the chill of Lake Michigan, especially for wet suit divers. It's less than an hours drive from Milwaukee on I-43 (the "Rock freeway"). You can request a free Visitors Guide featuring maps and information on lodging, boat rentals, recreational activities, and eateries on line or by calling Visit Lake Geneva at 800-345-1020.

Getting Started

There are several dive shops around the Milwaukee area that offer scuba diving training classes, equipment sales and rental, and dive charters.

• The AJ Scuba dive shop is a good option if you prefer private or semi-private training with a flexible schedule and they are affiliated with a Lake Michigan charter boat (the Sarah Jane).
• Aquatic Adventures is a well-stocked dive shop that offers a wide variety of training classes and trips. They also offer for-credit scuba classes through an affiliation with UW-Milwaukee.
• Stillwater Diving in Delafield is your go-to dive shop for diving in the "Lake Country" area west of Milwaukee. They host fun dives at the various lakes (Pewaukee, Nagawicka, Gennessee, etc.) around that area which are a lot less intimidating (and warmer) than a Lake Michigan wreck dive (which they also offer). The local Four Seasons Dive Club holds their monthly meetings here on the second Tuesday of every month.
• The Pirates Cove dive shop is the oldest in the state of Wisconsin, is also affiliated with a Lake Michigan charter boat (the LenDer) and serves as home base for the Buccaneers Dive Club.

Where To Buy Your Equipment See the Two Equipment Warnings section below for information on why scuba equipment is the one area of retail where you want to buy from local dive shops like those listed above instead of buying it from an on-line seller.

The entry-level training class is the PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) "Open Water" certification. (PADI is the certifying agency and you must have a certification in order to rent tanks or get them filled.) The cost to complete this class, which includes classroom instruction and pool training along with an open water check-out dive at the completion of the course, is around $400. Lessons cover the use and operation of equipment (tanks, regulators, buoyancy compenstator vests, pressure gauges, depth gauges, etc.), the physics of diving (pressures, buoyancy, weight, etc.), proper diving behavior and techniques, as well as dive planning and underwater communication via hand signals. The cost of the class includes all of the necessary equipment rentals but you'll have to have your own mask, snorkel, fins and boots. (There's also a "PADI ReActivate" refresher class if you're a certified diver who's been out of the water for awhile.)

If you wish, you can progress to the "Advanced Open Water" certifcation training which includes lessons in night diving, underwater navigation and search techniques, and deep diving. In addition, there are numerous specialty certifications offering training in underwater photography, rescue diving, equipment specialist, wreck diver (for penetrating inside ship wrecks), and for areas such as ours, ice diving (chopping a hole in the ice and diving under it). Most of these specialty certifications include both classroom instruction and pool lessons.

The best way for the beginner to get their feet wet (so to speak) is to sign up for a "Discover Scuba" session. This is a two to three hour introduction to scuba diving where you wear scuba equipment in an indoor pool. The cost is about $45. All you need to bring is a swim suit and a towel (and your own mask, snorkel and fins if you have them).

Going Diving

The local dive shops are your best resource for Milwaukee-area dive outings. Outings to inland lakes and quarries are scheduled frequently throughout the summer, and occasionally for ice diving excursions during the winter. Most dive shops also arrange for Lake Michigan wreck dive outings with one of the local charter boats. However, you can also contact the charter boats directly yourself provided you have your own equipment, including tanks. (See the links to the Sarah Jane and LenDer charter boats above.)

The Molly V is a wreck dive charter for recreational and technical divers that allows you to rent the entire boat. They take a maximum of six so if you split the cost the boat rental six ways it may come out cheaper than going through a local dive shop. (You can also get on their charters as an individual diver if space is available.) Check out the "Boat Fee" column on their fees page.

Lake Michigan charters to ship wreck sites are held weekly during the summer months. These charters (just the boat ride) typically cost $125 and usually last four to five hours from dock departure to return. Most weekend charters are "two-tank trips" meaning you dive a tank, come up and take a break on the boat, and then go for a second dive. Weekday evening one-tank charters may also available and cost less. The different dive charter boats normally dock at locations on the Milwaukee River just south of downtown. The most popular wreck is the Prins Willem (aka "the Willie"), a 258-foot steel-hull frieghter that went down about five miles off of the Milwaukee harbor entrance in 1954. Her railing is at 55 feet (she's laying on her side) with a maximum depth of 85 feet.

Lake Geneva

The dive shop on Lake Geneva closed some time ago but there are several boat rental operations around the lake. (Make sure you have a proper dive flag and attachment hardware.) If you have your own boat there are three public boat launches on the north, east, and west shores of the lake with launch fees under $10 for state residents. Take the Hwy. 12 exit off of I-43 to go into the city of Lake Geneva. Take the Hwy. 67 exit to go into Williams Bay and Fontana.

There are even a couple sizable ship wrecks in Lake Geneva. The 115' Lucius Newberry went down in 65 feet of water in 1891. It burned to the water line so there isn't much left. The 93' hull of an earlier Lady of the Lake excursion boat (there's a newer one running now) rests in only 35 feet of water. It went down in 1893.

One caution about diving in Lake Geneva is that there is a lot of boat traffic (which can be a hazardous thing for scuba divers). While boaters are supposed to know what a dive flag looks like and stay at least 100 feet away from any vessel flying one, I've seen instances where they motored right up to a dive boat to ask what the flag means. Play it safe and don't ascend in open water. Use your boat's anchor line for an ascent. If you have your own boat or plan to rent one, Princeton Tec manufactures the underwater Aqua Strobe with a velcro strap (cost is around $35) that you can attach to the bottom of your anchor line to make it easy to find your way back to it at the conclusion of your dive.

IMPORTANT:  Every scuba diver must register (preferrably in person) with the Water Safety Patrol (262-245-6577) before you dive Lake Geneva your first time. (This applies whether you have your own boat, rent a boat, or even if you use a dive charter service.) The registration is free and is good for a lifetime, but you must have your registration card with you every time you go scuba diving on the lake. In a recent e-mail this was their response to a query about diving restrictions:

"The only time restrictions are that there is no scuba diving allowed at night. There are some areas of the lake that are off limits to scuba diving during the summer months. Those areas are Geneva Bay, Williams Bay, and Fontana Bay. Divers must dive from an anchored boat, and a scuba flag must be displayed from that boat. All divers must register with the Water Safety Patrol prior to diving, and you will receive a complete list of rules at that time. Our office is located at 301 Constance Blvd., Williams Bay, WI. Registration is free."

In a subsequent e-mail I received the following information about the registration process:

"We would prefer that they do it in person because there is a registration card that we give out that has a map outlining the restricted areas, etc. It also lists the scuba ordinances for Geneva Lake. It is a one-time registration that is good for a lifetime, and they can do it any time before diving. It does not have to be done the day of the dive. If they cannot come in person, we could get the information by phone and fax them (or mail) a copy of the card."

Their office is located about mid-way between the Williams Bay and Fontana boat launches as indicated by the red star on the map above. Note that shore diving is not allowed. You must use a boat. The summer restrictions to diving in the "Bays" is due to heavy boat traffic near the public launches. If you plan on using your own boat or renting one, let them know this when you register. They likely also have rules governing boating activities that you'll need to be aware of as well.

Equipment
For a wealth of awesome, educational equipment reviews from someone who knows, see the link
in the Helpful Web Sites section below to Alec Peirce's "Scuba Tech Tips" videos on YouTube.
Scuba diving equipment isn't cheap. However, dive shops will rent all necessary and even optional equipment (like underwater cameras and metal detectors) for those just getting started. This is a good way to see what makes/models work good for you. The decision to rent or buy depends on how often you plan to dive.

The "basic" scuba unit actually consists of four items:

• Tank - A thick-walled aluminum cylinder that is pressurized to 3,000 psi to hold 80 cu. ft. of regular air (NOT oxygen). The tank is equipped with a "K valve" to which one end of the regulator is attached.
  
  
• Regulator - The regulator has two pieces connected by a thin black hose. One end (called the "primary stage") attaches to the K-valve on the tank and the other end (called the "secondary stage") has a mouth-piece and exhaust vents. Its' purpose is to drop down the high pressure air of the tank to the correct pressure needed for breathing (which changes depending on the depth you are at). There are also "ports" on the primary stage for attaching hoses for devices like a tank pressure gauge, BC vest inflator, and a backup second stage known as an "octopus".
  
  
• Buoyancy Compensator - Most commonly referred to as a "BC" or "BCD" it is a vest with an air-tight bladder inside. Air is added to it with the push of a button via a hose attached to the regulator and there is a valve for releasing the air. As your depth changes you add/remove air from the BC to make you "neutrally buoyant" so that you neither sink down or float up. This in effect makes you weightless so that all you need to do to maneuver around is kick your feet. Many BCs are now "weight integrated" meaning they have specially designed pockets for holding block or soft weights so you don't need to wear a weight belt.
  
  
• Backpack - The BC is installed on a backpack or the backpack is integrated into the BC. It has a single wide strap or band in the back that holds the tank and has shoulder and waist straps in the front for securing it to you. Given that the BC stays attached to the backpack, these two items are handled as a single item.

One common beginner question is "How long does a tank of air last?" The answer is "It depends on your depth." The deeper you go the greater the pressure (exerted by the water) against your body. Because your body is mostly water this isn't a problem. But it does mean that you need more air to be able to inflate your lungs against this pressure. The pressure of the air you inhale must be the same as the pressure of the water around you (that's what the regulator does for you). Each 33 feet of depth equals one additional "atmosphere" of pressure. At the surface there is one atmosphere (14.7 psi) of pressure. You'll use up your air twice as fast at 99 feet (four atmospheres of pressure) than you will at 33 feet (two atmospheres of pressure). Because your depth typically changes during a dive, and given the differences in peoples lung sizes and respiration rates, it's impossible to determine how long a tank of air will last for any given dive. In my experience it's about 20 minutes at 100 feet and 45 minutes at 30 feet.

Starting out you should have your own mask, fins, and snorkel. If you wear glasses you can order a mask with corrective lenses (but it may be cheaper to switch to contact lenses). If you wear hard contact lenses check with your optometrist to make sure they are the "gas permeable" type. Most are these days but check to make sure.

Fins come in heel-strap and full-foot models. The heel-strap models are the kind you need for scuba diving while the full-foot models can be used for snorkeling. It's common to wear wet suit or dry suit boots (dry suits will sometimes come with attached boots) under the fins. This not only protects your exposed heal but allows for a more comfortable fin fit because fin material tends to be rather rigid. When sizing fins and adjusting heel straps be sure to allow for the boots you'll be wearing.

The basic scuba unit outlined above can be rented. However, there are additional items you'll need to rent or buy. One of the most important is a diving suit to keep you warm during your dive.

A wet suit is a tight-fitting porous neoprene suit that allows a layer of water to flow in between you and the suit. This water becomes trapped (which is why you want it tight-fitting) and is warmed by your body and helps to keep you warm during your dive. Due to all the air bubbles in the neoprene material, a wet suit makes you very buoyant and you need to wear a weight belt so that you can get below the surface. Wet suits come in different thicknesses so you can get a thicker suit for our colder waters. 5 mm is usually the minimum for this area with 7 mm recommended because wet suits will get compressed by water pressure and lose some of their insulating ability as a result. There are also wet suit hoods, gloves, and boots. The thicker the suit the more weight you'll need on your weight belt or in your BC to counteract the buoyancy of the suit.

If you are going to be doing a lot of Lake Michigan wreck diving you'll want to invest in a dry suit. Water temperatures below the "thermocline" in the lake stay around 38 degrees year-around. A dry suit is a looser-fitting, one-piece, water-tight suit and you wear insulated under-garments (similar to long johns) underneath for warmth. It is recommended that you take the PADI Dry Suit Diver course before diving with a dry suit. These suits have fill and exhaust valves like a BC. Air can be added to the suit to relieve "suit squeeze" but this introduces additional buoyancy considerations that you need to know how to deal with.

The Cadillac of dry suits are those made by DUI. Their higher-end dry suits can run in excess of $2,000. For the occasional diver, lower-cost dry suits from manufacturers like Bare Sportswear would suffice and can be had for under $1,000. By comparison, wet suits usually cost under $500. (Bare also makes wet suits including the 7mm "Arctic Hooded Fullsuit" for around $300.) This is a good case where renting the different types of suits can help you decide if the benefits of a dry suit are worth the additional cost. Dry suits also require the purchase of the Thinsulate or Polartec under-garments. These types of under-garments are mentioned because you don't want cotton or wool under-garments. These natural fibers will absorb perspiration, making them wet and getting you chilled. By contrast, Thinsulate and Polartec synthetic under-garments wick moisture away keeping you dry. (This applies to high-activity winter under-garments as well.)

Two required gauges are the depth guage and tank pressure guage (to monitor your air supply during your dive). The tank pressure gauge attaches to the primary stage of the regulator via a hose. Both gauges are often combined into a single "console" There are also three-position consoles where an underwater compass takes the third position. Most rental regulators contain a tank pressure gauge and may also include a depth gauge. (You can rent a wrist-mounted depth guage if it's not included.) When buying a depth gauge, get one with a "maximum depth indicator" needle. It gets pushed up the depth scale by the main indicator needle but does not move back on its' own. This shows you how deep you were at the deepest part of your dive. Digital gauges and "dive computers" have become more common but analog gauges are fine and are less expensive.

The murky nature of Lake Michigan near Milwaukee means that a dive light is another necessary piece of equipment for wreck diving (even when not penetrating the wrecks). Dive lights are water-proof, pressure-resistant flashlights. They range from cheap and not very helpful to powerful sealed-beam lights that can cost over $200. The more powerful dive lights are meant to be used only under water as the water is needed to cool the front plastic lens. The Ikelite SuperLite model I own came with a warning that using it out of the water could cause the plastic cover lens to start to melt. (Newer LED-based lights don't have this problem.) Due to the physics of light and water, only light in the blue spectrum makes it to deeper depths. A moderate dive light can be advantageous even at dive sites where there is a decent amount of ambient light because it will allow you to see things in their true colors. They are also helpful when diving on overcast days when the ambient light is reduced. However, wreck diving in Lake Michigan off of Milwaukee calls for a high-power dive light, especially if you plan to advance and get your "Wreck Diver" certification so you can penetrate the wrecks.

Last but not least is a gear bag. These are basically just big duffle bags with mesh panels that allow water to drain out (after putting wet equipment in them). Gear bags are especially important on charter boats because you need to keep your equipment collected and organized so you don't mix your equipment up with that of other divers. Dive shops will typically give you rental gear in a gear bag but you should pack the items in the reverse order that you will be removing them (i.e. your fins on the bottom). A gear bag is another relatively inexpensive item that you may want to buy early on.

Getting started in scuba diving does not have to be expensive. Beginning scuba divers pursuing a certification should have their own mask, fins, snorkel, boots, gloves, and gear bag at a minimum but these items represent a minimal investment in your new hobby. The more expensive equipment can be rented. As you seek to add to your equipment, get items that are specific to your size first, like a wet suit or dry suit. Get a weight belt with the appropriate amount of weights for your size and suit also. The rest of the gear is pretty generic size-wise. A BC can be next. Keep in mind that when buying a regulator you'll also want to buy a console with a tank pressure gauge and depth gauge, and octopus at the same time so that this can be a rather expensive purchase. The tanks should be the last peice of equipment you buy. Why? Because they're heavy (less carrying them around when you don't have to take them home with you), require periodic "hydro" testing, and are readily available for rent from any dive shop. You don't even take them with you when you are going on a tropical dive trip.

December is a good time to buy new equipment because business is slow and the dive shops want to reduce their year-end inventory for tax purposes. In addition, dive shops will often sell older rental equipment at quite a discount. Used items can also be found on eBay but make sure you know what your are buying. Generic items like dive knives, compasses, and snorkels are not such a big deal but for things like regulators and BCs it's best to be familier with the make/model you bid on either through renting it or knowing another diver who has it. Even then, make sure the item is listed as being in good condition. I wouldn't recommend buying a used tank on line because there's no way to no what the inside is like and due to their weight they would be expensive to ship. And stay away from the "snorkeling packages" consisting of a mask, fins, and snorkel as these low-end models aren't really made for scuba diving. Some auctions use the word "vintage" in their descriptions but when it comes to scuba equipment vintage is just a better way of saying really old.
Two Equipment Warnings
Dive shops are beginning to no longer fill aluminum tanks that were made prior to 1990. The major tank maker at the time, Luxfer, used a sub-standard aluminum alloy (alloy No. 6351) in 1987 and 1988. To be safe, dive shops are dropping support for pre-1990 aluminum tanks. (Steel tanks are OK.) In short, don't buy an aluminum tank that was made before 1990.

When buying new equipment most manufacturers of scuba gear would prefer that you not buy your equipment from on-line sellers. They want you to buy it through a dive shop that is one of their "authorized dealers" because they can ensure proper fit (proper fit is very important in many types of scuba equipment), properly service your equipment with authentic parts, and assist you with any sort of problems or warranty claims. Many scuba equipment manufacturers mandate a fixed retail price for their gear so the price will be the same in a local dive shop as it is on line. In short, there's really no price advantage to shopping on line even if the on-line seller is a legitimate dealer for that manufacturer. If they're not a legitimate dealer you run the risk of, at the very least, not being able to get your gear serviced or not having your warranty honored. And with Chinese counterfeiters running unabated by the Chinese government, there's always the possiblity of being stuck with counterfeit equipment. It's not something you'd want to risk your life on.


Helpful Web Sites

• AJ Scuba - Dive Shop - Offers semi-private and private training with flexible class scheduling and operates the Sarah Jane dive charter boat on Lake Michigan.
  
  
• Aquatic Adventures - Dive Shop - Offers a lot of training classes and dive trips. She their schedules and course listings on line.
  
  
• Stillwater Diving - Dive Shop - A Delafield dive shop with fun dives to numerous sites in "Lake Country."
  
  
• Pirates Cove - Dive Shop - Milwaukee's oldest dive shop on the south side of the city also operates the Len-Der dive charter boat on Lake Michigan.
  
  
• Molly V - Wreck dive charter for recreational and technical divers.
  
  
• On-Line Wreck Dive Videos - The Wisconsin Shipwrecks Web site has dive videos of several of the Lake Michigan ship wrecks off of Wisconsin. These video clips are viewable using Windows Media Player or QuickTime. The Frank O'Connor and Niagra videos also have audio narratives.
  
  
• Lake Geneva Water Safety Patrol - Dive activity registration and information.
  
  
• Lake Geneva Convention and Visitors Bureau - An on-line version of their visitors guide with information, maps, and a calendar of events (but still call for the free printed guide).
  
  
• Alec Peirce Scuba Channel - A YouTube channel created by a dive shop owner in Canada. Check out his AWESOME "Scuba Tech Tips" playlists which feature in-depth, unbiased reviews of equipment and tips for maintenance.
  
  
• Scuba Board - Scuba Board features on-line bulletin and discussion boards where you can get information and post questions about equipment, dive locations, and just about anything else associated with scuba diving.
  
  
• Dive Training Magazine - A monthly print periodical that targets new divers with articles on the basics in all areas of diving.
  
  
• Scuba Diving Magazine - The largest scuba diving print periodical with equipment reviews and information on dive travel destinations.
  
  
• PADI The official Web site of the Professional Association of Dive Instructors featuring course descriptions and requirements.
  
  Equipment Manufacturers
  
  
• Ikelite - Located in Indianapolis, Ikelite has an excellent reputation for customer service and quality products. They manufacture dive lights and underwater photography equipment and even carry replacement parts for discontinued products which is rare.
  
  
• Princeton Tec - Makers of the underwater Aqua Strobe which is available at some dive shops but can also be found for sale on numerous Web sites.
  
  
• DUI Dry Suits - DUI's Web site featuring their different dry suit models with MSR prices.
  
  
• Henderson's Divewear - A manufacturer of moderately-priced wet suits.
  
  
• Bare Sportswear - Manufacturer of both cold-water wet suits and higher-priced dry suits.
  
  
• Aqualung - One of the oldest dive equipment manufacturers with early ties to Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
  
  
• ScubaPro - Another dive equipment manufacturer with a wide product line.
  
  
• Oceanic - Yet another dive equipment manufacturer with a wide product line.
  
  
• Sherwood - You guessed it. Another dive equipment manufacturer with a wide product line.

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