Shore Diving Superior

[john j]

Does anyone have thoughts on what they consider 'best of' in the Apostles/Bayfield area?

In my opinion, the sea caves are better than the wrecks in the Apostle Islands.  Wrecks are broken up and visibility is typically not very good.  I think the best sea caves for diving are on the north tip of Devil's Island, but you need especially calm conditions because that location is way out there and very exposed.  Second best are those on the northeast side of Sand Island and third best are the Sqaw Bay caves.  The Squaw Bay caves are awesome for viewing in the winter when the ice is safe becasue you can walk out to them on the ice and go inside them.  The park service has a toll free number you can call for ice conditions.  If you have not explored them in winter, it is something you should put on your "to do" list.    Snorkeling the sea caves is perhaps better than diving becasue you can fit through smaller openings and climb around in the above water tunnels.  Watch out for boats at the sea caves though, because there are some real yokels around there who have no clue about safety.  Wakes from boats will slam you around real good in the caves.  I once had a wave jam me tightly into a small tunnel just below the surface and I thought I might not make it out.  Fortunately (or unfortunately for those who don't like me) I survived.

I wish there were better wrecks in the Apostles because it is close to home and I really enjoy boating there, but unfortunately the wrecks are not so great in my opinion.  Regarding suggested wrecks, I would say in order of priority: Lucerne, Noquebay, Sevona and Pretoria are worth seeing once or twice.  There is the TH Camp but it's at 180 feet and visibility is pretty bad.  All the other wrecks are well within sport diving limits.

None of the dives I listed are shore access dives.  There is an old model T Ford truck or something like that which is a shore dive from downtown Bayfield.  I have not dived on that one.  There is a wreck called the Fin McCool that is just a broken up barge, but it is fun to see it once or twice.  I have always dived that one from a boat but it may be possible to access it from shore.  Perhaps someone can present infromation on that.