This annual Intro to Shipwreck Diving is where the GLSPS invites youth groups such as the Boy Scouts of America (BSA Venture Crew 820) to experience shipwreck diving for the first time. Our typical platform is diving the S.P. Ely. However, depending on the Group and their experience, there is an option to dive the Hesper and the Madeira. This year we are hoping to go back to the S.P. Ely in Two Harbors MN to not only introduce the youth divers to shipwreck diving but also to survey the S.P. Ely, as it has been reported that a couple of steel rods are broken and need to be replaced.
Special Announcement:
Due to the safety requirements of the CDC, State, Federal Governments and the safety requirements of the GLSPS, you will need to be vacinated for you protection from the current pandemic.
There is a new and improved "Online Liability and Waiver Form" to complete 36 to 24 hours before you arrive at the event and board the RV Preservation. You must read, understand, sign electronically and submit. Failure to do so will forfeit your permission to attend or perform any scuba diving activities at this event. So please complete your forms ASAP! If there are any questions, please contact the Project Leader. Contact information is listed below. If you are a non member of the GLSPS here is the link to the Liability Release and Waiver form. https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/61e78a648f8d5/web/
This year the decision among the board is to dive the S.P. Ely in Two Harbors, it will require at least two GLSPS members/divers/crew to assist with cruising the boat to Two Harbors Saturday morning and back Sunday afternoon. (Weather Depending)! Up to 6 divers are welcome to stay/sleep on the Preservation Friday and Saturday evenings. BSA has there own camping/lodging arrangements set up.
Upon arrival at Two Harbors Agate Bay, the divers will be loading at 10:00 AM at the boat launch and will transport everyone over to the break wall where the S.P. Ely is located.
As always, the schedule and boat access is dependent on the weather forecast for the weekend and lake conditions. This will determine if the boat will be available for the Two Harbors dive on the Ely. In which the back up is diving on the Hesper in Silver Bay Marina.
We will be diving most of the day and break for lunch between 12:00 and 1:00 PM, returning to diving when all divers have been fed and all tanks exchanged for full tanks.
Please Note: Because of the large group, the GLSPS will not be using the on-board scuba compressor to fill tanks. It will take way too long to fill all of them. The BSA Group is supplying their own tanks to change out for the second dive.
The second dive will commence one hour after we have lunch. The youth group will be able to explore the shipwreck (under the supervision of their own Dive Master's and Supervisors).
We will be done diving about 4:00 PM and departing the break wall about 5:00 PM to transport the youth group back to the Divers Dock at the Silver bay Marina or the Two Harbors boat launch and dock to unload dive and other equipment.
Sunday is scheduled for GLSPS Members. BSA has other dives scheduled. GLSPS Members are welcome to dive Sunday on the Ely. A small charge of $30.00 per day for food and fuel will be required to pay. (Unless you bring your own food). If you are not staying on board the RV Preservation, we will pick you up at the Two Harbors boat launch at 8:00 AM to bring you to the break wall by the Ely.
Please let Dean Soderbeck, Project Leader for the Intro to Shipwreck Diving know if you have any questions. Registering for either event is REQUIRED! Please Register from the Calendar on the GLSPS website.
During the survey project, for the S.P. Ely, GLSPS Members will be documenting the condition of the shipwreck and practice their still and Videography process (including the new process of Photogrammetry), to help in monitoring and documenting the shipwreck for deterioration.
After the photos and videos are edited and reviewed, the GLSPS Board of Directors will be voting on and appointing a stabilization project Leader and committee. They will decide on if, when and what we will be performing on the S.P. Ely shipwreck in the future.
If you would like to enjoy an easy shipwreck dive and help the GLSPS document shipwrecks and or help to show a youth diver a really cool shipwreck to cultivate a young persons interest in preserving maritime history, please register yourself or, contact us to register your youth group of certified divers to join us in a learning experience like no other!!
If you are interested and are registering for the project, please register and then click on the link above for the "Online Forms". Please do this in advance, 36 to 24 hours before the event. ALL participants (including the BSA Youth Group) will be required to complete this form. There also may be a parent and or guardian that will be required to "electronically" sign the form.
The GLSPS can allow anyone to attend until all the participants have completed, signed and submitted the forms through the online form system. This will be determined 24 hours before the event
If you registered for this project, you will receive a final email a few days before the event with additional information if necessary and the link to the online form as well. Please watch for it.
Thank you for your interest in joining the GLSPS for another great Project.
Please Note: The GLSPS has the right to postpone or cancel this project at any time for any reason. Please watch your email as the event approaches.
Hope to see you on this project or, a future project.
Dean Soderbeck
Project/Event/BSA Leader
GLSPS Board Of Director
GLSPS 2nd Vice President
651-216-8596