Diving SS Grey Oak Superior The Bends hen a diver ascends to the surface too Wquickly, reduced ambient pressure can ith thousands of SS Emperor cause bubbles of inert gases to form within the tissues of the body, resulting in decompression wrecks and sev- sickness (popularly known as the bends). Joint eral underwater pain, paralysis or even death can result. Wpreserves in Lake Superior, there is a lot of diving po- tential. The proposed Lake Whaleback Barge 115 Superior Marine Conserva- hough diving suits date as far are trained by certified instructors, but tion Area will be the largest, back as 1839, the modern SCU- precautions must still be taken. In Su- encompassing 6 lighthouses BA (self-contained underwater perior’s very cold water, modern divers Tbreathing apparatus) suit, perfected in wear dry suits and thermal protection. and 12 major wrecks within 1943, allowed diving to become a rec- Wet suits insulate the body with a thin a 10,0002 km area between reational sport. Over time, equipment layer of water inside the suit. Dry suits and suits have improved considerably use air instead, which has a greater Sibley Peninsula and Bottle making the sport much safer. Divers insulation value. Point. Today, local dive clubs respect the wrecks, leaving them unmolested for the ben- efit of future generations. SS Neebing SS Rappahannock SS Henry Chisholm Deepest Dive in Lake Superior n 1995, Terrence Tysall and Mike Zee became the Preserving Shipwrecks Raising Artifacts Ionly divers ever to reach the 163-metre deep Edmund Tug Howard Fitzgerald without a submersible. To prevent nitrogen he Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society actively preserves narcosis, they explored the Fitz for 6 minutes before Tshipwrecks, educates the public and promotes the dive ethic: n Lake Superior, shipwrecks that re- moval of artifacts is prohibited with fines surfacing. “It was the first time in almost twenty years “Take only pictures, leave only bubbles.” They even repair damage to Imain remarkably well preserved for of up to $250,000! Artifacts in this exhibit that living hands were touching the Edmund Fitzgerald,” wrecks and replace artifacts that have been removed. Groups such decades, can deteriorate quickly once ex- were acquired before such laws were in said Tysall. In 2006, the Ontario Heritage Act made it as Save Our Shipwrecks and Protect Our Wrecks also work through posed to air. Today laws protect them. Re- place or through legal salvage operations. illegal to dive within 500 metres of the site. education to protect Ontario’s marine heritage..