Past Events

Lance Knapp was a US Navy Rescue & Salvage Diver from 1967 to 1973.  Retiring from the Navy, he became an Engineer for Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation until retirement in November of 2003. Lance has been affiliated with the H. Lee White Marine Museum in Oswego, New York since 1985. In addition to raising Derrick Boat #8 …

Frank Mays was a 26 year old sailor aboard the Great Lakes freighter Carl D. Bradley when it broke apart and sank on November 18, 1958.  One of only two survivors, Frank’s personal account of the tragedy and its aftermath appears in the book “If We Make It ’til Daylight”.  Frank retired at age 58 in 1990. In …

Ric’s underwater adventures are known to millions who watch his documentaries and news stories on television. No one can boast more promotion for Great Lakes diving, as Ric has donated some 30 shows to PBS and has also found world-wide audiences on the Vision Network and Outdoor Channel. He is also an award-winning news reporter, …

David Trotter is a renowned shipwreck discoverer, deep diver, author, lecturer and photographer. In over 20 years of diving, he has been the first to locate, identify and document 70+ Great Lakes shipwrecks. His shipwreck discoveries and programs have been featured on television and in newspapers throughout the U.S. and Canada. He has written several …

David Gilchrist has been diving since 1970.  He is a PADI Instructor and  a member of the Niagara Diver’s Association (NDA).    He has been a presenter at past SHIPWRECKS  Symposiums , UNDERWATER CANADA  and  GREAT LAKES UNDERWATER.  He is an avid underwater photographer. A former member of the Archaeological Conservation Program of S-W Ontario, David …

Bernie Chowdhury is a popular and engaging speaker at diving events throughout North America.  He has worn many hats during his 19 years in diving, including:  instructor, expedition organizer, industry consultant, documentary co-producer, lecturer, and author, to name a few.  He is the founder, publisher and editor of immersed: the international diving magazine, a quarterly …

On November 29th, 1966, the Great Lakes ore freighter Daniel J. Morrell was northbound in Lake Huron, fighting gale-force winds and tremendous waves. Suddenly, with no warning, the Morrell began to break in half. Within minutes, the Morrell’s crewmen were cast to the mercy of the stormy and frigid lake. No distress signal had been …

Dan Hall is funny, poignant, and unavoidably engaging. Though he is best known for his critically acclaimed songs about the Great Lakes shipping trade, his song, “The Day that Dan Hall Died”, (a tribute to his days as a pub singer) continues to make audiences shriek with laughter. David Siglan, director of The Ark in …

Terry Irvine has been an avid diver for over 15 years, completing dives in the Great Lakes, and the caves of Florida and Mexico.  He has been an instructor for the past 10 years. Following trimix training in Florida, Terry began exploring and videoing some of the marvelous wrecks in Lake Superior.  Terry has been …

Howard Robins is one of the founding members and current Vice President of The Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia and past board director of the Underwater Archeological Society. Howard has been an active diver for over 30 years and has remained close to the scuba industry. He has extensive wreck diving experience throughout the world and …

Jim & Pat have shared their love for diving for the past 28years. The Stayers along with their good friend Tim Juhl formed Out of the Blue Productions and have discovered and documented several shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. From these adventures the trio has authored 2 books (“Shipwrecks of Sanilac” and “Sole Survivor“) and produced over …

David Trotter is a renowned shipwreck discoverer, deep diver, author, lecturer and photographer. In over 20 years of diving, he has been the first to locate, identify and document 70+ Great Lakes shipwrecks. His shipwreck discoveries and programs have been featured on television and in newspapers throughout the U.S. and Canada. He has written several …

Georgann and Mike Wachter have been diving around the world since the mid 1970’s.  Though sites in the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific have fascinated them, wreck research and diving the Great Lakes is their passion. This has resulted in three books, Erie Wrecks, Erie Wrecks East and Erie Wrecks West and articles in Advanced Diver Magazine, Quantum, …

  All of the following door prizes are greatly appreciated. We wish to thank all those donating for their support. (prizes listed in alphabetical order of donors)   Active Watersports Inc. 19 Main Street St. Catharines, Ontario (905) 646-1481 activewatersports@oteee.com 1-Aqualung  Titan Glacia Regulator Jessie Kittleson + 2- Golf Shirts Tom Jankowski, Denise Wiafrowski Boreal …

Master of Ceremonies Joyce Hayward began diving in 1982.  During her diving career she has served as the Great Lakes Director of the Atlantic Alliance for Maritime Heritage, and the Vice President of the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History where she served as chair of the Divers Coordination committee.  She is the President of …

Geoff  Barker started diving in his native England in 1966 with the BSAC (British Sub Aqua Club). Diving primarily off the southern coast of England, he attained the BSAC equivalent of instructor qualification. He soon realized he needed to record a what he was seeing, so he became an underwater photographer, using home–made equipment at …

Bernie Chowdhury has worn many hats during his 18 years in diving, including:  instructor, expedition organizer, industry consultant, lecturer, and author, to name a few.  He is the founder and publisher of immersed: the international technical diving magazine, a quarterly now in its seventh year of publication, with subscribers in over 63 countries.  His first book, The …