Authors of Erie Wrecks East and Erie Wrecks West, Georgann and Mike Wachter have been diving around the world since the early 1970’s. They discovered diving while snorkeling in the Mediterranean Sea in 1972 during a backpacking trip through Europe. Since that time, they have visited many sites in the Caribbean, Atlantic, Pacific, and Great Lakes. However, nowhere else in the world have they discovered the kind of pristine and perfectly preserved shipwrecks that lie in the fresh waters of the Great Lakes.
Living near Lake Erie led to the fascination with Lake Erie shipwrecks that drove the extensive research effort that is exhibited in theirErie Wrecks books. As their passion grew, what was once a part-time hobby became a full time investigation of the myths and realities behind the thousands of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. Mike and Georgann have published four books, numerous magazine articles, and are actively involved in managing The Maritime Archeological Survey Team (MAST), a non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving Great Lakes maritime history “one shipwreck at a time”. They serve actively in the Lake Erie Wreck Divers (LEWD) and the Lakewood Aqua Masters dive clubs. They are pleased to also be members of Bay Area Diver (BAD), making them both BAD and LEWD.
Georgann is an accomplished researcher who is sought after as a speaker on sport diving, Great Lakes shipwrecks, and aquatic life. She has had the opportunity to have her marine artwork exhibited around the Great Lakes. Mike makes his living as a management consultant and public speaker. For both Georgann and Mike, their first love is shipwreck diving. The collaboration of Georgann’s love of research and Mike’s love of story telling provides the fuel for the Erie Wrecks series.
Shipwrecks of Lake Erie-Infamy and Mystery
Lake Erie has perhaps the highest concentration of shipwrecks per square mile of any body of water in the world. From the 1700’s to the present, avariety of military and commercial vessels have been lost in her waters.
We will explore infamous disasters such as the burning of the sidewheel steamer G P Griffith, as well as some lesser known shipwrecks, including one lost in 1999, learning the stories of thrilling rescue and heartbreaking tragedy.
