Dive Tools – Practical Information for Divers
Dive Tools is where the practical, diver-facing material lives. While the wreck
records and maps describe what is on the bottom, this section focuses on how to
approach those sites safely and realistically: must-do dives, shore access and
parking, log sheets, moorings and the recurring conditions that shape Great Lakes
diving.
Everything here is meant to be used. The information sheets, access notes and
printable forms are designed to sit beside your dive plan, not in a filing cabinet.
Local practices and hazard overviews provide context: what is normal for the region,
what needs extra attention and where courtesy and good habits keep both wrecks and
divers in better shape.
Use the tiles below to move directly to the tools you need now, and check back as
additional sheets, logs and guidance are added over time.
Key Dive Tools & Planning Resources
These tools are being phased in as individual pages and documents are completed. Some
will point to concise “must-do” info sheets for specific wrecks; others summarise local
practices, shore access and the environmental background that every Great Lakes diver
ends up learning one way or another.
Must-Do Dive Info Sheets
Focused planning sheets for high-profile and frequently-dived sites, starting with the
Wolfe Islander II. Each sheet distils the essentials onto a single
page: depth range, layout, suggested routes, typical conditions, hazards, mooring or
shotline notes and any “do not miss” features.
Designed to be printed or kept on a tablet alongside your own dive plan, not as a
replacement for it.
Shore Access & Parking Info
Practical notes for shore dives: entry and exit points, parking arrangements,
municipal rules, seasonal restrictions and the sort of local etiquette that keeps
divers welcome at a site. Where possible, access notes are tied directly to individual
wreck or site records.
Expect emphasis on clear directions, realistic walk distances in full kit, and
reminders about respecting residents and shoreline property.
Printable Dive Log & Forms
Shotline-branded dive logs and related forms, available as fillable and printable
PDFs. Intended for divers who prefer a structured log that reflects Great Lakes diving:
space for thermoclines, visibility bands, current notes, wreck name and key features.
As additional forms are created (checklists, incident notes, survey slates), they will
be added here under the same heading.
Mooring & Local Practices
An overview of mooring systems and local practices in the region, including SOS,
POW and other groups. Explains how moorings are installed and funded, what is
considered good form when using them, and why “no tying into the wreck” is more
than just a slogan.
Also covers boat etiquette on busy sites, sharing lines between groups, and what to
do when you find a damaged or missing mooring.
Conditions & Hazards Overview
A general orientation to Great Lakes conditions: cold water and thermoclines,
visibility swings, currents, entanglement risks, overheads, boat traffic and the
occasional surprise when zebra and quagga mussels have changed a site since the last
description was written.
This is not a training manual; it is a checklist of recurring themes that divers
should factor into their own education, equipment choices and dive planning.