Nov.23, 2014

One reader wrote me a memorable and inspiring letter about the Dean Richmond, and his love for the “deep, dark, cold and green” of Great Lakes diving. It maybe the professional educator in me, but I always try to view things through the lens of a teachable moment. We are privileged to be able to do what we do as divers. This is why I’m sharing it with you, with his permission.

The following is an excerpt, with identifiers removed to maintain the diver’s privacy.

Subject: Great Dive Blog on the Brunswick, Dean Richmond & Washington Irving!!

“I am a PADI Certified Divemaster, PADI Wreck Diver & SSI Ice Diver from New York State. I have dived these wrecks many times. A little over 2 yrs. ago while working towards my PADI instructor certification, I was diagnosed with a chronic terminal incurable lung disease that would end even the shallowest diving for me, forever…

I was heartsick! Diving wasn’t my hobby, it was one of the biggest parts of my life! As an obvious avid diver, you know exactly what I’m talking about! I had been diving since 1995 in many different types of conditions but my favorite were the Lake Erie/St. Lawrence Seaway wrecks in the “dark, deep, cold, green”!!

I will be visiting a young nephew of mine next spring for Easter and intend to present him with one of my dive knives that I used to free myself from a bad tangle I was in while on the Dean Richmond. Was really touch-and-go for several minutes, but great training, a cool head, and my trusty knife turned me loose from what was almost a really bad day underwater!

I was skulking around on the internet looking for some info on the Richmond to share with him, in an effort to add personal value to his gift, when I stumbled on your blog site concerning these 3 wrecks. They are among my favorites and your simple description and timeline photos made me feel like I was down there again! Great blog, thanks for the memories, and from an
avid (albeit, land-locked) diver to another, thanks, and keep up the good work! You made me want to walk around the house with my old dive boots on!!”

R.A., New York state.