FORD SEAHORSES SCUBA DIVING CLUB PRESENTS
THE 33rd GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECK FESTIVAL SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22
AT WASHTENAW COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN ANN ARBOR
ANN ARBOR -- The Ford Seahorses Scuba Diving Club, in conjunction with the Detroit Historical Society's Dossin Maritime Group and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, presents the 33rd Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival on Saturday, February 22 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Washtenaw Community College's Morris Lawrence Building, 4800 E. Huron River Drive, in Ann Arbor.
This year's program features presentations about the formerly-unsolved mysteries of shipwrecks, including David Trotter with the amazing story of the Keystone State which went down in Lake Huron in November of 1861 and went undiscovered until last year. Historian and marine artist Robert McGreevy will tell the story of the Howard Hanna and the harrowing experience of their crew during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913. Tony Gramer will share video from the wreck of the three-masted schooner William Young lost near the Straits of Mackinac in 1891.
In addition to shipwrecks, there will be programs featuring a variety of international dives, including the visually breathtaking Philippines and the unmatched saltwater diversity and beauty of Indonesia, featuring stunning video and still images of colorful and unusual marine life, including Komodo dragons.
Other programs include Valerie van Heest's fascinating stories of Northwest Orient Flight 2501 – a DC-4 which crashed in Lake Michigan near South Haven with 58 passengers and crew en route to Minneapolis on June 23, 1950 – and various shipwrecks found near Grand Haven. Luke Clyburn of the Noble Odyssey Foundation will present an exploration conducted by his scientist and a crew of young Sea Cadets of the St. Clair River, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Straits of Mackinac.
The event also includes a variety of book signings and exhibits from local maritime artists, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, local dive shops, travel companies and other dive-related companies.
Tickets for the event are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. For ticket information or program details, visit www.shipwreckfestival.us, call (734) 459-8476, or e-mail glsftickets@aol.com.
The Ford Seahorses Scuba Diving Club, established in 1957 as a member of the Ford Employees Recreation Association (FERA), is one of the most active dive clubs in Michigan. The club is a non-profit organization dedicated to the enjoyment and advancement of the sport of scuba diving.