Shipwreck Diver

You plunge into the water and follow the mooring line down 100 feet below the waves to the bottom of Lake Ontario. It is cold but your wetsuit protects you. You see the silhouette of the George A. Marsh in the murky waters. You see the bowsprit jutting out from the wreck. Nearby in the sand, is the ship's anchor.

You swim up to the deck and over the bow. In the middle of the deck is a windlass covered in zebra mussels. A mast timber lies across the decking. In the distance you can see the shapes of a boiler and a yardarm half-fallen over the edge of the ship.

As you glide over the foredeck, you spot some rigging, like a double block and mast collars. You can even make out what looks to be a pin rail.

Passing next to the boiler you spotted earlier, you hover over a cargo hatch. The hold beneath seems to be filled with sediment. Beyond the hatch you spot a capstan.

You swim forward over another cargo hatch. On the mid-deck you see a piece from the bilge pump and more than one metal clamp strewn over the deck.

Swimming ahead to the bow, you pass over more rigging: sheave blocks, more clamps, and some parrel straps. Finally, you see the partially collapse steering house.

You are at the bow of the ship now, swimming towards the ship's wheel that is propped upright on the deck up ahead. You spot more rigging, a deadeye, a double block and another yardarm. You notice your air tank is getting low. Now would be a good time to resurface.

After a rest and a fresh air tank, you descend to the wreck for your second dive. This time you approach from the bow. As you rise to the deck level, you swim over a davit.

Swimming along the edge of the starboard side, you spot a mooring bitt. To your left on the deck you see a yard arm and a cargo hatch.

Halfway along the deck you pass the capstan and see the familiar form of the boiler up ahead.

Passing next to the boiler, you see another mooring bitt. On the deck nearby is a yard arm, a mast timber and a double block.

As you near the bow, you get a great view of the windlass.

You move to the centre of the deck, passing over a manual winch and a donkey engine. In front of the donkey engine, you see a mast partner that once held a mast upright through the deck.

You swim over the end of the bow, and spot the cathead from which the anchor once hung. Air is low again. Time to resurface and check your logbook.