denise
10-06-2010, 11:14 PM
Dive Site Plan for the Shipwreck of the David W. Mills
by Tyler Phillips
Wreck Summary:
The wreck of the David W. Mills is an excellent dive site for open water divers of all experience levels. This wreck is an accessible 19th century steamship wreck in shallow water, broken into five major pieces, scattered enough to demand good navigation skills, yet intact to a degree that provides an interesting view into the construction of a period vessel.
History of the Wreck:
The David W. Mills was a typical Great Lakes cargo vessel of the late 19th century. Measuring 202 feet by 34 feet by 13 feet, this wooden "steambarge" could carry over one million board feet of lumber. Built by Thomas Quayle and Sons Shipyard, the vessel was originally named Sparta and was launched at Cleveland, Ohio on April 11, 1874. The vessel was renamed in 1910 after the manager of the Port Huron Navigation Company, the firm that owned the ship. Captain Frank J. Peterson bought the Mills in 1919.
In early August of 1919 large parts of southern Ontario were ablaze with forest fires, causing thick smoke and reducing visibilty on portions of eastern Lake Ontario to near zero. At 5:30 a.m. on August 11, 1919, the 202-foot steamship David W. Mills slammed into Ford Shoal, four and a half miles west of Oswego. All attempts to free the ship were unsuccessful and she broke apart in an October storm.
Location:
The Mills is located approximately 400 yards offshore of the SUNY Campus in Oswego, NY, halfway between the shore and the green Ford Shoals buoy (see NOAA chart 14803).
The GPS coordinates for the Mills are N 43.26.630, W 76.35.089.
In season (May-Oct) this wreck is marked with a mooring buoy near the stern. While this wreck may be accessed from the shore it is highly recommended that this approach be avoided by all but the strongest swimmers. Although the current is quite mild by Lake Ontario standards, full exploration of the site requires a great deal of swimming and the use of a boat is highly recommended.
Water Depth and Conditions:
Depth does not exceed 20 feet with visibilty averaging about 35 feet.
Water temperatures range from 40 to 73 degrees F.
Access:
After checking all available weather forecasts and verifying calm seas for the duration of your excursion (use extreme caution, the nature of this lake is unforgiving), proceed to the waterfront on the west side of Oswego, NY. The nearest boat launch is Wright’s Landing in the City of Oswego Harbor. Use of the ramp is $10 and access to the site is free and unrestricted. Sail North past the breakwater and proceed West 41/2 miles from the Oswego Lighthouse. Use the mooring buoy, DO NOT ANCHOR!
Equipment needed for this dive:
On the wreck:
A “Diver Down” flag and float ball are required as well as an Alpha flag. Boat flags should be displayed well above the highest point on the vessel and the float flag should travel with the Dive Team.
Divers:
In mid season a 3mm wetsuit may be all that is needed while at either end of the season a good drysuit will not be out of place. Remember the site is large and shallow so extensive bottom times can be achieved. Don’t let cold be the limiting factor on this dive. The site is used extensively for pleasure fishing and the presence of monofilament line is all but guaranteed. A pair of shears and/or a sturdy blunt dive knife are highly recommended for purposes of extrication.
Route:
Entering the water at the mooring line, descending 15 feet and swimming approximately 30 feet in a Westerly direction will bring the Dive Team to the 11 foot diameter propeller attached to the stern of the Mills. Following the the keel and exposed driveshaft to the Southeast will take the dive team along a 180 foot section of the Mills’ stern with plenty of opportunity for examination of it’s sturdy construction and the massive crank that once propelled its impressive bulk through the waters of the Great Lakes.
Returning back along the untraveled side of the hull, the Dive team should be ready to attempt the first significant piece of navigation.
From the “screw” following a heading of 290 degrees and swimming 150 feet the Dive Team will next encounter the second significant piece of the wreck, a 100 foot section of the starboard hull. At the end of this piece, a turn 80 degrees to the North will reveal the engine and continuing to follow the wreckage another 150 feet will bring the Dive Team to the boiler, rudder and other large mechanical pieces. (The boiler is, at times, exposed to the surface and is marked on the NOAA chart as a hazard to navigation.)
Heading off to the SSW will lead to the anchor chain, an impressive piece of 19th century craftsmanship in its own right, and the winch that once raised and lowered the anchor. Continue following this chain and it will lead to the still attached twin fluke anchor of the Mills.
At this point, to thoroughly test one’s navigational abilities a direct course back to the mooring line may be undertaken. A heading due East of the anchor at a distance of 550-600 feet should return the team to the boat. Time, air and diver condition permitting, a more leisurely approach is to reverse all headings and return along the outgoing route.
Wildlife divers can expect to see:
Here will be seen many varieties of panfish and the large and small mouth bass that attract so many of the local and professional fishermen. Paying attention to the recesses of the hull may also yield a view of some impressive carp and the occasional eel.
Emergency Contact Information:
* 911 - This will activate EMS in the area
* The US Coast Guard is stationed at the harbor; it is highly recommended they be contacted in any and all emergencies.
US Coast Guard Search and Rescue
Lake St, Oswego, NY 13126
(315) 342-0086 (Make sure you verify cell phone coverage before entering the water!)
* DAN – 1-919-684-4326
Always call DAN after 911 in the case of a dive emergency which may require medical attention.
DAN should be called in the case of any diving medical emergency. They will refer you to the correct chamber, if necessary.
* Emergency Oxygen should be made available at the dive site by the divers, as there is none on site.
* VHF Channel 16
* Closet hospital:
Oswego Hospital-110 West Sixth Street Oswego, New York 13126
(315) 349-5511
Summary of the Dive:
The nature of this dive is such that, if following this plan the lead diver will be able to hone all necessary skills for a boat dive, an advanced navigation dive, and a wreck dive without ever exceeding 25 feet of depth, in almost pool like conditions, while enjoying a natural historic shipwreck.
http://www.oswegomaritime.org/images/millssitemap.jpg
Map by Oswego Maritime Foundation
by Tyler Phillips
Wreck Summary:
The wreck of the David W. Mills is an excellent dive site for open water divers of all experience levels. This wreck is an accessible 19th century steamship wreck in shallow water, broken into five major pieces, scattered enough to demand good navigation skills, yet intact to a degree that provides an interesting view into the construction of a period vessel.
History of the Wreck:
The David W. Mills was a typical Great Lakes cargo vessel of the late 19th century. Measuring 202 feet by 34 feet by 13 feet, this wooden "steambarge" could carry over one million board feet of lumber. Built by Thomas Quayle and Sons Shipyard, the vessel was originally named Sparta and was launched at Cleveland, Ohio on April 11, 1874. The vessel was renamed in 1910 after the manager of the Port Huron Navigation Company, the firm that owned the ship. Captain Frank J. Peterson bought the Mills in 1919.
In early August of 1919 large parts of southern Ontario were ablaze with forest fires, causing thick smoke and reducing visibilty on portions of eastern Lake Ontario to near zero. At 5:30 a.m. on August 11, 1919, the 202-foot steamship David W. Mills slammed into Ford Shoal, four and a half miles west of Oswego. All attempts to free the ship were unsuccessful and she broke apart in an October storm.
Location:
The Mills is located approximately 400 yards offshore of the SUNY Campus in Oswego, NY, halfway between the shore and the green Ford Shoals buoy (see NOAA chart 14803).
The GPS coordinates for the Mills are N 43.26.630, W 76.35.089.
In season (May-Oct) this wreck is marked with a mooring buoy near the stern. While this wreck may be accessed from the shore it is highly recommended that this approach be avoided by all but the strongest swimmers. Although the current is quite mild by Lake Ontario standards, full exploration of the site requires a great deal of swimming and the use of a boat is highly recommended.
Water Depth and Conditions:
Depth does not exceed 20 feet with visibilty averaging about 35 feet.
Water temperatures range from 40 to 73 degrees F.
Access:
After checking all available weather forecasts and verifying calm seas for the duration of your excursion (use extreme caution, the nature of this lake is unforgiving), proceed to the waterfront on the west side of Oswego, NY. The nearest boat launch is Wright’s Landing in the City of Oswego Harbor. Use of the ramp is $10 and access to the site is free and unrestricted. Sail North past the breakwater and proceed West 41/2 miles from the Oswego Lighthouse. Use the mooring buoy, DO NOT ANCHOR!
Equipment needed for this dive:
On the wreck:
A “Diver Down” flag and float ball are required as well as an Alpha flag. Boat flags should be displayed well above the highest point on the vessel and the float flag should travel with the Dive Team.
Divers:
In mid season a 3mm wetsuit may be all that is needed while at either end of the season a good drysuit will not be out of place. Remember the site is large and shallow so extensive bottom times can be achieved. Don’t let cold be the limiting factor on this dive. The site is used extensively for pleasure fishing and the presence of monofilament line is all but guaranteed. A pair of shears and/or a sturdy blunt dive knife are highly recommended for purposes of extrication.
Route:
Entering the water at the mooring line, descending 15 feet and swimming approximately 30 feet in a Westerly direction will bring the Dive Team to the 11 foot diameter propeller attached to the stern of the Mills. Following the the keel and exposed driveshaft to the Southeast will take the dive team along a 180 foot section of the Mills’ stern with plenty of opportunity for examination of it’s sturdy construction and the massive crank that once propelled its impressive bulk through the waters of the Great Lakes.
Returning back along the untraveled side of the hull, the Dive team should be ready to attempt the first significant piece of navigation.
From the “screw” following a heading of 290 degrees and swimming 150 feet the Dive Team will next encounter the second significant piece of the wreck, a 100 foot section of the starboard hull. At the end of this piece, a turn 80 degrees to the North will reveal the engine and continuing to follow the wreckage another 150 feet will bring the Dive Team to the boiler, rudder and other large mechanical pieces. (The boiler is, at times, exposed to the surface and is marked on the NOAA chart as a hazard to navigation.)
Heading off to the SSW will lead to the anchor chain, an impressive piece of 19th century craftsmanship in its own right, and the winch that once raised and lowered the anchor. Continue following this chain and it will lead to the still attached twin fluke anchor of the Mills.
At this point, to thoroughly test one’s navigational abilities a direct course back to the mooring line may be undertaken. A heading due East of the anchor at a distance of 550-600 feet should return the team to the boat. Time, air and diver condition permitting, a more leisurely approach is to reverse all headings and return along the outgoing route.
Wildlife divers can expect to see:
Here will be seen many varieties of panfish and the large and small mouth bass that attract so many of the local and professional fishermen. Paying attention to the recesses of the hull may also yield a view of some impressive carp and the occasional eel.
Emergency Contact Information:
* 911 - This will activate EMS in the area
* The US Coast Guard is stationed at the harbor; it is highly recommended they be contacted in any and all emergencies.
US Coast Guard Search and Rescue
Lake St, Oswego, NY 13126
(315) 342-0086 (Make sure you verify cell phone coverage before entering the water!)
* DAN – 1-919-684-4326
Always call DAN after 911 in the case of a dive emergency which may require medical attention.
DAN should be called in the case of any diving medical emergency. They will refer you to the correct chamber, if necessary.
* Emergency Oxygen should be made available at the dive site by the divers, as there is none on site.
* VHF Channel 16
* Closet hospital:
Oswego Hospital-110 West Sixth Street Oswego, New York 13126
(315) 349-5511
Summary of the Dive:
The nature of this dive is such that, if following this plan the lead diver will be able to hone all necessary skills for a boat dive, an advanced navigation dive, and a wreck dive without ever exceeding 25 feet of depth, in almost pool like conditions, while enjoying a natural historic shipwreck.
http://www.oswegomaritime.org/images/millssitemap.jpg
Map by Oswego Maritime Foundation