The West Michigan Underwater Preserve is a community movement to establish an underwater preserve in West Michigan. The purpose of the preserve is to preserve and promote the rich maritime history of the West Michigan area.
Our goal is to promote recreational diving and conservation of our West Michigan shipwrecks, as well as promote maritime history awareness and maritime heritage tourism.
Created in 1980, the Michigan Underwater Preserve system protects some of the region's most sensitive underwater resources. Although shipwrecks and other underwater cultural resources are protected under the law anywhere in Michigan's Great Lakes waters, the preserves are "underwater museums" that protect concentrations of shipwrecks, unique geological features and other submerged sites.
It's official - we are no longer the "proposed" West Michigan Underwater Preserve! The official ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Père Marquette Beach on Sunday, September 23. With the preserve officially open, a few intrepid divers took a ceremonial plunge into the waters of Lake Michigan. Read the full story and check out the photos at wzzm13.com.
The Shipwrecks & Technology Expo is back and better than ever! See presentations on shipwrecks, shipwreck hunting, ROV’s, underwater photography, scuba diving and more, or learn how to build an ROV. Get all the details at www.shipwrecksandtechnology.org.
WMUP's event, Shipwrecks & Technology, has a photo contest with cash prizes! Enter 3 photos for $15 - enter as many times as you like! Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
Winners will be announced at the Shipwrecks & Technology Expo on Saturday, October 20. Deadline for entry is 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, October 6.
Get more details and register online at www.shipwrecksandtechnology.org.