Madeira and Hesper - Level 3 Project

Please Note:

During this project, we are going to monitor the conditions of each shipwreck various methods.

The Madeira and Hesper have been underwater for a very long time. Mother nature has done a great job preserving them but she has beaten them up along the way. As divers, we dive these shipwrecks and will eventually cause wear from diving them year after year.

This is where volunteers from the GLSPS step in to help. With the joint effort of the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the GLSPS tries to help stabilize and preserve these shipwrecks from further deterioration. We work closely with the state organizations and nearby Cities near the shipwrecks, to gain access through special permitting to perform the underwater work we perform to preserve the shipwrecks and ultimately maritime history.

Before we can do any of this, we need to document and monitor each shipwrecks deterioration characteristics. If the shipwreck looks like it's in danger of collapsing or is becoming a safety concern for divers, we formulate a preservation and stabilization plan and present it to the GLSPS Board of Directors. If the Board and MHS approve the plan, we go to work and implement the plan. We will also need to obtain permits from the MHS (and sometimes the DNR) to perform construction work on the shipwreck. If we complete the process like planned, it will help to preserve the shipwreck for many years. The shipwreck will be intact for future divers to be able to view, just like we saw when we first dived the shipwreck.

Planned Saturday Itinerary:

1. Departing Silver Bay Marina around 8:00 AM – All Participants must have filled out and submitted the Online Liability Release and Waiver Form a minimum of 24 hours before the event. Failure to do so will forfeit your spot on this event.
2. Boat briefing before we leave the dock.
3. We are going to make our way to the Madeira shipwreck and follow the briefing plan..
4. Return to the marina and make sure the tanks are full and ready for Sunday.
5. Boat debriefing and go over results.

Planned Sunday Itinerary:

1. Departing Silver Bay Marina around 8:00 AM – All Participants must have filled out and submitted the Online Liability Release and Waiver Form a minimum of 24 hours before the event. Failure to do so will forfeit your spot on this event.
2. Boat briefing before we leave the dock.
3. We are going to make our way to the Hesper shipwreck and follow the briefing plan..
4. Return to the marina.
5. Boat debriefing and go over results.
6. Clean up the boat and make it ready for the next project.

Additional Note:

You are welcome to stay/sleep on the boat. Some folks get a Hotel room for Friday and Saturday night(s).

If you have any further Questions about the project, please get in touch with the project leader.

Please bring warm clothes and appropriate cold water diving equipment. Please only bring the minimum equipment and bags. (Soft bags only). If sleeping on-board the RV Preservation, please bring a sleeping bag and pillow.