Glass Bottom Boat offers clear view of sunken treasures

Now that summer seems like it’s finally found it’s footing in the Upper Peninsula, residents and tourists alike can take part in the wide array of tourist attractions our region has to offer.

ABC 10’s Rick Tarsitano jumped aboard a Munising mainstay that allows visitors to see Lake Superior’s rich history from the bottom up.

Lake Superior has swallowed its fair share of ships over the years, allowing shipwreck hunters and scuba divers to comb through the graveyard for pieces of history.

IMG_1924
2 foot by 8 foot window wells offer a glimpse straight to the bottom of Lake Superior

Joe Lindquist started diving into Munising Bay for maritime artifacts alongside his father Pete over 30 years ago.

At the time, it was the only way to see underwater museum.

“We wanted a method of showing the people who couldn’t scuba dive the shipwrecks. We’d find a lot of times on dive charters we’d bring along family members who didn’t want to dive or couldn’t scuba dive would have as much fun looking over. So, my dad came up with the idea of a glass bottom boat so we could show everybody what the divers could see and that started back in 1993,” explained Captian Joe Lundquist.

Now anyone can peer into the world below through two glass viewing wells. On a clear, calm day you can even come up on top of the deck and look down on the shipwrecks, some of which are close to 200 years old, and find out just how they ran aground.

IMG_1930
Some of the treasure’s the ship left behind like iron ore can still be seen scattered along the way

Joe and his crew have a unwavering passion for the water they grew up on and do the best they can to help spread the stories of the sea to everyone they encounter.

“It’s not like work. It’s coming to work on probably one of the most beautiful settings you could ever get and you meet all kinds of different people. Everyday is like a new adventure,” noted Pepper Van Landschoot.

An adventure that provides a narrative to a generation of wrecks while exploring the coastlines of Grand Island for hidden gems like the East Channel Lighthouse.

But all of this wouldn’t be possible with the support of the surrounding community;  something Joe and his family will never take for granted.

“I’ll tell you what, the community of Munising is really something special. We have a nice bond with our fellow businesses here in town. It’s really great to see a commutative effort to push tourism in general. I think when you talk to the locals and local business owners, we’re all rooting for each other and understand that we all have a mutual benefit. When there’s something good they really want to push it, and I think we’re something really good,” Lundquist remarked.