The Great Outdoors: The History of Recreation in Marquette County Special Exhibit
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Bicycling | Birding | Cross Country Skiing | Dog Sled | Downhill Skiing | Guts Frisbee | Ice Skating | Luge | Paddling | Rock & Ice Climbing | Running | Scuba Diving | Ski Jumping | Snowshoe | Trails | Wildlife Photography
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Scuba in Marquette got its start with Ralph Larid who taught Scott Holman in the early 1960s. Holman, the first certified instructor in the area, started classes at NMU. In 1968 he invited George and Bettey Tomasi to attend. They became certified instructors and took over the NMU classes, expanding classes in the Continuing Ed. Department into more advanced diving. After the Tomasis retired, Rob Schmidt took over the scuba classes. He taught there for 17 years during which the classes became regular course credit. This was great for students, but there seemed to be a corresponding decline in community diving.
After George and Bettey Tomasi became certified scuba instructors they opened a scuba shop on Third Street, Lakeland Sports, which operated from about 1970-1987. George also ran a shipwreck boat tour in Munising and they taught classes through NMU. They had nine children who helped run the shop, teach and run the tours.
Not only did the Tomasis teach, lead wreck tours, and make equipment available through their shop (including filling oxygen tanks), they also worked to get treatment options in an emergency. Divers who get decompression sickness need a hyperbaric chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized room or tube.
There wasn’t one in the UP and a helicopter ride to the closest in Milwaukee was not a solution. ¬The fact that the treatment can be used for other conditions besides diving helped sell it to the Marquette General Hospital.
During the winter the Tomasis also taught the police under ice rescue diving. The Tomasis were also involved in underwater mine work, and Bettey helped build the Upper Harbor Marina.
After George and Bettey Tomasi became certified scuba instructors they opened a scuba shop on Third Street, Lakeland Sports, which operated from about 1970-1987. George also ran a shipwreck boat tour in Munising and they taught classes through NMU. They had nine children who helped run the shop, teach and run the tours.
Not only did the Tomasis teach, lead wreck tours, and make equipment available through their shop (including filling oxygen tanks), they also worked to get treatment options in an emergency. Divers who get decompression sickness need a hyperbaric chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized room or tube.
There wasn’t one in the UP and a helicopter ride to the closest in Milwaukee was not a solution. ¬The fact that the treatment can be used for other conditions besides diving helped sell it to the Marquette General Hospital.
During the winter the Tomasis also taught the police under ice rescue diving. The Tomasis were also involved in underwater mine work, and Bettey helped build the Upper Harbor Marina.
The Tomasis were also involved in the state legislation to form the Munising and Marquette Underwater Preserves circa 1980.
Shipwrecks have been a primary focus on diving in the Great Lakes. Before the legislation, one could simply remove any part of a shipwreck. In some parts of the state, the old timbers were removed to make fine furniture. Because of the laws, many of the original contents of the wrecks are still visible. The Marquette Underwater Preserve, which includes the Huron Islands, has eight shipwrecks and one plane wreck. The state has some of the best underwater wrecks to dive. |
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Lake Superior Diving Club formed in the late 1980s. It was fairly common then to see three boats with divers over the wreck off lighthouse point. The club held fun events throughout the year like an underwater pumpkin carving contest or Easter egg hunt. Eventually the Tomasis started taking local groups on tours in the Caribbean.
Diving in the 70s and 80s was different than today. Divers used wet suits. When you first got into Lake Superior, its cold water entered the suit. It warmed up to your body temperature to protect you from hypothermia. Today divers can use dry suits, so you never get that cold rush when you enter the lake. However, the equipment is much more expensive today.
Diving in the 70s and 80s was different than today. Divers used wet suits. When you first got into Lake Superior, its cold water entered the suit. It warmed up to your body temperature to protect you from hypothermia. Today divers can use dry suits, so you never get that cold rush when you enter the lake. However, the equipment is much more expensive today.
Don Fassbender started diving in 1991. He was first inspired as a kid to take up diving after watching Jacques Costeau on TV.
Diver Don organized a cleanup of lower harbor in 2019 and 2020. Many tires were hauled to the surface. They removed four tons of garbage in 2019. Photos courtesy Don Fassbender. Marquette diver Don Fassbender enjoys sharing his underwater videos he takes while diving. In this six minute video below watch for:
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You may enjoy more of Don's videos on his YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/donfassbender
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George and Bettey Tomasi speak on:
Recreational Diving Club in the 1970s and 1980s
Recreational Diving Club in the 1970s and 1980s
Thank you to all who contributed photographs to be used in this exhibit. Historic photographs are from the J.M. Longyear Research Library at the MRHC.