Sweetwater Charters, LLC
A division of Great Lakes Divers, LLC

Charter Service

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Recreational Diving Program

This program is for no-decompression diving with maximum depths of 100’ for divers with at least Open Water Diver certification (or the like) or up to 130’ for divers with Advanced Open Water Diver certification (or the like). For dives beyond 60’ in the Great Lakes, we recommend that it not be your first dive of the year and especially not your first dive in cold water or with new equipment such as a dry suit. Air or nitrox gases are permitted, encouraged, and available with advance notice. Argon for dry suit inflation is also encouraged and available with advance notice. Total recreational dive times including safety stops should not exceed one hour. 

Technical Diving Program

This is for unlimited tank decompression diving with maximum depths and gas type and volume determined by at least both of the following: 1. Certifications earned as shown by valid certification cards for each diver; and 2. Overall and recent dive experience for each diver. No diver may exceed his/her certification level unless in-training and accompanied by an instructor/assistant combination within the ratios provided by the internationally recognized scuba training organization under which the training is occurring. Total running time for technical dives should not exceed one hour forty-five minutes from the time the boat comes to a stop.

Cost: $125 per diver for one dive offered or $180 per diver for two dives offered per day. These dives are consecutive, without a return to shore. If a return to shore/port is requested between dives there is a flat charge of $150, shared by all divers onboard. If a second dive is requested and available, each diver onboard is responsible for the increased cost whether or not each diver elects to make each dive. There is a minimum obligation for chartering that requires that you provide income for at least four technical diver spaces ($500 or $720 daily min) even if you end up with 1, 2 or 3 divers. Capacity for the boat is six (6) technical divers.

Includes: 1or 2 dives offered per day, 100% surface supplied oxygen for 20 & 10 ft. decompression stops for emergency use (not as part of your dive plan).

Fuel Surcharge: There is no fuel surcharge at this time but one may be implemented in either of the following two circumstances: 1. If the price of marine grade fuel exceeds $4.50 per gallon. You will receive email notice of this surcharge, if applicable, at least two weeks prior to your scheduled charter; and 2. For requested trips exceeding 10 miles from port, you will be told the applicable surcharge. Because all trips are weather dependent, surcharges related to travel distance will be charged only if the boat reaches the dive site and conditions (in the Captain’s sole discretion) are reasonably safe to conduct.

Requirements: Complete a standard Release of Liability and Express Assumption of Risk form (see our website for advanced copies and/or execute this document upon your arrival), certification for type of diving and gas use, appropriate DAN or Diveassure  diver insurance, log book, and cylinders with sufficient gas and reserve for your intended purpose. If you would like any rental equipment or gas fills, please contact us at least two weeks in advance with your requests. With respect to Technical Diving, your diver insurance must cover technical diving without depth limits and you must be willing and able to discuss procedures, plans, contingencies, and equipment, and to make changes in the best interest of safety if deemed necessary at the sole discretion of the Captain.

Deposits: Your commitment to the cost of at least four diver spaces is required to reserve the boat and weekend days cannot be split. A deposit of $50/diver/day is required to reserve dates. Deposits are refundable except for a $50 administrative fee, by written request, at least sixty days prior to the first scheduled dive day or in full for any dives that are cancelled due to weather or mechanical issue with the boat. Deposits are due February 1^st of the diving year or within ten days of making your charter reservation (at the time of reservation for individual bookings), whichever comes later, to make your reservation firm for the season. If no deposit is received by the due date, the dive days are then opened to the next person/entity on the request list. Spaces not reserved by deposit at that time, will be filled on a first-come first-served basis from our waitlist.                                                                                        

Choice of Diving Program and Destinations: These shall be determined by the reserving person/entity at the time the initial reservation, if possible, but not later than the time of the Initial Deposit. Weather conditions, at the sole discretion of the Captain, may change some or all planned destinations.

Home Port & Destination Fees: Prices quoted are for diving from Rogers City Marina and within a half-hour cruising time from that harbor. Other dive locations will require destination fees to cover the costs related to transporting both dive boat and captain. These fees are DAILY and will be collected if the boat arrives at the destination even if the dive is canceled due to unsafe weather. Multiple diving days may also include storage fees and/or dockage. Typical destination fees: Rogers City ($0), Presque Isle Harbor ($60), Alpena ($90), Hammond Bay ($60), Cheboygan ($90), Mackinaw City ($120).