The Paradise Bay Dive Shop comes to … Paradise Bay
This summer one more dream will be unfurled against the Beaver
Island backdrop: Mike and Gail Weede will open their Paradise
Bay Dive Shop here on Beaver Island. Located at the former
Gillespie Oil and Transit office and dock, Mike and Gail will
be teaching the finer points of diving, taking guests for dives
on the various wrecks scattered around the archipelago, or simply
conducting a sunset cruise on a balmy evening.
After a winter diving in Florida, Mike and Gail are full of new
stories about underwater lore–maybe next winter they’ll
stay and write a book.
Mike and Gail plan to use their 30' Baha, Island Time, the perfect
size and speed for a 6-pack charter. Mike is a PADI-certified
instructor as well as a licensed Coast Guard captain. Mike and
Gail have developed a relationship with some Traverse City dive
shops, who will send divers here to complete their certification
and give discounts on equipment to Mike and Gail's customers–they'll
have some equipment to rent , but haven’t yet been able to
stock a complete line of gear.
Lately a number of conscientious voices have been championing
ecotourism. Almost as the answer to that prayer this enterprise
has appeared on the heels of other eco-friendly businesses such
as Ken Bruland's Inland
Seas Kayaking and Eric and Carrie Myers' Beaver
Island Eco-Tours. “Take only pictures, leave only bubbles”
is the Dive Shop's
motto, so let the bubbles begin. To get in on the fun, bring your
log book and a valid ‘C’ card–or just give them
a call. Early bookings have been encouraging, so this summer keep
an eye out for red “diver down” flags with their diagonal
white stripe: if you're in a boat, remember to stay 150' away.
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