Boat Dives
Joe Lesniewski is a US Coast Guard certified charter boat captain and a NAUI certified dive instructor. He has over 14 years of chartering experience (Boston, MA – Long Island, NY – Buffalo, NY). His boat, Gracie Clare is a 25’ Parker Pilothouse with a 9’ 6” beam and a 250 HP Yahama outboard engine. She is capable of traveling over 30 MPH and is set-up specifically for diving.
Her location is:
NFTA Small Boat Harbor1111 Fuhrmann Boulevard. Buffalo, NY 14203 Phone (716) 828 – 0027Commercial Services Dock #1
Give yourself plenty of time to get to the marina and get gear loaded onto the boat before departure time. When you arrive at the marina, drop your gear off at the commercial services dock and find a good place to park (Parking Area A). There are restrooms located by Dug’s Dive and at the south end of the parking lots.
The Captain has final say (wishes of instructor/store/divers will be honored whenever possible) regarding dive locations and dive plans. Locations/plans will be determined by accessing diver experience, weather conditions and available time. Only the Captain can cancel a charter. The instructor/store should arrange for refunds or reschedule a charter in case of a cancellation.
Buffalo Area Dive Sites
ShipWrecks:
Beaver Island Wreck (river drift dive) – not much known about this wooden freighter: strong current in 19’ of water
War of 1812 (river drift dive) – oldest know wreck in the area; barge used during the War of 1812: 20’ depth
Alabama – large old side-wheel steamer, sank in 1854, broken up, iron paddlewheel parts, keel and capstan remain: 35’ depth
Richardson – large steel freighter, sank in a storm with the loss of five lives in 1902, dynamited because of location near channel, spread out over a large area: 40’ depth
Acme(tug) – small wooden tug sank in 1902 after a collision, broken up but the boiler, hull frames, rudder and steering remain: 40’ depth
Other Dives: Search for items that have been collecting for years:
North Breakwater (Coin Pile)
Middle Breakwater
South Breakwater
Fort Erie Area Wrecks
Finch – wooden barge sank in 1883, broken up with chain, capstan, stove, starboard quarter and rudder to see: 45’ depth
Tonawanda – wooden steamer, sank in a storm in 1870, damaged hull, propeller and engine remain: 47’ depth
Cheney– wooden tug, sank when it crossed into the path of another ship in 1903, two lives lost, bow section hull broken up, stern hull section has the propeller and shaft, rudder and boiler nearby: 47’ depth
Port Colborne Area Wrecks
Raleigh – wooden freighter, sank in a storm 1911, three lives lost, broken up with ribs, machinery, propeller, rudder, winch, anchor and chain remaining: 33’ depth
Dupuis No. 10 - large steel barge, sank when her pumps failed in 1997: 60’ depth
Benson – wooden three-masted sailing ship, sank in a storm in 1893, seven lives lost, well intact: 87’ depth