The founder of A & J Dive Charters, James Wittlieff started scuba diving in 1963. He soon became one of Milwaukee's first PADI Scuba Instructors and opened a dive shop called Milwaukee Scuba Divers. Since then, the business has changed names a few times to finally establish in 2012 as A & J Scuba Diving Instruction and A & J Dive Charters. Joined by his business partner Andrew Grove, a Divemaster and Charter Boat Captain, they not only run charters to famous wreck sites but also scuba diving instruction in Franklin where they do pool training, equipment sales, rentals and repairs, airfills and international travel.
Lake Michigan
A&J's boat, Sara Jane, a 35ft Owens Concorde is equipped to carry six divers and crew with plenty of seating and storage room for dive gear. With a top speed of 35 mph, she can take you to any shipwreck in the area in no time. Yep, that's right, A&J do not only offer scuba diving to Milwaukee, Port Washington, Oak Creek, Racine and Kenosha Area shipwrecks but are willing to go any shipwreck that you'd like to see.
Sara Jane
One of the most popular shipwrecks in the area, Prins Willem V, known as the "Willie", a 258ft long steel cargo ship sank in 1954, lies on her starboard side at a depth of 45-100ft. Willie is in an excellent condition with very good visibility. Doorways and rooms can be very inviting but also very dangerous so it's highly advised not to penetrate without proper training and equipment.
Another popular and unique wreck lying upside down off the coast of Oak Creek is Dredge #6. This 120ft long ship sank during storm in 1956 while being towed offshore. She lies at a depth of 30-70ft and it feels more like a cave dive than a wreck dive as you explore into the wreck from bottom up.
If you want find out about other wrecks A&J dive to and their charter schedule, check their webpage.
A & J have also a padi scuba diving instructor and divemasters on staff that are available for shipwreck tours and padi scuba diving certifications. They don't have set class schedules but rather work solely around your availability to suit your needs and even have the private heated pool for you to train. Whereas their scuba diving instruction business is located in Franklin WI, a suburb of Milwaukee, their charter service, located on the Milwaukee River just minutes away from many fantastic shipwrecks is out of Milwaukee. Right there, there is a free onsite parking and divers are picked up at A&J's private dock on the Milwaukee River or one of the easily accessible public docks in Port Washington, Racine or Kenosha. Check them out.
A & J Scuba Diving Instruction - www.ajscuba.com
7517 S 74th St
Franklin, Wisconsin
PHONE: +1.414-312-3949
EMAIL@AJSCUBA.COM
A & J Dive Charters - www.ajdivecharters.com
318 S Water St
Milwaukee, WI 53204
PHONE: (414)-305-3739
EMAIL@AJDIVECHARTERS.COM
Photos: © A&J
Source: http://www.ajdivecharters.com
