Dive into Lake Erie shipwrecks

HURON — People can learn about sunken ships in the Great Lakes at a local dive club's annual banquet next month. Bay Area Divers, a nonprofit, is hosting its 39th Shipwreck Banquet at Sawmill Creek by Cedar Point Resorts, 400 Sawmill Creek Drive, on Saturday, Nov. 18. The event features a number of speakers, including: • "Ghost Ships of Perry's Fleet": Kevin Ailes will offer a presentation about a ship in Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's fleet, the Porcupine, present at the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813. • Kevin Magee will offer first-hand knowledge of the Cornelia B. Windiate, as seen on the show "Deep Sea Detectives." The keynote will be delivered by Canton native and experienced diver Ken Merryman, who will discuss sidewheel ships that sailed, and some that sank, in the Great Lakes. People can purchase tickets and learn more by visiting shipwrecksandscuba.com. Celebrating 40 years Ahead of its annual banquet, Bay Area Divers celebrated its 40th anniversary with an outing in June at the Ala Carte Cafe in Port Clinton. The group discussed its history and its founder, Joyce Hayward, who started the group in November 1983. Hayward, a teacher for Bellevue Schools, passed away in 2009. "Bay Area Divers not only provides recreational scuba diving for members and friends, but it also has as its mission to educate and promote the sport of scuba diving and diving safety," according to an organizational statement.