David Michael VanZandt, a 70-year-old founder of an underwater explorer nonprofit that documents shipwrecks in Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes, tragically passed away while making a trip below the surface. His body was recovered from the water at East 9th Street Pier by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office after a search conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard six miles away from Cleveland. VanZandt was the co-founder and director of Cleveland Underwater Explorers Inc. (CLUE), a group dedicated to researching, exploring, and documenting shipwrecks and submerged cultural heritage in the Great Lakes.
The incident occurred while VanZandt was on his first trip of the year, diving on a newly discovered shipwreck. CLUE expressed their condolences to his wife and family in a Facebook post following the tragic event. VanZandt started his diving career in 1995 and began searching and finding shipwrecks off his boat, the “Sea Dragon,” in 2001 when he co-founded CLUE. The R/V Sea Dragon, along with another vessel, is used by the group to search for underwater shipwrecks. The nonprofit focuses on documenting the history and preserving the legacy of these submerged relics in the Great Lakes.
The U.S. Coast Guard had announced the search for the missing diver in Lake Erie after he failed to resurface during the expedition. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers involved in underwater exploration and the need for safety precautions. VanZandt’s dedication to this field and his contributions to documenting and preserving the maritime history of the Great Lakes are highlighted in his biography on the CLUE website. His passion for diving and uncovering shipwrecks fueled his work with the nonprofit organization, where he played a significant role in its research and exploration efforts.
VanZandt’s legacy as an underwater explorer and shipwreck documentarian will live on through the work of CLUE and other organizations involved in maritime history preservation. His impact on the field of underwater exploration in the Great Lakes region is evident in the numerous shipwrecks he helped discover and document over the years. The tragic circumstances of his passing serve as a reminder of the risks associated with diving and exploration, emphasizing the importance of safety protocols and preparedness in such endeavors. The underwater exploration community mourns the loss of a dedicated and passionate individual who contributed greatly to the understanding and preservation of submerged cultural heritage in the Great Lakes.
