Missing Iowa diver found in Lake Michigan

Door County, WIS. -- On September 4th 1999, 52-year-old Dirk Kann of Guttenberg, Iowa went missing while diving with friends near the shipwreck of Lakeland, a popular diving spot in Lake Michigan.

For over 12 years it was a mystery what happened to Mr. Kann. However on Saturday the 28th, two experienced divers found the body of Kann near the wreck 225 feet below the water’s surface. Door County Sheriff Terry Vogel said during a news conference that over the years they have made numerous attempts to find the body with new technology but were unable to locate it.

The spot is very popular because the original cargo of early 20th century cars is still visible. But it is only for experienced divers as Green Bay Scuba owner Alan Pahnke explains. "That particular shipwreck is what we call a technical dive. When it's so deep, you need much more training to go down there than a normal sport diver would." It is unknown what type of experience Kann may have had.

Pahnke explained the water temperature at that depth is around 36 degrees. He says the conditions would preserve a body for a long time. "Because of the pressure and the depth it’s at, there's not a lot of oxygen down there, plus the cold, it's like a refrigerator, it'll keep for quite a while."

The sheriff's office did not release the exact condition of the body. Officials say the results from the autopsy helped to confirm the identity.

It is unknown if Mr. Kann had or has any family or if they were notified

Story Published: 8/22/2012