Recent advances in technology have enabled great lakes divers to enjoy thirteen new deep water wrecks that range from early schooners to modern self-unloading ships; this is a far cry from the way things used to be. Today, the Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates, a nonprofit volunteer organization that dedicates itself to interpreting underwater maritime history, conducts research, defines new search areas, uses side-scan sonar, and helps technical divers explore wrecks which were thought to be unreachable.
Exciting Discoveries
Along a 100 mile stretch of exposed shoreline bounded by Muskegon to the north, and St. Joseph to the south, many ships have gone missing throughout the history of Great Lakes shipping. Today, many of these have been located, providing those with the right skills and a taste for adventure with almost unbelievable diving opportunities.
H.C. Akeley - Lost in 1883 with a load of corn bound for New York, this wooden freighter is now sitting upright and intact, embedded in the lake bottom to her waterline. Lying off Saugatuck, Michigan, this incredible wreck sits in 275 feet of water.
The Hamilton - 270 feet below the surface, this 113 foot schooner was built in 1847. Upright, with her masts lying off the starboard side, Hamilton is small enough to explore within the confines of a single twenty minute dive.
Michigan - Built in 1881, this luxurious steamer was lost while attempting to aid the Steamer Oneida, which was trapped in ice. Michigan had a steel clad hull for icebreaking, but she was lost after becoming stuck herself. The crew abandoned ship, opting to trek back to shore across the ice. Upright and intact in 275 feet of water, this wreck is full of artifacts and is easily penetrated.
The Hennepin - A barge lost in 1927, this is wreck is upright and can be accessed at 170 feet. Her hull is at a depth of 230 feet; marvelously intact, this is one of the best wrecks the lake has to offer.
Ann Arbor #5 - Located at a depth of 160 feet, this car ferry was lost while under tow to the scrap yard in the 1970's. Extremely photogenic, it features two huge props. The stern is accessible at a depth of 120 feet, and train tracks lead toward the bow. Nearby, a Cris-Craft rests at a depth of 200 feet.
Joseph P. Farnan - Charred remains with a boiler, engine, and anchor, this wreck is at a depth of 160 feet, and was lost in 1889.
A.P. Dutton - Lost while carrying schoolhouse furniture to St. Joseph from Chicago in 1869, this schooner is 60 feet long, and also rests at a depth of 160 feet.
William Tell - Dating back to 1868, and resting at a depth of 200 feet, the William Tell is wide open, with a cargo of white lime still mounded inside the hull. The lime caused the fire that sunk the schooner, but the crew was able to escape, rowing 25 miles back to shore.
Hattie Wells - A three masted schooner which had been cut down to a barge and lost in 1912, Hattie Wells rests 250 feet below the surface and is a wonderland of anchors, masts, rigging, windlasses and more.
Vandalized Barge - The victim of teenage vandals, this barge sits in 125 feet of water; it was sunk in 1968.
Many of these wrecks were discovered by Clive Cussler, and all are in excellent condition, thanks to the icy temperatures and great depths at which they lie. Visibility in this area is often exceptional, reaching 100 feet or better. Served by great dive operators offering mixed gases, charters, and more, these wrecks are just some of the many the Great Lakes region has to offer; and better yet, Clive Cussler, the Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates, and other explorers are confident that more wrecks will be discovered as exploration continues.