Important note: All the intake cribs now have a buoyed 200 foot "security zone!" Do not pass within this area, dive here, or anchor near here.  You're only asking for trouble if you do.

Most of Lake Michigan's wrecks are accessible to the beginning beginning diver. Shallow, non-penetration, decently warm waters.  Those who say most of the good tech diving is found on Lake Michigan wrecks have obviously never dove Lake Michigan!  Average wreck depth is 30-40 feet, often shallower. Don't worry  guys - after your first Lake Michigan wreck dive, you'll be back for more!!! The waves wind and surf are totally predictable - and if you watch the forecast the day before your dive, and check lake conditions that morning, there will be no surprises.  In the summer of '02, visibility often extended to SIXTY feet.

If the ship sank between 1900 and 1920, and it was near Chicago, chances are it got dynamited not soon afterwards as a navigation hazard.  Probably the most unusual "wrecks" are those of WWII aircraft.  See HERE.

Loran, the choice of navigation a decade ago, is basically obsolete. Don't even bother investing in it. The government is keeping it alive - barely.  I don't see it being funded past 2004. I am slowly adding GPS Lat/Lons to my Loran TD's, climbing out of the neolithic. This combined with the digital topo and nav charts I have should make for some darn accurate readings.  The new GPS units put you in the sub-meter accuracy range. Even the newer handhelds achieve accuracy to within 15 feet or better, even better is they support WAAS.  Decent handheld units start for $200.  Sure you can spend more or less, but you get what you pay for.  I spent $365 for a unit that lists out at $500.00 - shop around!!!  You'll see more GPS info for all my site and wreck reviews as time progresses. Here's a good GPS explanation (covers GPS, WAAS, DGPS and more.)

Just for kicks, I've included the tried-and-true navigation method of using landmarks on some of the wreck pages.  It's great practice, plus some fun.  If you're not familiar with this method, it goes something like this... steer towards the Harrison crib in a line directly from the filtration plant (after you're past the breakwall - duh!).  Looking astern, line up Lakepoint Tower, the Standard Oil Building and Sears Tower - looking ahead is the crib.  Once all three buildings line up - slow down - look for the Playboy Building in the North and Chicago Harbor Light South (it helps to have a drawing!)  This works, albeit slow, and puts you in the "general" area.  This is why it took an hour to locate a wreck in 1976!  Today with GPS it's start, steer, anchor and dive. Back then it was start, steer, line-up landmarks, steer, line up more landmarks, circle, drag a hook, steer, circle. Repeat. Repeat. Get seasick. Repeat.  Dive if able, assuming you found the wreck. But that's back when Mixed Gas was what came out of your drysuit after a day in the water!

I've really got to hand it to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Foundation. They have a comprehensive shipwreck location database online.  It's searchable by a variety of criteria.  Although no information on the wreck itself is supplied, you get coordinates galore - usually several loran and GPS.  Really great! Be sure and visit them.

Remember - keep a look out for the Mack!

NOAA Links:
Check Lake and weather conditions!
Chicago Web Cam (shows the skyline from the Harrison Crib)
(I cleaned the lens and windows on 7/02)

Want to research shipwrecks?

Other ShipWrecks

The following wrecks range from the best known and most popular, to some that are infrequently visited.  I should also mention that visibility is the best it has been in 15 years. Those Zebra Mussels (ecological nightmare that they are) that invaded the Great Lakes have been acting like little vacuums, sucking up the micro-organisms that were causing poor vis in Lake Michigan. The result is clarity (as we define it). So the lake may die in a decade or so - or so the scientists thought. Now they are thinking differently. Only time will tell.

If you are not from the area, you will need the appropriate equipment for cold water diving. The surface temp of Lake Michigan can reach 75 degrees in the mid summer. The thermoclines (you'll encounter one to three on most wrecks) are another matter. The first kicks in at around 25'. It's a whopper - you can SEE and FEEL it.  A 1/4" wet suit, with hood and boots is a must. Use of reef gloves at a minimum. Many wrecks have metal cable that is rusting and fraying with age, and can cause Sea Urchin type wounds - complete with little wires stuck in your skin - often very deep.

99.99% of diving is by boat. You can be arrested for shore diving in Chicago. The Chicago Park District runs the lakefront with a Stalin-like iron fist. If you have contacts there, you can dive - if not, forget it.  Politics, Chicago style.  Remember to vote, and vote often.

Loran Note: Please remember that Loran coordinates are not the same for two different units - or the same unit on two different days - so use these to "get you in the area." From there you'll have to use a sounder or grapple.

Don't be surprised to find other divers on the MSB and Dows on the weekends.  I've seen as many as four dive boats on one wreck.  Unlike the Caribbean cattle boats, the local charters have only 5-8 divers per boat.

Evanston Beach: Wreck of the George Morley. Evanston beach does have the remains of a shipwreck off-shore, but it is scattered wreckage, not discernible as a shipwreck. A few years back shifting sands and clearer waters revealed this to be a partially intact shipwreck. She's complete hull to the keel, and the prop shaft can be seen.  It's buoyed in the Summer months - the prop can be seen at the Evanston Historical Society.

Wings Of The Wind: One of several wrecks discovered in the 1980's, when surveying equipment greatly improved.  This 130' long schooner is in decent shape, just 3.5 miles off Chicago. Built in 1855, she sank in 1866 in 40' of water. Approx. loran 33357 50064. She was almost fully covered by sand for over a century. Unfortunately the team that discovered her also shared the information too soon.  Those they informed soon took everything that could be removed.  The wreck is still a good dive, but is missing all the hardware.

Lady Elgin: Discovered in 1988 or 89 (depending who you ask), this was the "Titanic" of the Great Lakes. Over 300 people lost their lives when the Lady Elgin burned and sank. Discovered by local wreck hunter Harry Zych, the Lady Elgin case was in court for almost a decade after the discovery was made public. The state wanted it. Harry wanted it. Divers wanted it. The insurance companies claimed ownership. Harry wanted salvage rights. The insurance companies wanted rights. On and on it went. The location is still loosely guarded, but some local operators will take you to her. It lies somewhere off Waukegan, IL. Note: Legally, you can get in serious trouble diving this wreck. It officially belongs to Harry. More info at:  http://www.execpc.com/~bbaillod/elginhx.html    http://pages.prodigy.com/WPCC88A/lady22.txt  
The final outcome of the court battle: http://www.serve.com/rcsc/Lady.htm

The Wheeler: A 300' steamer of 1,688 tons, she lies in approximately 30' about 400 yards offshore, 3 miles due East of Michigan City. An excellent wreck for the novice diver, she boasts new uncovered portions nearly every spring as the shifting ice reveals new secrets. Pieces of the cargo (coal), spikes and other "treasures" may be found. An excellent snorkel dive and a great night-dive sight.

The Pat Herner: A 125' wooden schooner, she burned in Michigan City Harbor in 1854. She was stripped of salvageable goods, then towed to open water and sank, approximately 1 1/2 miles East of the harbor entrance. Lying in 25', she was first discovered in 1976.

The Louisville: A 140' steamer of 366 tons, she sank September 29, 1857 following the seafarer's greatest danger - FIRE AT SEA! She lies approximately 3 miles E/NE of the David Dows, 7 miles offshore, in about 60' of water. A tangle of pipes, partial stack and huge pile of anchor chain mark her final resting place. Hard to locate.

The Muskegon: Originally named the Peerless, the Muskegon was built in 1872 with dimensions of 211' x 39.9' x 12.4'. On October 6, 1910, she caught fire while lying at her berth in Michigan City Harbor. She was scuttled to extinguish the flames, declared a total loss, and was set adrift on June 10,1911 to sink in deeper water. She eventually drifted toward shore and finally sank in about 30' of water approximately 200 yards offshore from the present site of "Mount Baldy." A mass of machinery still remains, including boilers large enough to swim through, and her prop, which provides an appropriate background for pictures. She is a very interesting night dive site.

The J.D. Marshall: Originally built for the lumber trade. Dimensions of 154' x 33' x 11'. Her last voyage was on June 11, 1911. She was hauling sand and machinery  from  Muskegon, when she met her fate and turned-turtle during a squall.  Four of her crew of ten died in the sudden sinking. She now lies less than a mile offshore from the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Park, in 32' of water, approximately 10 miles West of Michigan City.

The Illinois: A self propelled barge, the Illinois presents fascinating exploring of masses of machinery . She lies in 38' of water approximately 2 miles East of Burnham Harbor.

North Tug, South Tug, East Tug: These tugboats are off the Chicago Lakefront and represent the types of tugs used at the turn of the century. Depths range from 35'-55'.   Vis is often poor.

The George F. Williams: Almost 300' long, she now lies in 28' of water 200 yards off shore near the Hammond, Indiana water filtration plant. Full of "wreck goodies", she provides the diver with countless hours of exploring.

A submarine???