Search
Close this search box.

North America’s Great Lakes

By

Advertisement

Here is a small sampler to diving the wrecks in North America’s Great Lakes By Becky Kagan Schott

Hard to believe, but North America’s Great Lakes – Lake Superior, Michigan, Heron, Erie and Ontario are one of the best shipwreck diving locations in the world. The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on earth with a surface area spanning some 94,250 square miles between all five. And these lakes remain instrumental for shipping for the upper mid-east region of North America and Canada.

North America 1
The Typo sank in a collision in 1899 while carrying coal in Lake Huron. This three-masted schooner now sits in deep water with it's forward mast still standing up into 110ft of water. The bow sprit is intact with rigging and the bell is still in place. CCR diver Jim Eckhoff illuminates one of it's wood stock anchors on the bow.

Connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lawrence River, these inland seas have claimed thousands of ships over hundreds of years from wooden schooners to steel freighters, and each has a unique story. They have stories of heroism, tragedy, mystery, and the most powerful are the stories of survival. Many foundered in collisions with other ships, fires, ice, and violent storms. These wrecks are haunting and have laid on the bottom, preserved in the cold freshwater for hundreds of years.

North America 2
The SS Cedarville is the 3rd largest shipwreck in the Great Lakes and sits in just 40-100 feet of water in the Straits of Mackinac in Lake Huron. It sank after a collision taking 10 crew members lives. The limestone it was carrying can still be seen on the bottom along with the overturned wheelhouse and cabins in the stern.

Diving here is like turning back the hands of time and visiting a time capsule. History becomes alive when you can see a ship’s name painted on the stern, century old cargo including automobiles, train cars, shoes, coal, and even boxes of preserved lifesavers inside one cargo hold. The wooden sailing ships have masts standing 90 ft tall with rigging still attached. They almost appear as if they are still sailing on the lakebed. Some wrecks have wheelhouses and wheels in place, tool benches inside the engine rooms, pictures hanging on the walls, galleys with pots in the sink, light bulbs screwed into lamps, and don’t be surprised to see a bell still in place. So many artifacts can be seen because nothing is permitted to be taken. Every year new wrecks are being discovered and there is much more to explore in each lake. Wrecks range from recreational, some almost shallow enough to snorkel, to technical depths below 200 feet.

North America 3
The small 130-foot long Schooner Kyle Spanger sank in 1860 after colliding with another ship in Lake Huron coming to rest in 190 feet of water. The visibility is striking even at this depth as both masts can be seen standing upright in addition to CCR Diver Mike Brickman lighting up the wreck’s damage to the bow.

The cold freshwater is what keeps the ships preserved but the summertime temperatures can range from 39 degrees on the bottom to 60’s on the surface so a drysuit is necessary. If you like shipwrecks and history and are looking for a dive destination closer to home, then check out all that the Great Lakes have to offer. 

North America 4
The Sandusky was a 110ft long two-masted Brig that sank in Lake Michigan during a violent storm in 1854. Sitting upright on the bottom 80 feet of water, the wreck still bares a unique wood carved figurehead under the bow sprit.
North America 5
Becky Kagan Schott in her element with camera in hand.

Becky Kagan Schott

It is difficult to move through the world of diving and underwater exploration without hearing the name Becky Kagan Schott.

Holding a degree in Journalism from the University of Tampa she started her career in Broadcast news with CBS and FOX, before creating her own business Liquid Productions in the field of underwater cinematography which has led to her receiving 5 Emmy Awards as an underwater cameraman.

In addition to her skills handling a camera underwater Becky is also an avid a technical diver as well as a highly experienced TDI instructor on the Megalodon Rebreather from air diluent to trimix. Her next set of scheduled Rebreather Courses is coming up this December from 12-17th,  2020, which also presents the opportunity to join her on one or more of her recreational and technical trips she has organized to dive the Great Lakes (July 11-18th 2021), Truk Lagoon (May 14-27th 2021) and Croatia (Sept 25- 3rd 2021).

For more info diving the Great Lakes with Becky

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!

Get a weekly roundup of all Scuba Diver news and articles
We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.
Walt Stearns
Walt Stearns
Editor for Scuba Diver Magazine's North America edition, Walt Stearns, has been involved in the diving industry for more than 30 years. As one of the most prolific photojournalists in diving media Walt’s articles and images have appeared in a wide range of national and international diving, water sports and travel titles.
Latest Stories
Advertisement
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x