Lake Michigan Diving
Great Lakes Shipwreck Diving
The Great Lakes contain some of the best-preserved shipwrecks in the world, and Lake Michigan shipwreck diving gives divers access to many of these historic vessels. Cold freshwater, deep lakes, and a rich maritime history have preserved hundreds of historic vessels. Today divers explore schooners, steamers, and early steel ships resting beneath the waters of Lake Michigan, making the region one of the most unique destinations for shipwreck diving in North America.
Intact Shipwrecks
Unlike ocean wrecks that are quickly consumed by marine organisms and corrosion, many Great Lakes shipwrecks are preserved by the region’s cold freshwater conditions. Many vessels sank in the late 1800s and early 1900s and remain remarkably intact today.
These conditions make the Great Lakes home to some of the best-preserved shipwrecks in the world.
Milwaukee & Lake Michigan Shipwrecks
Lake Michigan offers some of the most accessible and historically significant shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, at both recreational and technical depths. Based out of Milwaukee, Shipwreck Explorers charters also reach wreck sites off other Wisconsin ports such as Port Washington and Kenosha.
These waters are home to a wide range of wrecks—including schooners, steamers, and steel freighters—many of which remain remarkably well preserved in the cold freshwater. For divers, this creates exceptional opportunities to explore Great Lakes maritime history firsthand.
Shipwreck Depth Ranges
Lake Michigan wrecks span a wide range of depths, offering opportunities for both recreational and technical shipwreck diving. Many popular recreational wrecks lie between 60 and 130 ft (18 to 40 m). Some of the most visited technical shipwrecks range from 140 to 220 ft (43 to 67 m), while expedition-level wrecks reach 290 to 330 ft (88 to 100 m).
This range allows both recreational and advanced divers to explore historic vessels.
Lake Michigan Visibility
Visibility on Lake Michigan wrecks typically ranges from 20 to 80 ft (6 to 25 m) depending on weather and season. The relatively recent introduction of invasive species — zebra and quagga mussels — has filtered the water and allowed for these greater visibilities.
Water temperatures remain cold throughout the year, especially near the bottom, and most divers use drysuits for comfort and safety. Surface temperatures warm toward the end of June, making it possible for recreational divers to dive in thick wetsuits and making technical diving and decompression stops more comfortable.
Lake Michigan Shipwrecks
Explore our guide to Lake Michigan shipwrecks to learn about many of the historic vessels that divers visit today.
Dive Schedule
Divers interested in visiting these historic wrecks can view upcoming trips on our Dive Schedule.
