Captain’s Log: Maintaining Shipwreck Moorings on Lake Michigan (A Full Day on the Water)

It started as a simple check of Lake Michigan shipwreck moorings on a calm Saturday, May 2, 2026—one of those early-season days where you take advantage of every good weather window.

Spring is when we begin checking and restoring mooring lines on Lake Michigan shipwrecks—making sure they’re visible, usable, and safe after a long winter. Ice, waves, and passing traffic can do more damage than you’d expect, so every season starts with a bit of investigation… and usually a few surprises.

First Stop: The Milwaukee Car Ferry Shipwreck

We headed out to the Milwaukee Car Ferry shipwreck, where we normally have two moorings—one on the bow and one on the stern.

The bow mooring, provided by the Wisconsin Historical Society, uses a full chain system from the wreck to a subfloat around 20 ft, then another section of chain up to the surface mooring. It’s heavy, has no stretch, and while it works, it’s not the easiest system to maintain.

Last fall, things didn’t quite go as planned. During removal, the wrong shackle was undone, sending the lower section of chain to the bottom while the orange ball popped up to the surface. Not an easy fix.

Recovering that system properly usually requires:

• a dive to locate and lift the chain
• sending it up on a lift bag
• and then, on the same dive, bringing the orange subfloat back down into position

That second part takes coordination. One diver positions the orange subfloat while the other reconnects the shackle, with surface support helping pull the very buoyant subfloat down to about 20 ft using a rope or pulley system.

It’s a one-dive operation when everything lines up—but it still requires calm conditions, good visibility, and enough hands both in the water and topside.

With only two divers—Randy and I—and one surface support, Capt. Craig, that day, we made the call to leave it for another time.

Experience sometimes means knowing when not to push it.

Stern Mooring Line Dive

We moved to the stern mooring, which I had installed a few years ago using a 5/8″ polysteel mooring line with a subfloat at 30 ft and a tagline to the surface.

This one made it through the winter.

I geared up, brought a brush down, and started cleaning the line from top to bottom. Mussels love to attach anywhere there’s texture—especially around bends, loops, and the subfloat—so it’s important to keep things clean before buildup becomes a problem.

On the way down, I had a quiet moment following a burbot that didn’t seem to mind my bubbles at all—just slowly cruising along like I wasn’t even there. For a moment, I wished I could move like that, not minding the 40°F water and breathing without a second thought.

By the time I came back up, the line was in great shape. We added a visibility flag at the surface and moved on.

Surface Checks Across Multiple Lake Michigan Wrecks

The next part of the day turned into a steady rhythm of surface inspections and small upgrades across several Lake Michigan wreck dive sites.

Fireboat #17 shipwreck
We found the line floating with a jug still attached—always a good sign. I added one of the bright green jugs to improve visibility for boaters and divers.

St. Albans shipwreck
Seven miles offshore, and the difference in water clarity was incredible. No brown runoff—just clear water. We couldn’t see the tagline at first, but then I spotted the subfloat at about 30 ft from the surface.

Randy volunteered to jump in and retrieve the line. We added a jug, and I made a note to replace the tagline on the next visit—it’s starting to show wear.

E.M.B.A shipwreck
The mooring line was already at the surface—we added another jug.

From there, I could actually see the jug on the St. Albans from about half a mile away. That’s when you know your surface markers are doing their job. We’ll be back with more flags once I have time to assemble them—it takes a bit to make them properly.

Caisson structure
Quick pass-by—line and jugs were intact. No action needed.

The Norlond Shipwreck: Mooring Line Installation Dive

Last stop of the day: the Norlond shipwreck.

We knew the tagline was missing from a previous check, so we went in prepared to install a new one.

After a bit of searching, we dropped a grapple—and it couldn’t have landed more perfectly. Right on top of the boiler, hooked securely, and only about 10 ft from the main polysteel mooring line.

Perfect setup.

We dropped down, located the line, and started clearing the old tangled tagline. Everything was lining up for a quick, efficient fix.

And then…

I accidentally let go of the new tagline.

It went straight to the surface.

Unplanned Swim on Lake Michigan

I surfaced and saw it drifting—about 200 ft away.

Too far to reach in full scuba gear with a steel tank, so I climbed back on the boat, removed the tank, and swam out to retrieve it.

There was just enough current to make the swim back interesting—but little by little, I made it.

Back on the boat. Gear back on. Back in the water.

This time, I wasn’t letting go of that line until it was secured.

Lift Bag Deployment and Close Call

We made our way back down. I ran into Randy midway—he had come looking for me. Quick signals, we regrouped, secured my pressure gauge, and continued.

At the subfloat:

• removed the old tangled tagline
• looped the new one through the main mooring line
• attached a lift bag

I inflated the lift bag and sent it up.

And then I felt it.

My regulator had caught in the tagline.

For a split second, it felt like time paused. I could almost feel the upward pull starting—like I might get dragged into a rapid ascent.

Before it could escalate, Randy grabbed the line and stopped everything.

That moment—just a second or two—felt like forever.

I untangled the regulator, we regained control, and sent the lift bag up properly.

From there:

• we followed the grapple line back up
• retrieved the setup
• returned to the new tagline
• added a flag and jug

Mission complete.

A Successful Day Maintaining Shipwreck Moorings

We wrapped up around 2pm.

Despite a freeze warning that morning, the sun came out, the wind stayed down, and it turned into a beautiful day on Lake Michigan. By the time we headed back, the wind was picking up—but our work was done.

And Then… the Day Continued

Because of course it did.

Deco decided to add his own excitement by attempting a bold leap off the boat to the dock… and briefly disappearing underwater. He resurfaced (after what felt like a very long second), and I made sure he was warm and dry on the way home.

Then came:

• a 140-step hike along the lake
• errands at Woodman’s and Home Depot
• oil change and blade swap on the mower
• mowing the entire yard
• hauling fallen shrubbery

By 7:30pm, there was only one logical decision left:

Dinner out.

The Fortune Cookie Ending

At the end of it all, I sat down, finally relaxed, and opened a fortune cookie that read:

After a day of maintaining mooring lines on Lake Michigan shipwrecks, it felt fitting.

Because behind every easy dive line, every wreck, and every charter trip, there’s a lot of unseen work—but also moments that make it all worth it.

And sometimes, you just know…

you’ll be back out there again.