When most people think of wreck diving, they probably imagine exotic locations with palm trees and sandy beaches. While these are indeed some of the most enjoyable places to explore age-old wreckage, there is a place right here in the US that holds prolific wreckage spanning over 400 years of time. There is something for everyone here, with wrecks as far from the surface as 250 feet and as near to the surface as 10 feet. Just be prepared with your drysuit, as this is no tropical island! We’re talking about frigid freshwater here — the waters of the Great Lakes of Michigan.
Michigan ranks in the top ten states of the US for its high contingent of certified SCUBA divers, and boasts world-renown wreck diving. The Great Lakes are comprised of five major bodies of water: Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and Lake Ontario, with all but the latter touching the state of Michigan. Although each lake resides in its own basin, they are one naturally interconnected body of freshwater. In fact, the lakes together hold an astonishing 21% of the entire planet’s freshwater! The fact that the wreckage is contained within cold freshwater is conducive to a state of preservation not usually found within saltwater regions. For this reason, the diverse age of the various shipwrecks is quite visible, and offers a unique learning experience.
One of the best things about a majority of this wreckage is that it is protected by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality by their establishment of preserves. Created in 1980, these underwater preserves were created with the interests of divers and historical preservation in mind. As they are protected by law, pilfering of artifacts is forbidden in these areas, and diving is encouraged as a way to inform people about the history of the lakes and their purposes throughout time. Wreckage consists of package freighters, passenger steamers, yachts, and schooners, and many of the wrecks are encapsulated in perfect condition, held in place by the cold, deep waters of the Great Lakes.
If you are up for this type of diving, you will most certainly prepare differently depending on what time of year you are planning on going. Water temperatures between December and June average around 32 – 42 degrees Fahrenheit, with increases of up to almost 80 degrees Fahrenheit at their peak in July, August, and September. Each lake varies slightly, so be sure to check regularly to make sure you are adequately prepared. A wetsuit should be ample during the summer months, but the winters are obviously drysuit territory. There are an abundance of dive tours at your disposal, and even plenty of night dive tours, so bring your dive lights along to make the most of your trip. Training is highly recommended for night diving and wreck diving, as there will be aspects that are unique to these types of dives. For those that aren’t dive certified, there are also snorkeling opportunities for wreckage, with some waters boasting visibility comparable to parts of the Caribbean.
As most SCUBA divers know, the underwater world is bursting with history and mystery just waiting to be discovered; why not do a little investigating of your own? You never know what you may find…
