There's nothing quite like the thrill of diving, particularly wreck diving. In the Great Lakes area there is an abundance of sunken ships. Many are still in good shape even after over 100 years underwater. Whether you dive a wreck to learn a bit about history, to see the aquatic life of an artificial reef environment, or perhaps to photograph man's loss and nature's gain, wreck diving can be a very satisfying experience.

To make the most of this sort of dive, you need specialized training from a reputable agency in both wreck and deep diving (most wrecks lie deeper than 60ft). Some hazards of wreck diving include sharp objects (such as rusted metal, splintering wood and coral encrustations), entanglement (in ropes, fishing lines etc...) and possible unstable structures (falling objects, collapsing walls). If you know what to expect beforehand, you will enjoy a safer, more relaxed dive.

Here are some interesting wrecks to check out in Lake Michigan. Check with a local dive instructor or an experienced local diver to learn what points of interest and hazards to look for when you dive. Most are boat dives.

The Caissons

This dive is appropriate for a novice or intermediate level diver. Located in 40-45 feet of water off the coast of Chicago. The Caissons was a barge onto which debris was loaded from the Great Chicago Fire. If you enjoy finding artifacts, this site is for you. Last I checked it was not illegal to bring a souvenir back to the surface with you (to be safe, check on this before you dive).

Wings of the Wind

Located southeast of The Caissons, the Wings of the Wind is also not a very difficult dive. This schooner a victim of a nineteenth century collision, is also located at a depth of about 45 feet.

Selah Chamberlain

The Selah Chamberlain collided with the Pridgeon Jr. in 1886 just off of Sheboygan Harbor in Wisconsin. It now rests at a depth of 60 to 80 feet. It has quite a bit of it's machinery still intact, visible gigantic boilers and unused piles of coal. It is a good site for underwater photographers.

The Hackett

The Hackett is more of a novice dive, good for snorklers or divers. It is located at a depth of 15 to 20 feet in the Green Bay area. Parts of the ship's engines, the propeller, the boiler and pieces of the hull house schools of perch, bass, carp and lawyers.

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