Diving the Great Lakes might seem like a daunting prospect, but great wrecks that anyone can dive are found across all five lakes, including from Wisconsin. Milwaukee, on the western shore of Lake Michigan, is not only a departure point for many of these dives but a vibrant city with numerous museums and cultural experiences.

Dive in late spring and early summer for the best visibility to explore historic wrecks from Milwaukee marinas. Book charters to access popular wrecks such as the Prins Willem V (Willie), Dredge No. 6, and even the Edward E. Gillen tug, all of which sank due to accidents or storms and lie above 100 feet. Mooring balls lead to each of these sites.

Of the recreationally accessible wrecks, the tug is the smallest and most complete and sits perfectly upright. The Willie is the most exciting. It has a starboard lean and includes two masts and multiple penetration areas. The bow is buried in the sand, and large burbot rest in its crevices. Lives were lost on Dredge No. 6 when the barge foundered and plummeted to the bottom in 1956. Divers can swim underneath its remains, which lie upsidedown at a max depth of 75 feet. The sunken Milwaukee Car Ferry is also accessible as a recreational dive. Numerous advanced and entry-level tec dives can also be planned to explore dozens of other wrecks.

After diving, visit attractions such as the Milwaukee Ale House and the Milwaukee Public Market, where local vendors sell specialty foods. Book charters north of Milwaukee in Port Washington to access the schooner Northerner, part of a proposed National Marine Sanctuary.

This is one of the few intact schooners at recreational depths. Though the mast has fallen down, it is still attached to the ship.

Learn more about the proposed sanctuary and the history of Lake Michigan wrecks at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, one of the largest maritime museums in the Midwest. This unique experience includes a tour of the working diesel-powered submarine USS Cobia, which is available to rent for overnight stays. Cobia is the most historically accurate World War IIera submarine restoration and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

DIVE SITES

Milwaukee Wrecks
Visit early in the season for the best visibility at Lake Michigan wrecks, including the Edward E. Gillen tug, Prins Willem V, Milwaukee Car Ferry and Dredge No. 6. These popular local sites lie within recreational limits, with max depths ranging from 75 to 124 feet, and each has unusual features to explore.

Future Protected Area
The Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary was proposed in 2015 to protect 36 wrecks in a 962-square-mile area of Lake Michigan. The sanctuary would stretch from just north of Manitowoc to just north of Milwaukee, and include wrecks such as the Northerner schooner, an advanced dive at a max depth of 140 feet.

Wazee Lake
When Lake Michigan weather prohibits diving, head to 146- acre Wazee Lake—at 350 feet, the deepest inland lake in the state—for shore diving. Start from Bluegill Alley on the west side of the lake to find an underwater navigational course.

TRIP TIPS

1. Wisconsin Maritime Museum
Home to the submarine USS Cobia, this museum not only depicts the shipbuilding of Manitowoc subs, but also includes artifacts from Lake Michigan wrecks. Travel through shipbuilding history with exhibits such as a working engine and a Mark V diving suit and helmet before heading upstairs to the Sub Pub.

2. Milwaukee Brewing Company
Beer has been a part of Milwaukee history since before it was officially named a city. Tour the Milwaukee Brewing Company’s facilities and sample a variety of craft brews made from local ingredients.

3. Milwaukee Art Museum
This surprisingly modern building features architecture designed by Santiago Calatrava that honors the maritime culture of Milwaukee. Exhibits include European paintings, photography, decorative arts, prints and modern pieces. The two museum cafes and a separate coffee shop are very near the marina from which dives depart.

NEED TO KNOW

Conditions: Visibility is 15 to 30 feet, with water temperatures between 40 and 68 degrees

What to Wear: Drysuit.

Dive Shops Recommended by PADI:
• Aquatic Adventures, Brookfield, Wisconsin
• St. Croix Scuba, Hudson, Wisconsin
• Underwater Connection, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

Jennifer Idol is the first woman to dive all 50 states in the U.S., author of An American Immersion, and a PADI AmbassaDiver. She’s also a member of the Ocean Artists Society.