The ALGER UNDERWATER DIVING PRESERVE consists of 113 square miles of Lake Superior bottomlands, and offers several unusual diving attractions including "sea caves" and nine important shipwrecks.
In Munising, we used the service of a dive shop "Lake Superior Shipwreck Diving" (air station, boat charter), and dove different dive sites. On July 24, 1999, we dove - with a wetsuit (6mm), bibbed hood, gloves and boots - the BERMUDA and the STEVEN M. SELVICK. On September 5th, 1999, we dove the SMITH MOORE and the BERMUDA (in a second time).
Lake Superior Shipwreck Diving: With our PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Certification, we dived safely on shipwrecks in Murray Bay.
The BERMUDA: October 15, 1870 -
Type of loss: a merchant schooner, wood, in a storm; Depth: 30 feet of water; Visibility: 2 feet (bottom of silt) to 25 feet (min-max). Date of loss: Oct. 15, 1970 in Murray Bay, Lake Superior. Loss of life: 3; Carrying: Iron Ore. Today, dive site: near Grand Island, Munising, MI. We reached the wreckage with the help of a rope attached on her rusted chain on the bottom of the bay. Therefore, Murray Bay protects the site from ice and wave damage. The result is an antique wooden 145' shipwreck sitting upright with open-broken hatchs, and her wooden rudder at the stern. We also saw a white algae fixed on the wood, and several minnows making bubbles with us. Evidence of a cargo of iron ore (a mix of black/silver powder) is present in the hull. We surveyed the entire wreckage of the BERMUDA with great curiosity.
The STEVEN M. SELVICK: June 1, 1996 -
On the morning of June 1, 1996, the Steven M. Selvick was intentionally sunk for scuba divers. Others names: Lorain, Cabot. Build in Cleveland in 1915; Depth: she lies in 70 ft.; Pilot house in 40 ft. of water; Position: 1600 yards east of Grand Island's Trout Point; Type: a 71 ft. tugboat, 19 ft. beam and weight in at 70 gross tons. We found the wreckage by a mooring buoy in chilly under waters of Lake Superior. She lies on her port side, and on a sandstone bed. We saw several carps and minnows swimming around. * In the white pilothouse, her phone won't ring...
The SMITH MOORE: July 13, 1889 -
Type at loss: propeller, wood, bulk freight; Specs: The 1191-ton, 223-ffot steamer; Build info: Cleveland; Date of loss: 1889, July 13; Place of loss: near Grand Island, Lake Superior, Munising; Loss of life: none. Carrying: iron ore (1,743 tons). Detail: She was rammed in a hit-and-run by steamer James Picklands in dense fog. Dead in the water, she remained afloat for some time, until the fog lifted and the steamer M.M. Drake came to her assistance. She was taken in tow for Munising, but sank enroute. A 223-foot three masted steamer, which was also equipped with sails. The wreck is mostly intact and lies upright in 100 feet of water with visibility of 20-40 feet. The deck is at 80 feet on the white sand bottom and we found the remains of machinery and winches. We saw schools of perch on this site.
Special thanks to Captain Peter Lindquist, a friendly guy.
