Dive Chicago™ (312) 922-5090

STRAITS OF MACKINAC:  A 200 foot steam powered steel passenger/car ferry. Intentionally sank as a dive site at a depth of 73 feet in an upright position. The wreck is intact and penetration by experienced divers is possible.

WINGS OF WIND:  A 130 foot wooden schooner sank on May 12th, 1866 when she collided with the H. P. Baldwin.  Today she sits at a depth of 49 feet in an upright position.  The bow of the wreck offers some great photo opportunities, because it is intact along with bowsprit, chains and windlass.

TACOMA:  A 72 foot steam powered wooden tug sank on November 4th, 1929 when her bow split open during a tow.  Today she sits at a depth of 37 feet in an upright position.  The pilot house is gone but much of the remaining wreck is intent.  The propeller offers great photo opportunities and the decking around the steam engine is open offering a good view without penetration.  Lately many salamanders have been living inside the engine.

MATERIAL SERVICE:  A 240 foot diesel powered motor barge sank on July 29th, 1936.  Today she sits at a depth of 40 feet in an upright position.  The wreck is intact and penetration by experienced divers is possible.  

DAVID DOWS:  A 270 foot five masted schooner waterlogged and sank on November 29th, 1889.  Today she sits at a depth of 45 feet in an upright position.  Parts of her hull are still intact.                                                                                             

LOUISVILLE:  A 140 foot steamer sank September 29th, 1857.  Today she sits at a depth of 58 feet with engine, boilers, and propeller among twisted wreckage.

FLORA  M. HILL:  A 130 foot iron steamer crushed by ice and sank on March 11th, 1912.  Today she sits scattered at a depth of 38 feet with a lot to see.  The boiler, propeller, and rudder are still very much intact.  Several salamanders have been spotted on this wreck. both in and around the boiler tubes.  This is an excellent night dive site especially on fireworks nights every Wednesday and Saturday.

CHARLES W. PARKER:  A steam powered tug sank on October 4th, 1891 when her boiler exploded.  Today she sits scattered at a depth of 40 feet.

ILLINOIS/DECK BARGE:  Two sites in one. A hydraulic dredge sank on December 9th, 1907.  Today she sits at a depth of 36 feet with crane, bucket and tool lockers. A 120’ Holly Marine deck barge relocated from the Calumet River on May 6, 2000.

NORTH TUG:  An unknown 70 foot steam powered tug.  Engine, boiler and propeller are there.

SOUTH TUG/TYM BARGE: Two sites in one. Another unknown Tug that is just like the North Tug, but with pottery scattered around the wreck.  The fuel barge was relocated from the Chicago River Turning Basin and placed next to the tug in 1999.

MIKE’S SCHOONER:  A 140 foot unknown schooner, named after a Charter Captain who passed away attempting to rescue a diver in trouble.  Today she sits at a depth of 40 feet and is moderately intact.  This is an excellent night dive site especially on fireworks nights every Wednesday and Saturday.

IOWA:  A 202 foot wooden steamer crushed by ice and sank on February 4th, 1915.  Today she sits scattered at a depth of 35 feet with a lot to see.

WISCONSIN: (North point area)  A 209 foot steamer sank October 29th, 1929.  Today she sits at a depth of  127 feet in an upright position.  Her cargo includes twelve 1929 automobiles. The wreck is intact and penetration by experienced divers is possible.

WELLS BURT:  A 201 foot 3 masted schooner sank in a storm on May 20th, 1883.  Today she sits at a depth of 41 feet in an upright position and is very much intact.

LUCILLE:  A wooden steamer sank February 2nd, 1893. Today she sits broken up at a depth of 31 feet.

SCHOONER BARGE:  An unknown schooner being used as a barge at the time of her sinking.

SCHOONER OFF NORTH AVE.:  An unknown wreck of a schooner.  Today she sits at a depth of 30 feet.  There is debris scattered to the south of the wreck.

CHINA WRECK:  A 70 foot unknown wreck.  Today she sits at a depth of 40 feet.  She is scattered with a lot of debris.

CAISSONS:  Though not a wreck a very popular site scattered with bottles and relics dating back to the Great Chicago Fire and prior.  

CITIZEN:  An unknown wreck of a schooner.  Today she sits at a depth of 35 feet. 

GEORGE F. WILLIAMS:  A wooden steamer that outlived her usefulness and was ordered sent to the bottom by her owners in 1913.  Today she sits at a depth of 20 to 25 feet.  Her engine, boiler and propeller still remain along with scattered debris.

ROTARIAN:   A 147 foot side wheel steamer sank September 28th, 1931.  Today she sits at a depth of 84 feet.  She was cleared to the deck and the machinery was removed prior to her intentional sinking.

LUMBERMAN:  (North point area)  A 128 foot 3 masted schooner sank April 7th, 1893.  Today she sits at a depth of 70 feet intact.

KATE KELLY:  (North point area)  A 126 foot schooner sank May 14th, 1895.  Today she sits at a depth of 70 feet intact. 

MILWAUKEE:  (Milwaukee area) A 318 foot steel railroad car ferry.  She sank on October 22nd, 1929.  Today she sits at a depth of 122 feet.  Many of the boxcars are full of cargo, mostly plumbing supplies. 

PRINS WILLEM V: (Milwaukee area) A 250 foot Dutch freighter rammed and sank October 14th, 1954.  Today she lists to starboard at a depth of  93 feet and is intact.  Milwaukee’s most popular wreck has been nicknamed the “Willie” by divers. The wreck is intact and penetration by experienced divers is possible.