Explore the Depths
Prepare to explore a world lost to the waves. The Upper Peninsula's "Shipwreck Coast" is home to an incredible number of sunken ships, each with a dramatic story to tell. While many of these wrecks lie in the deep, several are accessible through unique and exciting tours. You can choose a glass-bottom boat tour to peer into the underwater world from the comfort of your seat or suit up for a scuba diving adventure to get an up-close look at these incredible historic sites. These tours offer a mesmerizing glimpse into a world frozen in time, allowing you to witness the final resting places of these maritime giants and honor the stories of those who sailed them.
Lake Huron’s Drummond Island is the second-largest island in the Great Lakes, and its “Island Time” is filled with outdoor adventures. Besides scuba diving in the DeTour Passage, you can paddle your kayak over the wreck of the schooner barge Troy lying in 5 to 10 feet of water (some of its wooden ribs stick out of the water). Or float over the tug Silver Spray, visible in 5 to 10 feet of water near Meade Island. Certainly one of the more memorable paddling adventures!
Once the path for Native Americans and European explorers, Lake Superior’s Hiawatha Water Trail stretches 120 miles between Big Bay and Grand Marais. Experience the exhilaration of paddling past century-old lighthouses, shipwrecks that are visible from the water and small towns along the shoreline.
The best way to watch Spray Falls plunge 70 feet into Lake Superior is from the water. Take one of the Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises and pass by the wreckage of the SS Superior City that sank after colliding with the SS Willis L. King on August 20, 1920. The mortal wound to the Superior City killed 29 of the 33 aboard, and the wreck lies at the base of the falls about 20 feet down.
The Glass-Bottom Shipwreck Boat Tours are extraordinary. Spend two hours viewing two shipwrecks resting on Lake Superior’s cold, rocky floor. Hear the fascinating stories about each one. Plus, enjoy views of rock cliffs and caves, a historic lighthouse and the exquisite beauty of Grand Island’s picturesque shoreline. Unforgettable.
The Great Lakes divers’ motto is:
"Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but bubbles."
Enjoy observing, filming and photographing your finds in Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan designated underwater preserves. Michigan and Canadian laws, however, prohibit illegally salvaging the ships or removing, altering or destroying artifacts on these historic ships.
For the adventure of a lifetime, explore these dive sites within an hour or two’s drive from Tahquamenon Falls.
Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve
De Tour Passage UnMichigan Underwater Preserves - Sitesderwater Preserve
Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve
Marquette County Underwater Preserve
Tahquamenon Country makes an ideal base camp for discovering some of the U.P.’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders, heroic rescue stories and the heartbreaking legacies of ships lost to our mighty freshwater seas. Start planning your visit today, then book a stay at nearby lodgings with the comfort and amenities you need to rest for tomorrow’s exciting adventures.
