We’re excited to share that underwater explorer and 3D modeler Captain Tim Caza has just released his latest interactive shipwreck model: the Etta Belle, a wooden schooner that sank in Lake Ontario in 1873.

About the Etta Belle

The Etta Belle (US Official No. 8730) was reconstructed in 1871 from the schooner Champion, which had wrecked the previous year. Built for the coal trade, she measured 93 feet in length with a gross tonnage of 94.31. On September 3, 1873, just two years into service, the vessel departed Little Sodus, New York with a cargo of coal bound for Toronto. Shortly after, she began to take on water and sank approximately eight miles off Sodus Point. Fortunately, all crew escaped safely.

Today, the wreck lies upright and intact at a depth of about 200 feet (61 m) in Lake Ontario’s cold fresh water. Her preservation makes her an invaluable archaeological site, with her coal cargo still visible in the holds.

For a detailed historical profile of the schooner, visit: Shotline Diving – Etta Belle (US 8730).

Explore the Wreck

Thanks to Capt. Caza’s work, divers and historians can now explore the Etta Belle in remarkable detail through an interactive 3D model. You can rotate, zoom, and study the preserved features of this 19th-century schooner from your browser:

View the Etta Belle model on Sketchfab

The Etta Belle stands as a reminder of the hazards faced by Great Lakes shipping and the stories preserved beneath the waves. With this new model, her story is accessible to researchers, divers, and the public alike.