Shotline Diving – Reference Documentation
Glossary of Wreck, Dive & Research Terms
This glossary is the “translation layer” for the Shotline archive. It explains the terms you’ll see across wreck records, reference entries, maps, and dive planning notes — with short rollover definitions and full term pages for deeper context.
How to Use the Glossary
On pages across Shotline, some terms will show a short definition when you hover (or tap on mobile). If you want the full explanation, click through to the term page.
Tooltips in Page Text
Use this in Gutenberg (Shortcode block or inline in HTML blocks):
A fixed buoy-and-line system intended to keep anchors off wrecks and provide predictable access. Treat as shared infrastructure.Mooring → rollover definition
A fixed buoy-and-line system intended to keep anchors off wrecks and provide predictable access. Treat as shared infrastructure.Mooring → tooltip + link to full entry
Tip: keep the short definition in the Excerpt field of the glossary term. That’s what the rollover uses.
Quick Guide
- Hover a tooltip term to see the short definition.
- Tap on mobile to reveal the same tooltip.
- Click the term to open the full glossary entry (when linked).
- Edit definitions by updating the glossary term excerpt.
Shotline Standard
This glossary supports the “no touching the wrecks” approach: definitions and terminology are here to improve consistency and preservation — not to encourage contact or alteration of sites.
Glossary Terms
Click any term to open the full definition page. (These cards are intentionally “reference yellow” to match the rest of the directory styling.)
Abandoned
Left in place or surrendered (often to underwriters); may later sink, drift, be dismantled, or be salvaged.
Ashore
Wrecked in contact with land/shore structures or remains partly/fully on shore; may be scattered or altered.
AWOIS
Canadian “Active Wrecks and Obstructions Information System” dataset used for hazards/locations; accuracy varies by record.
Barge
A cargo vessel (often towed) used for bulk carriage; Great Lakes barges may be steel or wood depending on era.
Barque
A sailing vessel with three or more masts: square-rigged on all but the aftermost mast (fore-and-aft on the last).
Boiler
Large pressure vessel used in steam propulsion; boilers are often among the heaviest, most persistent wreck features.
Brig
A two-masted square-rigged sailing vessel.
Burnt at Dock
Fire-loss at dock/harbour where remains may be minimal, altered, or embedded in harbour debris.
Capstan
A vertical rotating winch used for hauling lines/anchors; common on working vessels.
Confirmed
A wreck/site with a known location that has been visually verified (diver/ROV/sonar + confirmation).
Crib
A timber crib structure (often for docks/breakwaters); can appear as “wreckage” but is usually shore infrastructure.
Debris field
A scattered area of wreck material (timbers, ironwork, machinery) rather than a coherent hull form.
Deco line
A separate line used for decompression stops so teams aren’t blocking the main mooring/shotline.
Entanglement hazard
Lines, nets, cables, or wreck structure that can snag gear; manage with good trim, awareness, and cutting tools.
Ferry
A vessel carrying passengers/vehicles across a route; may be steam, diesel, or earlier sail-assisted types.
Missing
A reported loss position or historical record exists, but the wreck has not been located/verified at the stated coordinates.
Mooring
A fixed buoy-and-line system intended to keep anchors off wrecks and provide predictable access. Treat as shared infrastructure.
No-touch policy
A conservation rule: no moving artifacts, no tying into structure, no “souvenirs,” and no unnecessary contact with fragile wreck elements.
NOAA record
US coastal/lakes data references (charts/records) that may provide IDs, positions, or hazard notes; must be cross-checked with other sources.
Non-wreck
A point of interest that is not a shipwreck (e.g., aircraft, vehicle, dock remains, structure, pipe, reef feature).
Package freighter
A general cargo freighter carrying mixed freight (“packages”), common before modern bulk systems dominated.
Recovered
Vessel or major remains were raised/removed; site may have limited debris field or documented salvage location.
Research needed
Insufficient confirmation/details; needs stronger sources, coordinates, or identity verification.
Schooner
A sailing vessel with two or more masts where the forward mast is shorter (common Great Lakes working sail).
Shotline
A temporary downline dropped to a wreck (often with a weight) to provide a controlled descent/ascent without anchoring on structure.
Silt-out
Loss of visibility caused by disturbed sediment; often triggered by finning or contact in enclosed/low-flow areas.
Steam tug
A tug powered by steam engine/boilers, used for towing, harbour work, and rescue on the lakes.
Triple-expansion engine
A steam engine design that expands steam through three cylinders for efficiency; commonly found in late-19th/early-20th century Great Lakes steamers.
Unidentified wreck
A wreck site where the hull is located but the vessel identity is not confirmed.
Unknown
Status not yet determined from available records.
Upline
A line set from the wreck (or nearby bottom) to the surface for ascent/exit; should be removed when temporary.
Windlass
Deck machinery used to raise/lower anchor and chain; often found near the bow.