Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Unknown (Nicole’s Wreck)
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built:
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Approx. 130-150 ft (39.6-45.7 m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Depth at Wreck Site: 17 m / 55 ft
• Location: Lake Michigan, Illinois side (approximate)
• Coordinates: Precise GPS coordinates are unreleased.
• Number of Masts: Two-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Schooners were popular sailing vessels, typically characterized by their two or more masts and a fore-and-aft rig. This particular wreck is believed to be a wooden, ore-laden schooner, which was common in the Great Lakes trade during the 19th century.

Description

The wreck lies in three primary segments: the bottom hull, partially buried beneath iron ore; the port side, which is broken and less intact; and the starboard side, which is the most intact and least buried. The wreck features a visible centerboard, dead-eyes, wire rigging, a ship’s wheel, capstan, windlass drum, anchor and chain, hawse-pipes, and a dual-piston bilge pump. The rudder is mostly gone, except for the top of the rudder post.

History

The vessel is believed to have been engaged in the ore trade, likely transporting iron ore from the Upper Peninsula or Escanaba region toward Chicago or other ports in Illinois and Indiana. The intact nature of the rigging and other features suggests that the vessel sank suddenly rather than being intentionally scuttled.

Significant Incidents

• The wreck was discovered by Double Action Dive Charters, led by Capt. Nicole Alarid, using side-scan sonar and diver investigation.
• Reports indicate that the wreck appears to be un-salvaged in modern times, although some salvage may have occurred in the 19th century.

Final Disposition

The wreck remains unidentified, but it is hypothesized to be a mid-late 19th-century schooner involved in the ore trade. Further research is needed to confirm its identity and historical significance.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is located in approximately 55 ft (17 m) of water, with good structural detail preserved due to the cold fresh water. Divers should be cautious of entanglement hazards and shifting iron ore cargo.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”unknown-nicoles-wreck” title=”References & Links”]

This wreck represents a valuable opportunity for research into the history of Great Lakes schooners and the ore trade. Its preservation state and archaeological potential may qualify it for heritage designation once its identity is confirmed.

Voyage & Loss Scenario (Tentative)

The presence of a heavy iron ore cargo and the vessel’s location in Lake Michigan (Illinois region) suggests she was on a down-bound ore trade leg, likely from the upper lakes/Upper Peninsula or Escanaba region toward Chicago or other Illinois/Indiana ports.

The intact nature of rigging, dead-eyes, wheel, and anchor implies the vessel sank suddenly rather than being intentionally scuttled or dismantled. As reported: “this all tells us that it wasn’t a scuttle, and sank for some other reason.” (Double Action Dive Charters)

Dive reports describe the hull “splayed out like the skeleton of an ancient sea creature,” with cargo still present. (SwimPruf) The discovery by Double Action Dive Charters and Capt. Nicole Alarid indicates modern discovery via side-scan sonar and diver investigation. (Worn & Wound) While no definitive identity has been assigned, the features line up with known schooners that hauled ore in the era. Occam’s razor suggests a mid-late 19th-century schooner, perhaps 130–150 ft, lost while ore-laden in Lake Michigan.

One reddit diver posted:
“My friend Capt. Nicole Alarid of Double Action Dive Charters came across this previously unknown wreck of a schooner in Lake Michigan… While it does appear salvage was done back in the 19th century when it sank it appears to be completely untouched by divers…” (Reddit). The wreck depth is reported at approximately 55 ft (17 m). (Double Action Dive Charters)

Wreck Site Description & Condition

• Location: Lake Michigan, Illinois side (approximate). Precise GPS coordinates are unreleased (site confidentiality to protect integrity).
• Depth: Approx. 55 ft (17 m).
• Configuration: The wreck lies in three primary segments — the bottom hull (partially buried beneath ore), the port side (broken/less intact), and the starboard side (most intact and least buried).
• Cargo & debris field: Iron ore remains scattered over and around the hull. The centerboard trunk has broken off and lies on the port side. The bottom of the hull is buried under cargo in places.
• Structural features: Visible centre-board (schooner-style centerboard), dead-eyes and wire rigging, hanging knees, ship’s wheel, capstan, windlass drum, anchor and chain, hawse-pipes, and a dual-piston bilge pump. The rudder is mostly gone except for the top of the rudder post.
• Preservation state: Cold fresh water aids preservation. The wreck appears un-salvaged in modern times, though some 19th-century salvage may have occurred. Dive reports indicate good structural detail for wood. (SwimPruf)
• Hazards & dive considerations: Because the wreck lies in relatively shallow water (~55 ft) and has intact rigging and hardware, divers should watch for entanglement hazards. Iron ore cargo may shift; maintain buoyancy control. Visibility may vary; currents may exist depending on site orientation.
• Access: Not publicly posted; dive charters such as Double Action operate at the site. Confidentiality appears to be maintained.

Research & Identification Status

• The wreck remains unidentified despite clues (cargo, size, rigging type).
• Current hypotheses link the structure and cargo to the mid-lakes schooner ore-haul trade.
• Further research: historic ship registers for 130–150 ft schooners lost while ore-laden; archival newspaper accounts of storms and sudden losses; underwriters’ reports from the late 19th century.
• Photogrammetry and side-scan imagery exist but are not publicly published in full (Reddit).
• Given its condition and archaeological potential, the site may qualify for heritage designation once identity is confirmed.

Significance & Dive Research Value

• A very rare example of a wooden, ore-laden Great Lakes schooner preserved in cold fresh water.
• Provides insight into schooner rigging adaptations for the ore trade, including intact wire rigging and dead-eyes.
• Represents an under-documented vessel type — two-masted ore schooners in the southern Lake Michigan trade.
• The unknown identity creates a valuable research opportunity for shipwreck historians and divers.

Recommended Next Steps for Research

1. Historic Register Search: Review US schooner registers from 1870–1900 for vessels 125–150 ft long involved in the ore trade.
2. Newspaper & Underwriter Records: Search Illinois and Wisconsin archival sources for sudden losses of ore schooners.
3. Side-Scan & Survey Data: Obtain side-scan sonar and bathymetric datasets to compare hull layout with registry plans.
4. Consult Charters & Archaeologists: Coordinate with Double Action Dive Charters and state archaeological agencies regarding site protection and data sharing.
5. Publish Preliminary Report: Add this entry to the Shotline archive as “Unknown (Nicole’s Wreck) – Lake Michigan” pending future identification.

A very rare example of a wooden, ore-laden Great Lakes schooner preserved in cold fresh water. unknown-nicoles-wreck 2025-11-27 00:06:24