New Release: 3D Shipwrecks Publishes High-Resolution Model of the Unknown Schooner (Nicole’s Wreck)

The team at 3D Shipwrecks has released a stunning new high-resolution 3D model of the unidentified two-masted schooner widely known as Nicole’s Wreck. Resting in 55 feet of cold Lake Michigan water, this ~140-foot vessel has remained a mystery since its discovery by Capt. Nicole Alarid of Double Action Dive Charters. The new model captures the site in unparalleled detail and greatly enhances ongoing identification efforts.

Official Links

3D Shipwrecks Full Wreck Profile: https://3dshipwrecks.org/shipwreck-unknown-aka-nicoles-wreck
Interactive 3D Model (Sketchfab): https://skfb.ly/pDS8B
Shotline Diving Archive Page: https://shotlinediving.com/docs/unknown-nicoles-wreck/

View the Interactive 3D Model

https://sketchfab.com/models/1e8893a523e7462e8d8257ab5dc9bd0b/embed

Why This Model Matters

This newly released 3D model offers unprecedented clarity of the wreck’s structure, including:

Starboard hull section – the most intact portion of the vessel
Hanging knees, dead-eyes, wire rigging, and deck hardware
The centerboard and separated centerboard trunk
Ship’s wheel, capstan, windlass drum, dual-piston bilge pump
Extensive iron ore cargo still lying atop the lower hull

These features strongly suggest a mid- to late-19th-century schooner operating in the Lake Michigan ore trade. For the diving and maritime research community, this model provides the most complete set of visual clues yet toward identifying the vessel.

Research, Diving, and Preservation Value

The model serves as a powerful tool for:

Dive planning – identifying hazards, entanglement points, and wreck layout
Historical analysis – comparing hull design and rigging to known schooners of the era
Public education – making the site accessible to non-divers and classrooms
Long-term preservation – documenting the wreck’s condition for future comparison

A Step Closer to Solving the Mystery

Despite its remarkable preservation and visible features, the schooner’s true identity remains unknown. The new model, however, offers fresh opportunities for measurement, comparison, and analysis — bringing us closer than ever to uncovering the ship’s origin and final voyage.

Shotline Diving will continue to support the ongoing research and documentation of this fascinating site. Updates, archival data, and contributor materials will be added as they become available.