Shotline Diving Video Archive

The Shotline Diving Video Archive is a core resource dedicated to the documentation
and preservation of underwater heritage, particularly focused on shipwrecks within the
Great Lakes and nearby waterways. Built from years of exploration by
Shotline Diving, it showcases dives on historically important wrecks,
training sites, and survey projects.

Each video offers a rare, immersive view into wrecks that otherwise remain hidden beneath the
surface. Beyond the visual impact, the archive records changing site conditions,
including the influence of zebra and quagga mussels, sediment movement, and
increasing recreational traffic. Together, these clips form an ongoing visual logbook of how
Great Lakes wrecks are ageing in real time.

Dan Gildea’s Video Archive – SLD US Side

The Dan Gildea Video Archive, part of the Shotline Diving US Side Collection,
focuses on wrecks located in U.S. waters across the Great Lakes, including
Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and
Lake Superior. Dan Gildea, an experienced diver and underwater videographer,
has documented many historically significant shipwrecks, including sites that
have rarely been filmed in detail.

His footage is known for its technical quality and clear documentation of site conditions.
For researchers, these videos act as a baseline for monitoring wreck deterioration;
for divers, they provide honest previews of visibility, structure, and access considerations before
ever stepping on the boat.

Spike’s Video Archive – Historical

The Spike’s Video Archive is a historical time capsule of Great Lakes
shipwrecks and early dive practices. Many of these recordings date back to the early days of
organized wreck diving in the region, captured long before modern HD cameras, scooters, and
LED lights became common.

These early dives often show wrecks in a state that no longer exists – before
invasive species took hold, before structures collapsed, and before heavy recreational traffic
left its mark. Side by side with modern footage, Spike’s archive allows divers and historians to
compare “then vs now” and better understand both natural and human-driven changes on site.

Why These Archives Matter

Together, the Shotline Diving Video Archive, Dan Gildea’s US-side collection,
and Spike’s Historical Archive form a comprehensive multimedia record of
wreck exploration in the Great Lakes. They bridge the gap between logbooks, charts, oral histories,
and formal archaeological reports.

For researchers, the archives provide visual data on deterioration, marine growth,
and human impact. For divers, they offer planning tools, training references,
and a way to re-visit favourite sites in the off-season. For the general public,
they open a window into an underwater museum that most people will never see in person.

Collectively, these video records help ensure that the stories, structures, and final resting
places of Great Lakes vessels are not forgotten, even as the wrecks themselves continue
to slowly change beneath the waves.