Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve

Straits of Mackinac A high-traffic Great Lakes pinch point where fog, currents, and weather concentrate both commerce and casualties — preserving an exceptional mix of wooden schooners and modern steel losses. Use the sections below for planning, documentation, and preservation contacts. Quick notes Always dive within your training and local regulations. Regional Map About This…

Straits of Mackinac

A high-traffic Great Lakes pinch point where fog, currents, and weather concentrate both commerce and casualties — preserving an exceptional mix of wooden schooners and modern steel losses.

Regional map
Featured wrecks
Weather & safety
References

Use the sections below for planning, documentation, and preservation contacts.

Quick notes

  • Currents and visibility can change quickly across the straits.
  • Traffic separation lanes and ferries demand strict situational awareness.
  • Many wrecks sit in cold, clear water with strong thermoclines.
  • Use the Master Index + regional map together when planning dives.

Always dive within your training and local regulations.

Regional Map
About This Region

The Straits of Mackinac form the narrow, current-swept gateway between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron — a natural choke point that funneled wooden schooners, steamers, ferries, and modern lakers through the same confined corridor.

Fog, shifting currents, ice, and intense traffic have produced a dense cluster of wrecks: intact schooners with masts standing, steel freighters broken across the bottom, and modern losses lying within sight of the Mackinac Bridge. Cold water and strong flow help preserve hulls, details, and machinery, making this one of the Great Lakes’ most photogenic wreck zones.

For divers, the straits offer everything from intermediate-depth wrecks with strong current to deeper technical profiles. Good planning, local knowledge, and conservative margins are essential.

Featured “Must Dive” Sites

Wrecks in this region tagged as Must Dive in the Shotline archive will appear below. Depths are approximate and for planning context only — always review the full site record and dive within your training and conditions on the day.

[sld_must_dive_grid body_of_water=”Straits of Mackinac” posts_per_page=”6″]
Gallery
Weather & Safety

Emergency Information

Emergency (USA): 911

US Coast Guard (Sector Sault Ste. Marie / Mackinac area): VHF 16 / 22A

Rescue Coordination: USCG + local sheriff / marine units

Nearest Hyperbaric Chambers: Regional trauma centers in northern Michigan (confirm current availability before trips).

Preservation & Regional Organizations
References & Links
  • Michigan Underwater Preserves documentation (Straits of Mackinac Preserve)
  • NOAA Great Lakes charts and archives
  • Maritime History of the Great Lakes
  • C-3 Inland Waters Wreck Register
  • Shotline Diving Master Wreck Index