Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Ocean Wave
- Type: Scow
- Year Built: 1860
- Builder: Not recorded
- Dimensions: 73 ft × 20 ft × 7 ft (22.3 × 6.1 × 2.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 33.5 m / 110 ft
- Location: Two miles off Whitefish Point, Door County, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: Approx. two miles off Whitefish Point, Door County, Wisconsin
- Official Number: Not available
- Number of Masts: Not documented
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Ocean Wave was a wooden scow — a flat-bottomed cargo vessel used extensively throughout the 19th century on the Great Lakes for hauling bulk materials such as lumber, coal, and stone.
Its shallow draft and box-like hull design allowed access to smaller ports and shallow harbors where deeper vessels could not operate.
Description
Built in 1860, the Ocean Wave operated as a utilitarian cargo carrier serving the Lake Michigan region.
Scows of this type were critical to coastal development, transporting building materials and bulk goods to growing settlements along Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
In 1869, the Ocean Wave sank off Whitefish Point, Door County, Wisconsin.
Although no detailed casualty report survives, the vessel likely succumbed to storm damage, overloading, or structural failure — all common hazards for wooden scows of the era.
No lives were lost in the incident.
History
Archaeological surveys by the Wisconsin Historical Society have mapped the site and recorded surviving timbers, hull framing, rigging, and cargo remnants.
Sand migration in the area causes cyclical exposure and coverage of the wreck structure.
Significant Incidents
- The Ocean Wave sank in 1869, likely due to storm damage, overloading, or structural failure.
Final Disposition
Depth: 110 ft (33.5 m)
Environment: Dynamic sand bottom — shifting annually
Preservation: Partial burial; lower structure intact
Surveys: Documented by Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) maritime archaeologists
Current Condition & Accessibility
The Ocean Wave lies within recreational dive depth but requires intermediate-to-advanced cold-water diving experience.
Sand movement can alter visibility and wreck accessibility.
The site is legally protected; artifact removal is prohibited under Wisconsin state law.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”ocean-wave-1860″ title=”References & Links”]
Access to the wreck is available via boat charter from Door County harbors, with variable visibility conditions. The Ocean Wave remains an important site for maritime archaeology and a testament to the region’s shipping history.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Identification & Site Information
Registry: United States
Official Number: Not available
Vessel Type: Scow (flat-bottomed cargo vessel)
Builder: Not recorded
Year Built: 1860
Year Sank: 1869
Hull Material: Wood
Masts: Not documented
Engines: None
Dimensions: 73 ft × 20 ft × 7 ft (22.3 × 6.1 × 2.1 m)
Final Location: Two miles off Whitefish Point, Door County, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
Depth of Wreck: 110 ft (33.5 m)
Vessel Type Description
The Ocean Wave was a wooden scow — a flat-bottomed cargo vessel used extensively throughout the 19th century on the Great Lakes for hauling bulk materials such as lumber, coal, and stone.
Its shallow draft and box-like hull design allowed access to smaller ports and shallow harbors where deeper vessels could not operate.
History
Built in 1860, the Ocean Wave operated as a utilitarian cargo carrier serving the Lake Michigan region.
Scows of this type were critical to coastal development, transporting building materials and bulk goods to growing settlements along Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
In 1869, the Ocean Wave sank off Whitefish Point, Door County, Wisconsin.
Although no detailed casualty report survives, the vessel likely succumbed to storm damage, overloading, or structural failure — all common hazards for wooden scows of the era.
No lives were lost in the incident.
Final Disposition
Depth: 110 ft (33.5 m)
Environment: Dynamic sand bottom — shifting annually
Preservation: Partial burial; lower structure intact
Surveys: Documented by Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) maritime archaeologists
Archaeological surveys by the Wisconsin Historical Society have mapped the site and recorded surviving timbers, hull framing, rigging, and cargo remnants.
Sand migration in the area causes cyclical exposure and coverage of the wreck structure.
Located By & Date Found
First Documented: Late 20th century
Survey Type: Diver and remote sensing documentation
Managing Agency: Wisconsin Historical Society – Maritime Preservation Program
Notmars & Advisories
The Ocean Wave lies within recreational dive depth but requires intermediate-to-advanced cold-water diving experience.
Sand movement can alter visibility and wreck accessibility.
The site is legally protected; artifact removal is prohibited under Wisconsin state law.
Dive Information
Conditions: Clear freshwater; variable visibility 20–60 ft (6–18 m)
Depth Range: 100–115 ft (30–35 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Station Sturgeon Bay / Wisconsin DNR
Permits: Not required for recreational diving; artifact removal prohibited
Dive Support: Available from Sturgeon Bay and Baileys Harbor operators
Resources & Links
3D Model
Ocean Wave by Ken Merryman on Sketchfab
Keywords, Categories & Glossary
Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime History, Cargo Vessels
Glossary: Scow, Shifting Sands, Archaeological Survey, Lower Hull, Whitefish Point
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: Not available
Coordinates: Approx. two miles off Whitefish Point, Door County, Wisconsin
Depth: 110 ft (33.5 m)
Location Description: Near-shore site, Lake Michigan
Vessel Type: Wooden scow
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 73 × 20 × 7 ft (22.3 × 6.1 × 2.1 m)
Condition: Upright, partially buried
Cause of Loss: Structural failure or weather (unconfirmed)
Discovery Date: Documented by WHS (20th century)
Discovered By: Wisconsin Historical Society
Method: Diver and archaeological survey
Legal Notes: Protected under Wisconsin State Law
Hazards: Sand shifts; low visibility at times
Permits Required: None for observation; removal prohibited