Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Rochester 2

Explore the mystery of the unidentified wreck Rochester 2, a submerged enigma in Lake Ontario, noted for its potential hazards to navigation.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Rochester 2
  • Type: Unidentified Wreck
  • Dimensions: Unknown
  • Location: Approx. 43.266728° N, -77.583056° W (Rochester, NY)
  • Coordinates: Approx. 43.266728° N, -77.583056° W
  • Official Number: NOAA Wreck ID: 2201 / OBJECTID 11918
  • Original Owners: Unknown
  • Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Unidentified—presumed schooner or barge based on region and common vessel types.

Description

Rochester 2 is an unidentified submerged wreck noted on NOAA Chart 14815 based on a 1975 Local Notice to Mariners. The original report described it as a dangerous submerged wreck, possibly a sailboat of unknown size. The wreck’s characteristics suggest it could be a wooden schooner or barge, frequently used for transporting coal, grain, and timber in this region.

Due to the lack of structural data or identity, the vessel remains a maritime enigma, highlighting the many unrecorded shipwrecks in Lake Ontario.

History

No direct event is linked to the loss of this vessel. Possible causes include:

  • Storm-induced sinking
  • Grounding and abandonment
  • Hull failure due to aging or overloading

The area off Rochester, NY, was heavily trafficked in the late 1800s to early 1900s by small cargo vessels, particularly wooden schooners and barges that were prone to weather-induced losses.

Significant Incidents

  • Originally designated as “dangerous submerged”
  • No current navigational hazard reported in NOTMARs
  • Mariners should consult updated NOAA charts for any advisory near this coordinate

Final Disposition

Remains submerged and uninvestigated. NOAA’s wreck file suggests full bottom drag investigation is required to verify or disprove the site’s identity. It is not confirmed via sonar or dive reports.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Condition: Likely deteriorated; may be buried or broken due to age and lake activity

Accessibility: Location is known but not precisely surveyed—may be explored by dive teams using side-scan sonar or ROVs

Challenges: Sedimentation, low visibility, poor structural integrity

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

Rochester 2 represents the mystery and loss that are hallmarks of Great Lakes maritime history. Though small in size, its status as a “dangerous submerged wreck” reminds us of the unseen navigational risks and the many unrecorded vessels that once plied these waters. Further sonar investigation or bottom dragging may someday confirm its identity, linking it to the broader story of the region’s industrial and maritime development.