Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Rochester 3

Explore the shallow wreck of Rochester 3, a mysterious submerged vessel near Rochester, NY, posing navigational hazards and rich maritime history.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Unidentified Wreck – Rochester 3
  • Type: Schooner or Steamer
  • Dimensions: Unknown
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 0.9 m / 3 ft
  • Location: Approx. 43.256644° N, ~77.598583° W
  • Coordinates: Approx. 43.256644° N, ~77.598583° W
  • Original Owners: Unknown
  • Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Presumed Schooner or Steamer

Description

The wreck known as Rochester 3 was discovered via bottom drag investigation as recorded in CL797/80(CES), indicating that it lies very close to the surface (within 3 feet / 0.9 m), making it potentially dangerous to navigation and of significant interest for maritime exploration.

Based on regional historical traffic, the vessel is likely a wooden schooner or small steamer, typical of the vessels involved in bulk freight and regional transit across Lake Ontario from the mid-1800s to early 1900s.

History

Rochester 3 rests in the waters near Rochester, New York, once a major commercial hub on Lake Ontario. At the height of its shipping activity, the area handled thousands of schooner and steamer trips annually. Losses due to storms, collisions, and overloading were common.

Given its proximity to shore and the dangerous designation, Rochester 3 may have been lost in shallow water due to:

  • Storm grounding
  • Collision with breakwater or shoals
  • Structural failure or tow-line loss

The exact time of loss is unknown, and no documentation or matching incident report has yet been conclusively linked to this site.

Significant Incidents

No specific incidents have been documented regarding the loss of Rochester 3. The potential causes of loss include:

  • Storm grounding
  • Collision with breakwater or shoals
  • Structural failure or tow-line loss

Final Disposition

Classified as a dangerous submerged wreck with direct charting. No subsequent diver documentation or sonar scans are publicly available. It remains officially unidentified.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Discovered during U.S. government bottom drag operations; documented in 1980 through the Coastal Engineering Survey (CES). Coordinates and depth verified with high positional accuracy.

Initially listed as dangerous in the NOAA wreck system; not currently appearing in Canadian NOTMARs or new U.S. Coast Guard Local Notices to Mariners.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

Rochester 3 is a well-documented but unidentified shallow wreck, posing a minor hazard and a significant historical mystery. Located very close to shore, its presence reflects the intense maritime activity and risk-prone nature of shipping in Lake Ontario’s port cities. The wreck remains a compelling target for further sonar exploration, diver identification, and potential linkage to known but unresolved ship losses from the region.