Unknown (Nicole’s Wreck)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Unknown (Nicole’s Wreck)
• Type: Schooner
• Year Built:
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Approx. 130-150 ft (39.6-45.7 m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Depth at Wreck Site: 17 m / 55 ft
• Location: Lake Michigan, Illinois side (approximate)
• Coordinates: Precise GPS coordinates are unreleased.
• Number of Masts: Two-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Schooners were popular sailing vessels, typically characterized by their two or more masts and a fore-and-aft rig. This particular wreck is believed to be a wooden, ore-laden schooner, which was common in the Great Lakes trade during the 19th century.

Description

The wreck lies in three primary segments: the bottom hull, partially buried beneath iron ore; the port side, which is broken and less intact; and the starboard side, which is the most intact and least buried. The wreck features a visible centerboard, dead-eyes, wire rigging, a ship’s wheel, capstan, windlass drum, anchor and chain, hawse-pipes, and a dual-piston bilge pump. The rudder is mostly gone, except for the top of the rudder post.

History

The vessel is believed to have been engaged in the ore trade, likely transporting iron ore from the Upper Peninsula or Escanaba region toward Chicago or other ports in Illinois and Indiana. The intact nature of the rigging and other features suggests that the vessel sank suddenly rather than being intentionally scuttled.

Significant Incidents

• The wreck was discovered by Double Action Dive Charters, led by Capt. Nicole Alarid, using side-scan sonar and diver investigation.
• Reports indicate that the wreck appears to be un-salvaged in modern times, although some salvage may have occurred in the 19th century.

Final Disposition

The wreck remains unidentified, but it is hypothesized to be a mid-late 19th-century schooner involved in the ore trade. Further research is needed to confirm its identity and historical significance.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is located in approximately 55 ft (17 m) of water, with good structural detail preserved due to the cold fresh water. Divers should be cautious of entanglement hazards and shifting iron ore cargo.

Resources & Links

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This wreck represents a valuable opportunity for research into the history of Great Lakes schooners and the ore trade. Its preservation state and archaeological potential may qualify it for heritage designation once its identity is confirmed.