Thunder Bay Preserve

The coordinates are presumed to be accurate but we place no guarantee.  Water depths may be off due to water level changes.  Always evaluate weather conditions and divers abilities before diving any wreck.  We are not recommending any of these dive destinations. We are only publishing information. Caution some wrecks may be out of the sport diving depth limit. Diving is a potentially dangerous activity. Neither MichiganShipwrecks.com or its contributors accept responsibility for diving related injuries incurred by those who view this site. The materials at this site are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for dive training.  Site conditions change rapidly therefore wreck descriptions should not be relied upon before or during a dive.

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D.R. Hanna was a steel freighter that sank after a collision with the Quincy A. Shaw.  The ship was 552' long.  The wreck lies upside down in about 140' of water.  The wreck is located 6 miles off Thunder Bay Island Light.

E.B. Allen was a wooden schooner that was 112' long.  The ship is mostly intact with equipment on deck.  The deck is about 20' from the bottom. Windlass, anchor chains, and rudder in place.  The wreck is located about 2.5 miles SE of the south end of Thunder Bay Island.

Grecian was a steamer with a steel hull.   The ship was 269' long.  They attempted to raise the ship and bring it to dry dock but it sank again while being towed.  The ship lies in an upright position and the deck of the ship is about thirty feet up from the bottom.  The wreck is located about five miles SSE from Thunder Bay Island light.

Lucinda Van Valkenburg was a wooden schooner that was 128' long.  Broken timbers are abundant at this site and the stern is collapsed.  The wreck is located NNE of Thunder Bay Island.

Molly T. Horner was a 130' wooden schooner.  Scattered Timbers remain of this wreck which is located between Scarecrow and Bird Islands NNE of South Pt.

Monohansett was a wooden schooner that was 164' long.  The ship sunk after burning leaving few remains.  A few of the attractions are the propeller, boiler, engine and timbers.  The wreck is located just West of Thunder Bay Light.

Monrovia was a steel steamer that was 430' long.  The ship sank after a collision with the Royalton.  The wreck is located about 13 miles from Thunder Bay Island light.

Montana was a 235' sidewheel steamer.   The wreck is  in an upright position with the engine 30' up from the bottom.   There is machinery and artifacts throughout this site.  The wreck is located five miles from Thunder Bay Island Light.

Nellie Gardner was a wooden schooner.  The remains are scattered and the wreck lies in shallow water near Thunder Bay Island.  Careful Navigation must be used in the shallow water near this wreck.

New Orleans was a wooden steamer that was 231' long.  It sank after a collision with the William R. Linn.  The wreck is located 9.2 miles from Thunder Bay Island Light.

Nordmeer was a steel steamer (Questions arise - Was the Nordmeer a steamer?) that run aground on the rocks.  A great deal of the superstructure is above the water.   The hull is still intact and the engine is in about 40' of water.  Next to the Nordmeer also lies a wooden barge.  The wreck is located 7 miles NE of Thunder Bay Island. 

Oscar T. Flint  was a wooden steamer that was 240' long.  The ship burned to the waterline but there is machinery scattered around the site.  The wreck is located 4 miles east of the Alpena marina about 1 mile from shore.

P.H. Birckhead  was a wooden steamer that was 156' long.  The site includes boiler pieces, propeller and shaft.   The wreck is located 2/3 mile offshore south of Alpena Marina.

Portsmouth was a package freighter.   The ship burned and sank in 1876.  There is machinery and the site and some of the hull.  The wreck is located off Middle Island.

William P. Rend  was a limestone carrier that was 287' long.  There is chipped limestone and machinery at the site. 

William P. Thew  was a 132' wooden steamer.  The ship rests in the shipping channel.  Caution must be taken to avoid these ships.  This is considered an advanced dive.  An anchor, the engine and boiler are still at the site.  The wreck is located 2 miles NE of Thunder Bay Island Light.

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