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These caves are found along
the Lake Superior coast. They make a great addition to anyone's underwater photograph collection. Divers of all skill levels will enjoy the shipwrecks
and they will find that they are in excellent condition. Visibility is almost
always excellent, 25 feet minimum, but often it is twice that.
Divers will not only find shipwrecks but they will find an underwater museum located among the ruins of a dock off the shore
by the Munising High School. It features signs interpreting large maritime artifacts from the region.
Below is a map of the Alger Underwater Preserve. You will notice red numbered circles throughout the map, these are
the dive sites of the preserve. For information on each site just click on the number you wish to know more about. Some sites are buoyed for easier access.
Buoyed markers are accessible from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
See also:
Great Lakes Shipwreck Artifacts
Dive Site 1
Large colorful rocks. Depth, 6 to 10 feet: visibility, 20 to 40 feet.
There is a large flat rock where a boat can be docked.
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Dive Site 2
Large colorful rocks. Depth, 10 to 30 feet: visibility, 20 to 40 feet.
Scenery at this site includes high cliffs and waterfalls.
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Dive Site 3
Weed beds with fish, sharp drop offs, and large rocks.
Depth, 10 to 140 feet; visibility 10 to 30 feet. Offshore site.
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Dive Site 4
Wood pilings, fish, old fish tug, and lumbering artifacts.
Depth, 10 to 15 feet; visibility 10 to 40 feet. Offshore site, good for night dive.
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Dive Site 5
"Dreadnaught"-150 foot intact wooden hull schooner in Murray Bay. This wreck is clouded in
mystery and controversy. Shipwreck experts disagree about her actual name. Known locally as the "Dreadnaught",
possibly the "Granada", she was carrying cargo of iron ore. Her demise probably dates back to the mid-1880's. She
is virtually intact and a prime target for the underwater photographer and explorer. (Buoyed)
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Dive Site 6
"Smith Moore"-230 foot wooden hulled steam barge, sank July 13, 1889. The most dramatic and well known
wreck in the preserve. Resting in about 100 feet of water with her deck at the 85 foot level, she is the most intact
wreck in the area, offering experienced divers many hours of underwater
exploration. Buoyed
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Dive Site 7
"Manhattan"-252 foot wooden hulled freighter sank October 26, 1903. Her hull is scattered, having
been removed from the original grounding site. the timbers and debris present an attraction for
scuba divers, resting in about 15 feet of water, and protected by the
island.(Buoyed)
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Dive Site 8
"Herman Hettler"-210foot wooden steamer which sank November 23, 1926. A few years later her
remains were dynamited because the bulk represented a navigational hazard. Her attractions include interesting timbers, chains,
valves and other items, in an average depth of 25 feet. (Buoyed)
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Dive Site 9
Large rocks and caves. Depth, 5 to 20 feet, visibility 20 to 50 feet.
There are large, flat rocks where a boat can dock.
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Dive Site 10
Massive rocks and caves. Depth, 5 to 20 feet, visibility 20 to 50 feet.
There are large above water caves where divers can snorkel through.
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Dive Site 11
"Superior"-a sidewheel steamer, wrecked in 1856, scattered over a large area.
Depth, 10 to 30 feet; visibility 30 to 50 feet. This site is near large cliffs with high waterfalls.
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Dive Site 12
"Kiowa"-a steel steamer with hull in three pieces. Depth 20 to 30
feet; visibility 30 to 50 feet. There are many pieces of machinery.
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Dive Site 13
Three scattered wrecks over a large area. Depths 10 to 20 feet; visibility 20 to 50 feet.
There are many pieces of wreckage.
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Dive Site 14
"Chenango"-bottom of the 150 foot schooner-barge, wrecked in November 1875. Depth 8 to 12 feet.
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Dive Site 15
"Steven M. Selvick"-The Selvick was donated to the AUWP in 1994, and was intentionally sunk on June 1, 1996.
Originally named the Lorain when she was built in Cleveland in 1915. She was powered by a 1889 steam engine. Later, the tugboat
was refitted with a Fairbanks/Morse diesel engine and renamed the Cabot. The Cabot was instrumental in helping build the Mackinaw
Bridge. In 1988, the Cabot was renamed the Selvick when the Selvick Marine and Towing purchased her. She's a 71 ft. tug, 19 ft bean and weighs in at 70
gross ton. She lies in approximately 70 ft. of water and is 1600 yards east of Grand Island's Trout Point. Even though the tug lies in 70 ft. of water, the pilot house starts in 40 ft. of water, making a great dive for a beginner to survey the entire wreck. The Selvick makes an excellent dive for intermediate to advanced diving skill levels also. She is totally penetrable, lights are a must, you can enter the pilot house engine area and work your way down to the engine hull areas. Th ere is a large hole cut in the stern fan tail area where you can exit or enter the hull area easily. The pilot house steerage area and the galley are a little tighter quarters to enter and exit. The crew's quarters should be left for the most experienced divers, this area is only one way in and out. She lies on her port side at about a 40 degree angle, and the bow points north. Lots of photo opportunities are everywhere on this tug.
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