West Michigan's Best Kept History

From the time the first Europeans explored Michigan until today the Great Lakes have been gathering history in the form of shipwrecks. Lake Michigan's east coast is no exception. The area from Ludington to Benton Harbor across the lake to Milwaukee has been compared to the Atlantic Ocean's Bermuda Triangle. Dozens of ships have been lost in these waters many under mysterious circumstance. Unlike the Bermuda Triangle, numerous ships have been located and have become prime but little known dive locations.

The West Michigan shoreline alone boasts several ships in less than 100 feet of water. Depths are well within the recreational dive limits and a short boat ride from well established ports. Although a sturdy thyroid is need to bare the often chilly water temperature, those willing to brave the cold are rewarded with mostly intact wrecks, breath taking views, and a taste of history.

At a depth of 25 feet three miles north of the Muskegon Channel the 253 foot Salvor lies on her side making it easy for a novice diver to explore her hull and on occasion the engines. An intermediate dive further out of Muskegon in 65 feet of water with the engine cylinder rising 20 feet off the lake bed is the State of Michigan. Her exposed boilers and intact bow offer divers a chance to see how she looked in her finale moments back in 1901. For the most technical divers the William B. Davock floundered in the Armistice Day Storm of 1940 coming to rest upside down in 210 feet of water with all lives lost. Surrounding her is a debris field of coal and observant divers will note that her rudder is hard to port.

These three examples are only the tip of the iceberg (if you'll forgive the Titanic pun) when it comes to the pristine dive sites in the West Michigan Area. All along the coast of West Michigan wrecks, folklore, and even a ghost story or two envelop the history that make up our maritime past. They are known but not well known truly making these waters Michigan's best kept history.