History and Sinking
The Car Ferry Milwaukee was a 338 foot long car ferry built in 1903. She departed Milwaukee with a cargo of twenty-seven railroad cars in a storm on October 22, 1929. The Captain apparently attempted to return to Milwaukee but sank in 120 foot of water with loss of all fifty-two hands. The wreck is one of six sister ships built for several shipping and rail companies. One of the sister ships is currently a historical landmark and museum in Michigan.
The sea gate is still on the ship but is severely twisted. The theory is that the rail cars that were the cargo broke loose in heavy seas and bent the gate. Once the ship was open to the sea it floundered and sunk. In 2005 Discovery Channel's Under Sea Detectives did a special on the wreck. They found that the storm grate that should have been installed in rough seas were not in place and likely contributed to the sinking.
The Car Ferry Milwaukee is one of the premier dive sites in the Midwest.
Vote for your favorite Midwest Dive HERE.
The sea gate is still on the ship but is severely twisted. The theory is that the rail cars that were the cargo broke loose in heavy seas and bent the gate. Once the ship was open to the sea it floundered and sunk. In 2005 Discovery Channel's Under Sea Detectives did a special on the wreck. They found that the storm grate that should have been installed in rough seas were not in place and likely contributed to the sinking.
The Car Ferry Milwaukee is one of the premier dive sites in the Midwest.
Vote for your favorite Midwest Dive HERE.
Video from the Car Ferry Milwaukee
Car Ferry Milwaukee
Dive on the Car Ferry Milwaukee located just off shore from Milwaukee, WI. Greg and Duane shooting video.
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Dive with Sea Lions
Sea Lions has a charter dive scheduled for September 14, 2008 to dive the Milwaukee wrecks. Call the dive center at 630=289-1680 or EMAIL US
The Dive
Today the wreck of the Milwaukee sits in 120 feet of water. The visibility on the wreck has improved as has much of the lake with the introduction of zebra muscles. I dove the wreck on June 29, 2008 and the visibility was approaching seventy feet. The best visibility occurs when the lake is at its coldest. On that June day my computer read thirty five degrees which I believe is impossible. Other divers reported temps from thirty-nine to forty-one degrees. Great Lakes Diving Guide
One of the best books on great lakes diving is the Great Lakes Diving Guide by Cris Kohl. The book details the history and locations of many of the wrecks in the Great Lakes including the Milwaukee. This book is available at Sea Lions Dive Center for only $19.95. Email us for your copy. Visit Sea Lions website or Blog for information on our dive trips
Sea Lions Dive Center will visit Milwaukee wrecks on a charter dive September 14, 2008. We will be diving the wreck of the Straits of Mackinaw from Burnham Harbor on August 17, 2008.
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