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Map of Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve)
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ExpertBoat entry

Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve)

Michigan, United States
Advanced suggested44 m (145 ft) depthBoat entry

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve) at a glance

Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve) is an expert boat dive site in Michigan, United States with depths of up to 44.2 m (145 ft). Typically most favorable Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Zebra/quagga mussel, Burbot, and Sculpin. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 19:00 · sunset 18:34

Wind forecast for this hour · 9:00 · run 19 h ago
—

Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Depth beyond recreational limits at the bottom, decompression obligation, currents in the Straits, very cold water (~40 F at depth), shipping traffic

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Fri
Mon9:00–19:00 favorable

9 kn wind (9 kn wind)

Tue9:00–19:00 favorable

8 kn wind (8 kn wind)

Wed9:00–13:00 favorable, 13:00–17:00 moderate, 17:00–19:00 favorable

8 kn wind (8 kn wind)

Thu11:00–14:00 moderate, 14:00–19:00 favorable

12 kn wind (12 kn wind)

Fri9:00–19:00 favorable

5 kn wind (5 kn wind)

Sat9:00–19:00 favorable

7 kn wind (7 kn wind)

SunNot in the forecast yet

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 7:40 · Sunrise 8:11 · Sunset 18:34 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo wind · updated 25 Oct, 13:21 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve)

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Zebra/quagga mussel, Burbot
Best time: June-September

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 84% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots
  2. February, 79% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots
  3. March, 78% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots
  4. April, 76% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots
  5. May, 95% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 9 knots
  6. June, 91% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 9 knots
  7. July, 97% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 8 knots
  8. August, 99% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 9 knots, historically most favorable
  9. September, 97% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 8 knots
  10. October, 88% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots
  11. November, 79% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots
  12. December, 82% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots

August has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

The Eber Ward was a 213-ft wooden steamer built in 1888 that was holed by ice and sank in April 1909 about five miles west of where the Mackinac Bridge now stands. She sits upright and intact in roughly 145 ft of Lake Michigan with her cabin and wheel in place, the fatal ice gash visible in the bow, and her yawl boat flattened off the stern. Depth puts this dive at the edge of recreational limits, and it is one of the signature advanced/technical dives of the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve, with two seasonal moorings.

boatwreck

Depth beyond recreational limits at the bottom, decompression obligation, currents in the Straits, very cold water (~40 F at depth), shipping traffic

Reviews

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