Is Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve) a shore dive or a boat dive?

Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve) is a boat dive — access is by boat rather than from shore. The entry area is recorded as exposed to surge. No facilities are recorded at the site, and cell service is recorded as good. Entry details and parking notes, where known, are listed in the access section of this page.

Can beginners dive Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve)?

Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve) is rated as expert difficulty, which may not suit new divers. Listed maximum depth is 44.2 metres (145 feet). Access is by boat. Consider your experience level, conditions, and local guidance before planning.

When is the best time to dive Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve)?

The best time to dive Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve) is typically June-September. Seasonal closures are recorded: Moorings in place roughly late May to mid-September. Conditions vary, so check the latest reports and forecasts on the dive site page before your trip.

What will I see at Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve)?

Divers at Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve) in United States commonly report sightings of Zebra/quagga mussel, Burbot, Sculpin, and Lake trout. Zebra/quagga mussel and Burbot are recorded as common sightings, while Sculpin and Lake trout are reported only occasionally. Marine life varies by season and conditions—check the site page for recent diver observations and photos.

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

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ExpertBoat entry

Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve)

Q: How deep is Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve)?

Eber Ward Wreck (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve) reaches a maximum depth of 44.2 metres (145 feet) — a deep dive at its limit. It is a freshwater site rated as expert difficulty. Depths vary across the site, so plan your profile to your training and verify conditions locally.

Michigan, United States

Advanced suggested44 m 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.

Wind model · graded 1h ago

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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

Best: Mon

Fri14:00–20:00

Sat17:00–20:00

Sun8:00–14:00

Mon8:00–20:00

Tue16:00–20:00

Wed8:00–20:00

Thu8:00–17:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 6:42 · Sunrise 7:13 · Sunset 19:58

Source: Open-Meteo wind · graded 1h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

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.

Jan84% 10 kn
Feb79% 11 kn
Mar78% 11 kn
Apr76% 11 kn
May95% 9 kn
Jun91% 9 kn
Jul97% 8 kn
Aug99% 9 kn
Sep97% 8 kn
Oct88% 10 kn
Nov79% 11 kn
Dec82% 11 kn

August hastypically 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

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. 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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