How deep is F. T. Barney Wreck?

F. T. Barney Wreck ranges from 43 to 49 metres deep (141–161 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.

Is F. T. Barney Wreck a shore dive or a boat dive?

F. T. Barney Wreck is a boat dive — access is by boat rather than from shore. The entry area is recorded as moderately 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 F. T. Barney Wreck?

F. T. Barney Wreck is rated as expert difficulty, which may not suit new divers. Listed depths run from 43 to 49 metres (141–161 feet). Access is by boat. Consider your experience level, conditions, and local guidance before planning.

When is the best time to dive F. T. Barney Wreck?

June-September, calm flat days; visibility often excellent in cold water. None official; charter season roughly May-October. Conditions vary, so check the latest reports and forecasts on the dive site page before your trip.

What will I see at F. T. Barney Wreck?

Divers at F. T. Barney Wreck in United States commonly report sightings of Round goby, Burbot, and Quagga mussel. Round goby and Quagga mussel are recorded as common sightings, while Burbot is reported only occasionally. Marine life varies by season and conditions—check the site page for recent diver observations and photos.

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ExpertBoat entry

F. T. Barney Wreck

Michigan, United States

43–49 m depthBoat entry

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

F. T. Barney Wreck at a glance

F. T. Barney Wreck is an expert boat dive site in Michigan, United States with depths of 43–49 m (141–161 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Round goby, Burbot, and Quagga mussel. 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: Very cold water below the thermocline · Fragile, intact historic structure · Dark at depth; silt inside cabin and hold

All 4 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Fri

Fri14:00–20:00

Sat8:00–9:00

Sun8:00–16:00

Mon8:00–20:00

Tue19:00–20:00

Wed8:00–20:00

Thu8:00–13:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 6:39 · Sunrise 7:09 · Sunset 19:54

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: Round goby, Quagga mussel

Best time: June-September, calm flat days; visibility often excellent in cold water.

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.

Jan68% 13 kn
Feb51% 14 kn
Mar56% 13 kn
Apr47% 14 kn
May88% 11 kn
Jun80% 11 kn
Jul96% 9 kn
Aug91% 10 kn
Sep96% 10 kn
Oct72% 12 kn
Nov51% 14 kn
Dec62% 13 kn

July 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 F. T. Barney is a 126-ft two-masted wooden schooner built in 1856 that sank in under two minutes after a midnight collision with the schooner T.J. Bronson on October 23, 1868, settling gently in 160 ft of Lake Huron off Rogers City. Rediscovered in 1987, she is one of the Great Lakes' most intact schooners, with an erect mainmast, intact stern cabin, and a cargo hold still full of coal — the first Lake Huron shipwreck listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The depth makes her a prized technical dive.

boatwreck

Depth (160 ft) requires technical/decompression diving

Very cold water below the thermocline

Fragile, intact historic structure — no contact; entanglement in standing rigging and lines

Dark at depth; silt inside cabin and hold

Reviews

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