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Boat entry

Ottawa Wreck

Wisconsin, United States
Open Water suggestedVery cold Lake Superior water4–5 m (13–16 ft) depthBoat entry

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Ottawa Wreck at a glance

Ottawa Wreck is a boat dive site in Wisconsin, United States with depths of 4–5 m (13–16 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Smallmouth bass and Crayfish. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Next window today· 8:00–18:00 · favorable · sunset 17:56

Wind forecast for this hour · 6:00 · run 5 h ago
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Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Very cold Lake Superior water · Boat and kayak traffic in Buffalo Bay

All 3 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Mon8:00–18:00 favorable

7 kn wind (7 kn wind)

Tue8:00–10:00 favorable, 10:00–12:00 moderate, 12:00–13:00 favorable, 13:00–14:00 moderate, 14:00–18:00 favorable

12 kn wind (12 kn wind)

Wed15:00–17:00 moderate, 17:00–18:00 favorable

9 kn wind (9 kn wind)

Thu8:00–18:00 moderate

9 kn wind (9 kn wind)

Fri8:00–18:00 favorable

7 kn wind (7 kn wind)

Sat8:00–18:00 favorable

5 kn wind (5 kn wind)

Sun8:00–18:00 favorable

4 kn wind (4 kn wind)

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 7:05 · Sunrise 7:37 · Sunset 17:56 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo wind · updated 26 Oct, 00:26 GMT-5

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Ottawa Wreck

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

Best time: June-September in calm weather.

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, 65% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  2. February, 59% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots
  3. March, 51% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots
  4. April, 60% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  5. May, 73% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots
  6. June, 84% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots
  7. July, 92% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 9 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 82% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots
  9. September, 86% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots
  10. October, 59% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  11. November, 52% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots
  12. December, 47% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots

July 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 July 2026

Site details

The Ottawa, built in 1881 as the Boscobel, was one of the largest and most powerful wrecking tugs on the Great Lakes until she burned at her mooring off Red Cliff in 1909. Most of her hull structure, including a 158-foot run of port side and large starboard sections, rests on sand in just 12-16 feet of water in Buffalo Bay. The shallow, sheltered site is a favorite of beginner divers, snorkelers and kayakers in the Apostle Islands region.

boatwreck

Very cold Lake Superior water

Boat and kayak traffic in Buffalo Bay

Scattered timbers and iron fastenings with snag points

Reviews

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