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Panther (wreck)

Michigan, United States
AOW suggested27–34 m (90–110 ft) depthBoat entry

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Panther (wreck) at a glance

Panther (wreck) is an advanced boat dive site in Michigan, United States with depths of 27.4–33.5 m (90–110 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Burbot, Lake trout, and Lake whitefish. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 19:00 · sunset 18:35

Wind forecast for this hour · 18:00 · run 17 h ago
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Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Depth (90-110 ft) combined with very cold Lake Superior water (2-4 C at depth) raises DCS and gas-management risk; deteriorating wooden structure and entanglement hazards; site sits near the busy shipping lane funneling all Lake Superior traffic to the Soo Locks; remote location far from recompression chambers; weather can deteriorate quickly.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Sun13:00–19:00 favorable

10 kn wind (10 kn wind)

Mon9:00–12:00 moderate, 12:00–16:00 favorable, 16:00–17:00 moderate, 17:00–19:00 favorable

14 kn wind (14 kn wind)

Tue9:00–19:00 favorable

10 kn wind (10 kn wind)

Wed9:00–10:00 moderate, 12:00–14:00 moderate, 16:00–18:00 moderate

11 kn wind (11 kn wind)

Thu9:00–10:00 moderate, 10:00–19:00 favorable

11 kn wind (11 kn wind)

Fri9:00–19:00 favorable

7 kn wind (7 kn wind)

Sat9:00–12:00 moderate, 16:00–19:00 moderate

7 kn wind (7 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 7:40 · Sunrise 8:11 · Sunset 18:35 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo wind · updated 25 Oct, 01:25 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Panther (wreck)

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

Best time: June through September, when Whitefish Bay is calmest and visibility is best.

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, 88% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots
  2. February, 85% 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, 72% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 12 knots
  5. May, 91% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots
  6. June, 89% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots
  7. July, 98% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 9 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 95% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 9 knots
  9. September, 93% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 9 knots
  10. October, 83% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 knots
  11. November, 72% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 12 knots
  12. December, 87% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 11 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 June 2026

Site details

The Panther was a 249-ft wooden bulk freighter (built 1890 by James Davidson, West Bay City) that sank on June 26, 1916 after being rammed in dense fog by the steamer James J. Hill about four miles southeast of Whitefish Point; the Hill kept her bow in the hole until the Panther's crew climbed aboard, and no lives were lost. Located in 1975, the wreck sits upright and largely intact in 90-110 ft, with two anchors at the bow, grain cargo, and tools visible in the stern. It lies within the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve, one of the last places in the Great Lakes where wrecks remain free of zebra-mussel encrustation.

boatwreck

Depth (90-110 ft) combined with very cold Lake Superior water (2-4 C at depth) raises DCS and gas-management risk; deteriorating wooden structure and entanglement hazards; site sits near the busy shipping lane funneling all Lake Superior traffic to the Soo Locks; remote location far from recompression chambers; weather can deteriorate quickly.

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