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SS Emperor Wreck

Michigan, United States
AOW suggestedStern section (engine room, crew quarters) lies at 100-175 ft8–53 m (25–175 ft) depthBoat entry

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

SS Emperor Wreck at a glance

SS Emperor Wreck is an advanced boat dive site in Michigan, United States with depths of 7.6–53.3 m (25–175 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Lake trout and Burbot. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Next window today· 9:00–19:00 · favorable & moderate · sunset 18:46

Wind forecast for this hour · 0:00 · run 11 h ago
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Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Stern section (engine room, crew quarters) lies at 100-175 ft · Very cold water; elevated DCS risk · Penetration hazards

All 5 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Fri
Sun9:00–16:00 moderate, 16:00–17:00 favorable, 17:00–19:00 moderate

12 kn wind (12 kn wind)

Mon9:00–19:00 favorable

7 kn wind (7 kn wind)

Tue9:00–13:00 favorable, 13:00–18:00 moderate

15 kn wind (15 kn wind)

Wed15:00–16:00 moderate, 16:00–19:00 favorable

12 kn wind (12 kn wind)

Thu9:00–11:00 moderate, 11:00–13:00 favorable, 13:00–19:00 moderate

11 kn wind (11 kn wind)

Fri9:00–19:00 favorable

6 kn wind (6 kn wind)

SatNot 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 7:56 · Sunrise 8:29 · Sunset 18:46 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo wind · updated 24 Oct, 13:15 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near SS Emperor 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 on calm, clear days.

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, 40% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 15 knots
  2. February, 40% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 15 knots
  3. March, 49% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 14 knots
  4. April, 44% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 15 knots
  5. May, 59% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 13 knots
  6. June, 72% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 12 knots
  7. July, 86% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 10 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 76% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 12 knots
  9. September, 70% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 12 knots
  10. October, 43% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 15 knots
  11. November, 32% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 16 knots
  12. December, 45% of days have historically been favorable, wind has typically been 16 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 Emperor, a 525-ft Canadian bulk freighter, struck Canoe Rocks on June 4, 1947 while her exhausted first mate had the watch, sinking in under an hour with the loss of twelve crew. The wreck is essentially intact apart from the damaged bow area, sloping from about 25 ft at the bow down to 175 ft at the stern, where the engine room and crew quarters draw experienced deep divers. With NPS moorings on both sections, she is widely regarded as the signature wreck dive of Isle Royale alongside the America.

boatwreck

Stern section (engine room, crew quarters) lies at 100-175 ft — decompression territory

Very cold water; elevated DCS risk

Penetration hazards — twelve crew died in the sinking and the interior is confined and silty

Extreme remoteness; chambers in Minneapolis/Milwaukee

Exposed Canoe Rocks location

Reviews

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