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Map of SS George M. Cox Wreck (ex-Puritan)
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IntermediateBoat entry

SS George M. Cox Wreck (ex-Puritan)

Michigan, United States
Open Water suggestedVery cold water (1-3 C below 50 ft)5–31 m depthBoat entry

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

SS George M. Cox Wreck (ex-Puritan) at a glance

SS George M. Cox Wreck (ex-Puritan) is a intermediate boat dive site in Michigan, United States with depths of 4.6–30.5 m (15–100 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.

Wind model · graded 4h ago
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Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Very cold water (1-3 C below 50 ft) · Shallow shoal wraps around the wreck · Extreme remoteness

All 5 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Tue
Sun7:00–22:00
Mon7:00–22:00
Tue7:00–22:00
Wed7:00–22:00
Thu7:00–22:00
Fri7:00–22:00
Sat7:00–22:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:49 · Sunrise 6:27 · Sunset 21:40

Source: Open-Meteo wind · graded 4h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

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.

What Divers Say

Best time: June-September on calm 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. Jan81% 11 kn
  2. Feb76% 11 kn
  3. Mar78% 11 kn
  4. Apr72% 11 kn
  5. May87% 10 kn
  6. Jun91% 9 kn
  7. Jul98% 9 kn
  8. Aug96% 9 kn
  9. Sep93% 9 kn
  10. Oct82% 11 kn
  11. Nov74% 12 kn
  12. Dec65% 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

  • Lake troutOccasionally seen
  • BurbotOccasionally seen

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.

Site details

Built in 1901 as the passenger steamer Puritan (serving in WWI as USS Puritan), this elegant ship was refitted and renamed George M. Cox in 1933 — then ran hard onto Rock of Ages Reef at 17 knots on May 27, 1933, on her first voyage under the new name; all 125 aboard were rescued by the lighthouse keeper. Today her twisted hull lies on the reef's east side in 15-100 ft, boilers at 40 ft under the NPS mooring, with the stern rolling inverted down to 100 ft and luggage carts, sinks, and her propeller shaft still visible. A bow debris field scatters across the shallow shoal in 10-20 ft, making this a rich two-part dive at Isle Royale's western tip.

boatreefwreck

Very cold water (1-3 C below 50 ft)

Shallow shoal wraps around the wreck — careful boat approach required

Twisted, partially inverted steel hull with snag points; engine area inaccessible

Extreme remoteness — nearest chambers Minneapolis/Milwaukee

Exposed western tip of Isle Royale

Reviews

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