Milwaukee Car Ferry Wreck

[DvrDoug]

I was recently telling my son the story about my Great Grandfather being one of the crew of the Milwaukee car ferry when it was lost. That led us to doing some research and discovered it’s now a common dive site. We now want to start making plans to come up and make the dive in a year or two and would like some info from anyone who has made the dive.

What’s the best time of year?

What’s the vis like?

Water temp?

Wetsuit or drysuit?

Dive operators?

 

[mike_s]

While this wasn't included in your questions, I think that the Deep Sea Detectives did an episode on it. MIght want to look into that and might be interesting to watch with your Son

 

[captndale]

The Milwaukee car ferry is a favorite among experienced wreck divers in Milwaukee. It is in 120 feet of cold Lake Michigan water. While many divers do the dive in 1/4" farmer john wet suits, dry suits are definitely preferred. Jerry Guyer goes to this wreck with his boat, Len Der. Bill Prince of Nordic Diver also makes the trip. When I get up to Milwaukee I will also go out to it on my boat, Enterprise, but in the past few years I have only gone up there once a year over the Labor Day weekend.

 

[SwimJim]

I have dove the Milwaukee many times and it's a fascinating wreck. The Viz is best early and late. I've had some of my best dives on it in April and October. If your one who tends to chum, I would reccomend July as for whatever reason that has always been the flattest month on Lake Michigan.
The wreck see's alot of diver activity so try and get on an early morning charter if you can. Personally, I prefer to dive it off of my buddys boat during the week. I don't normally take my own down that far.
If you can only do one dive on this wreck and you have a say as to what part, dive on the bow. Remember, this wreck is over three hundred feet long. If your not doing double/deco your going to need several dives to really explore it. Anyway, get down to the bow and follow the port side rail back a little ways until you come to a line that goes out perpendicular to the wreck. Follow this line and it will take you to the Pilot house that lays on the bottom at 113 fow. The Pilot house blew off the ship and settled next to her when she sank and is a must see. Have fun with it and dive safe.

Jim

 

[CheddarChick]

What’s the best time of year?

What’s the vis like?

Water temp?
Cold, we were the in July Temp at 73' was 44^o

Wetsuit or drysuit?
We wore 7mm and a 3mm hooded vest and gloves and I froze...

Dive operators?
We went with LovesParkScuba.com who is running a special on prepaid summer
Capt Dan Johnson has actually discovered a couple of the wreck that we dive now
dives

 

[SwimJim]

What’s the best time of year? See above

What’s the vis like? One October day I hovered over the bow of the wreck and was able to see the bottom clear as a bell as well as the bottom going away. Wish I had my camera for that one. That day the viz was easily 100 feet plus. During the summer months you can expect 20 - 40 foot. Remember after every rain MMSD dumps raw sewage. I tend to avoid Milwaukee at these times. I find it sad that they blame the Seagulls.

Water temp? Surface temps March through May run from the mid 30's to the mid 50's. Same for October through November. Summer months, the surface is generally warmer, 50 to 65. Bottom temps vary from mid 30's to mid 40's. There are fluke days, like after theres been a few days of east winds in summer, that the bottom that deep can push 60. I wouldn't bet on it though. Expect cold.

Cold, we were the in July Temp at 73' was 44*

Wetsuit or drysuit? In summer time I'm fine in my farmer john style 7MM with 5mm hood, gloves and boots. Were assuming two single tank dives with surface interval of course. Most of the time I go dry suit with dry gloves.

We wore 7mm and a 3mm hooded vest and gloves and I froze...

Dive operators? As above.


We went with LovesParkScuba.com who is running a special on prepaid summer
Capt Dan Johnson has actually discovered a couple of the wreck that we dive now
dives

I guess I have to have something after the quote to make this work, so dive safe!

Jim

 

[DvrDoug]

Thanks for all the great responses... This is a dive I'm really looking foward too now, just wish the water was warmer, guess I've been in the south to long.

 

[jtivat]

You can buy the Deep Sea Detectives episode from the History Channel, I found it in my stocking at Christmas. This is one of my favorite dives and I plan on going there as much as possible this summer. It is very cold but the vis is good most the time and have even heard of the bottom temps hitting the 60’s but that is very rare.

 

[moneysavr]

As Swimjim says its a great dive,
but I stay away in spring or after any rains due to MSD dose dump the crap and the lake has a slight drift curent to the north and in line with the Milwaukee as I seem to get some great ear troubles as my last dive with jim,
a video I shot with no light gives you idea and as you can see her port holes and most other items all seem to be removed,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzeYJIBPPTQ
dive safe
Brad

 

[Lancelot]

While this wasn't included in your questions, I think that the Deep Sea Detectives did an episode on it. MIght want to look into that and might be interesting to watch with your Son

Here here... This is one of my favorite Deep Sea Detectives episodes. Well worth the purchase. Highly recommended.

Lance