The Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve offers divers a variety of Lake Michigan attractions—from historic dock ruins to fascinating shipwrecks of two centuries.
The Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve’s most popular dive site is the wreck of the Francisco Morazan, a package freighter that ran aground during a December 1960 snowstorm. The wreck is a few hundred yards offshore from the south end of South Manitou Island.
The Morazan is easily accessible and lies in only 15 feet of water. Those factors make it a great dive for those just learning about Great Lakes shipwreck diving. Divers enjoy exploring the hull of the 246 foot ship. Some machinery remains in the engine room. Although much of the Morazan is above water, divers should not attempt to explore the superstructure. This is a nesting area for cormorants and gulls.
A few hundred yards to the south of the Francisco Morazan is the wreck of the Walter L. Frost, a wooden steamer that ran aground in 1905. The Frost is broken up because the Morazan literally landed on top of the wreck during the disaster of 1960.
Divers enjoy the Frost because much of the vessel remains. Large sections of the hull, machinery, boilers, and related artifacts offer exploration opportunities for divers of all skill levels. The Frost lies in about 12 feet of water.
Another popular dive site in the Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve is the wreck of the Alva Bradley, which was discovered between North and South Manitou Islands in 1990. Many small artifacts are associated with the wreck of this schooner. Some of its cargo of steel billets can be found near the bow of the vessel. About 200 yards northeast of the main wreck divers will find rigging and other artifacts from this shipwreck.
On September 27, 1911 the Three Brothers, a wooden steamer launched in 1888 at Milwaukee as the May Durr, was beached on South Manitou Island and broken by the autumn weather. No lives were lost, but the shifting sands quickly covered this wreck. In 1996, the sands of Lake Michigan shifted again, uncovering the Three Brothers, a nearly perfectly intact shipwreck. The bow is broken, but the stern is intact, and the hull is filled with sand, the weight of which is threatening to destroy this nearly intact shipwreck. Many artifacts on this site have been lost to divers, snorkelers and those wishing to possess “a bit of history”. Theft of shipwreck artifacts is against the law and should be reported to the State of Michigan at 800-292-7800.
In addition to shipwrecks, divers enjoy dock ruins that can be found throughout the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Massive pilings were driven into the sandy bottom to create docks and wharves for loading lumber, fruits, grain, and other products onto schooners and steamers that transported such goods on Lake Michigan.
These dock ruins attract schools of fish and many artifacts, including anchors and pieces of shipwrecks, can be found among the pilings.
The Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve is a great place for family attractions because it is adjacent to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Traverse City, a nationally known resort area.
A note about the charts included in each Preserve reference:
The coordinates are presumed to be accurate but we place no guarantee. Water depths may be off due to water level changes. Always evaluate weather conditions and divers abilities before diving any wreck. We are not recommending any of these dive destinations. We are only publishing information. Caution: Some wrecks may be out of the sport diving depth limit. Diving is a potentially dangerous activity. Use common sense and dive within your training and skill level.
