01
Glass-bottom boat
A 65-ft catamaran with viewing wells in the hull, drifting over the Monohansett and the Lucinda Van Valkenburg. The easiest way in.
On + under water · NMS · Alpena
Season · June – September
Shipwrecks.
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary protects 4,300 square miles of Lake Huron. Cold fresh water has kept the hulls of more than 200 known wrecks in shocking condition.
The Monohansett · 18 ft · sunk 1907
Sanctuary
4,300 sq mi
NOAA-managed since 2000
Wrecks
200+
Located · 100+ unidentified
Depth range
12–180 ft
Snorkel to deep dive
Oldest
1849
Schooner New Orleans
Ways to see them · 4 ways
Four ways to see what's down there.
Curated by Sunrise Coast Council editors. Routes, sites, and pull-offs from south to north along US-23.
02
Snorkel tour
The Monohansett sits in 18 feet of water. A wetsuit and a snorkel are enough — you don't need to be a diver to see the wheel.
03
Open-water SCUBA dive
Local dive ops run twice-daily charters in summer. The Norman, the Pewabic, the Joseph S. Fay — all classic open-water dives.
04
Maritime Heritage Center
A full-size schooner replica inside a former Quonset hangar, plus interactive sonar, dive footage, and a walk-through wreck site.
A national marine sanctuary
A cold-water time capsule.
Thunder Bay sits in a stretch of Lake Huron that is shallow, cold, and freshwater — three conditions that mean almost no shipworms, no salt corrosion, no marine fouling. Hulls that would dissolve in saltwater are sitting on the bottom here looking essentially the way they did the day they went down. Some of them you can read the wheel from above.
The 4,300-square-mile sanctuary was designated by NOAA in 2000 to protect them — and to make them accessible. The Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena is the visitor center, and it's free. The catamarans are $40. The dive charters are more. Even if you never get wet, this is the closest you will come to seeing a 19th-century shipwreck the way an underwater drone does.
4,300 sq mi
Protected area
2000
NMS established
180 ft
Deepest known wreck
Shipwrecks · a national marine sanctuary
"The lake doesn't let go of what it takes."— NOAA Thunder Bay NMS interpretive guide
Gear & know before you go
What to bring, what's provided.
For glass-bottom
- Nothing — boat supplies everything
- Layers; the deck is cold even in July
- Camera (no flash needed)
- Motion sickness pills if prone
For snorkel
- Provided: 7mm wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins
- You bring: bathing suit + towel
- Water is 50°F even in August
- No prior experience required
For SCUBA
- Open-water certification required
- Air fills + tank rental on site
- Drysuit recommended below 60 ft
- Local guide required for first dive
Questions · 4 answers
Shipwrecks on the coast — questions.
Quick answers to what travelers ask most.
Q.01
Is shipwrecks good on Michigan's Sunrise Coast?
Yes — Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary protects 4,300 square miles of Lake Huron. Cold fresh water has kept the hulls of more than 200 known wrecks in shocking condition.
Q.02
When is the best time of year for shipwrecks on the Sunrise Coast?
The recommended season for shipwrecks on Michigan's Sunrise Coast is June – September. Sanctuary: 4,300 sq mi — NOAA-managed since 2000.
Q.03
Where can I shipwreck on the Sunrise Coast?
4 ways along the 200-mile coast. A standout option: Glass-bottom boat — $40 · 2 hr · Apr–Oct · No swimming. A 65-ft catamaran with viewing wells in the hull, drifting over the Monohansett and the Lucinda Van Valkenburg. The easiest way in.
Q.04
What gear or preparation do I need for shipwrecks on the Sunrise Coast?
For glass-bottom: Nothing — boat supplies everything; Layers; the deck is cold even in July; Camera (no flash needed); Motion sickness pills if prone.