LakeShipwreckFreshwaterSource Checked

NBM Dive Site Resource

Buccaneer

Chicago, Illinois, United States

A former fast patrol boat and later pirate-themed excursion vessel intentionally sunk offshore as a recreational Lake Michigan wreck.

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Historic Photograph

The former Coast Guard cutter Dexter in United States Navy service as USS YP-63 at Buffalo in 1936, before the vessel later became MV Buccaneer.United States Navy, via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain as a work of the United States NavySource ↗

WaterFreshwater

AccessBoat charter

ExperienceIntermediate recreational

Maximum depth72 ft

Best seasonSeasonal; weather and lake conditions permitting

VisibilityVisibility varies

Aquatic life at this dive site

What divers may encounter

Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.

Likely nearshore schooling encounter

Yellow Perch

Perca flavescens

Buccaneer lies in about 72 feet of southern Lake Michigan water. Illinois DNR identifies yellow perch as a primary nearshore species, and schools may pass the artificial reef depending on season and water conditions.

Robert Colletta

Open Aquatic Life Profile →

Likely structure-associated encounter

Rock Bass

Ambloplites rupestris

Illinois DNR identifies rock bass in the southern Lake Michigan nearshore community. Divers may see them holding close to Buccaneer's artificial-reef structure and shaded openings.

Sam Stukel/USFWS

Open Aquatic Life Profile →

Possible warm-season reef encounter

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

Smallmouth bass are a documented southern Lake Michigan nearshore species. Encounters are most plausible around hard structure in warmer months and are never guaranteed.

Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Open Aquatic Life Profile →

Site media

Photographs

Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.

Contributor media

Dive videos

Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.

Dive-site video pending

Recent field observations

Diver-reported temperatures

Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.

Automatically checked

No recent diver reports from the past 14 days

A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.

Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.

Seasonal planning reference

Typical monthly conditions

Long-term averages, not a forecast. Actual air and water conditions can change quickly and may vary across the site.

Average airSurface waterBottom water

Reusable conditions profileGreat Lakes regional monthly conditions

Moderate-confidence match — Matched by documented Great Lakes port/area. Air and surface-water values are regional planning averages. No bottom-water line is published because a comparable depth-specific record has not yet been verified.

Monthly averages in Fahrenheit and Celsius
Month	Average air	Surface water	Bottom water	Bottom measurement depth
Jan	25.2°F / -3.8°C	35.2°F / 1.8°C	No reliable record	—
Feb	28.8°F / -1.8°C	36.6°F / 2.6°C	No reliable record	—
Mar	39.0°F / 3.9°C	37.8°F / 3.2°C	No reliable record	—
Apr	49.7°F / 9.8°C	38.3°F / 3.5°C	No reliable record	—
May	60.6°F / 15.9°C	42.5°F / 5.8°C	No reliable record	—
Jun	70.6°F / 21.4°C	53.7°F / 12.1°C	No reliable record	—
Jul	75.4°F / 24.1°C	68.2°F / 20.1°C	No reliable record	—
Aug	73.8°F / 23.2°C	72.2°F / 22.3°C	No reliable record	—
Sep	66.3°F / 19.1°C	68.4°F / 20.2°C	No reliable record	—
Oct	54.0°F / 12.2°C	58.5°F / 14.7°C	No reliable record	—
Nov	41.3°F / 5.2°C	49.0°F / 9.4°C	No reliable record	—
Dec	30.5°F / -0.8°C	43.7°F / 6.5°C	No reliable record	—

Air temperatureRegional average — not site-specific

NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals — Chicago O’Hare, IL

1991–2020 climate normalsReview source ↗

Surface-water temperatureRegional average — not site-specific

NOAA NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide — Station 45007

Historical monthly station averagesReview source ↗

Bottom temperature is never inferred from surface temperature. A blank month means no reliable depth-specific average is available. Data reviewed 2026-08-26.

Why divers know this place

Highlights

Distinctive patrol-vessel profile with a colorful Prohibition and excursion-boat history.

Shipwreck-only module

The wreck

This section appears only on shipwreck records and brings the vessel, its loss, present condition, access, and responsible wreck-diving considerations into one place.

Vessel type: Former patrol and excursion vessel
Year sunk: 2010
Vessel length: 100 ft
Cause of loss: Intentionally sunk as a dive site
Present condition: Purpose-sunk wreck at moderate depth
Penetration guidance: Any interior entry requires appropriate wreck and overhead training

History and significance

The vessel served as a fast patrol boat during Prohibition before later becoming a pirate-themed party and charter boat.

Before you arrive

Access notes

Confirm the selected wreck, departure, current conditions, mooring status and diver requirements directly with the operator.

Plan within your training

Conditions and hazards

Cold water, changing visibility, boat traffic, entanglement and fragile or unstable wreck structure. Depth-specific decompression and overhead hazards may apply.

Independent resource notice

This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.