NBM Dive Site Resource
Car Ferry No. 2
South Chicago offshore waters, Indiana, United States
A very large railroad car ferry that capsized near Calumet Harbor, now a shallow southern Lake Michigan wreck visited by SeaQuest II.
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Historic Picture Placeholder
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.
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescensCar Ferry No. 2 lies in about 42 feet of southern Lake Michigan water. Illinois DNR identifies yellow perch as a primary nearshore species, so schools may pass the wreck seasonally.
Robert CollettaOpen Aquatic Life Profile →
Rock Bass
Ambloplites rupestrisRock bass are documented in southern Lake Michigan's nearshore community and may hold close to the wreck's structure, shaded openings, and bottom debris.
Sam Stukel/USFWSOpen Aquatic Life Profile →
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieuSmallmouth bass use southern Lake Michigan hard structure. Divers may see one around the wreck in warmer water, although season and visibility strongly affect encounters.
Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceOpen 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.Published reference location
Location map
The marker shows the public coordinates associated with this profile. Confirm current access, moorings, and departure details before the dive.Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
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.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.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.
| 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 | — |
NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals — Chicago O’Hare, IL
1991–2020 climate normalsReview source ↗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
A 300-foot wreck in shallow water with a broad site footprint.
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
- Railroad car ferry
- Year built
- 1895
- Year sunk
- 1906
- Vessel length
- 300 ft
- Cause of loss
- Capsized in a gale after water accumulated in the hold
- Wreck orientation
- Capsized wreckage
- Present condition
- Large shallow-water site that can be difficult to locate
- Penetration guidance
- Large structure can create overhead and entanglement hazards
History and significance
The ferry was carrying railroad cars, iron ore and lumber when it was lost near the Calumet Harbor Lighthouse.
Before you arrive
Access notes
Confirm the selected wreck, departure, current conditions, mooring status and diver requirements directly with the operator. The displayed map point supports regional discovery only. Confirm the exact site, active mooring, conditions, permissions and navigation with the operator or managing agency.
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.