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ShipwreckFreshwaterTechnical DiveSource Checked

NBM Dive Site Resource

Commercial Barge

Southwest Michigan, Michigan, United States

EXTREME TECHNICAL DIVE ONLY — The Southwest Michigan Underwater Preserve inventory lists this commercial barge at approximately 250 ft / 76 m and classifies it as a technical dive.

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Historic Picture Placeholder

Old-fashioned maritime line drawing reserved for a future historic photograph
Historic Picture PlaceholderHistoric photograph pending research and rights review
WaterFreshwater
AccessAccess details pending
ExperienceExtreme technical dive only — deep mixed-gas and decompression training required
Maximum depthApproximately 250 ft / 76 m
Best seasonSeasonal details pending
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.

Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) — photograph
Likely deep cold-water encounter

Lake Trout

Salvelinus namaycush

The Commercial Barge is listed at approximately 250 feet in southern Lake Michigan. Lake trout are a focus of Michigan DNR lakewide adult-fish monitoring and can occupy deep cold water around the wreck.

Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) — photograph
Possible deep bottom encounter

Lake Whitefish

Coregonus clupeaformis

Lake whitefish are monitored throughout Lake Michigan and use cool bottom habitat. A fish may pass the barge or adjacent lakebed when depth and seasonal movement align.

Seb951

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Burbot (Lota lota) — photograph
Likely low-light bottom encounter

Burbot

Lota lota

Burbot are included in Michigan DNR Lake Michigan adult-fish surveys and favor cold, bottom-oriented habitat. The most plausible sighting is close to shaded structure or the lakebed.

USFWS Mountain-Prairie

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Site media

Photographs

Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending

Contributor media

Dive videos

Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending

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.
Published reference coordinates42.78003, -86.40042
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Map zoom level 6 of 11

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.
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.

Diver field observation

Report temperatures

Reports publish automatically when the date, depths, and temperatures pass the checks. You must be signed in to submit.

Depth readings

Why divers know this place

Highlights

Deep commercial-barge wreck in the Southwest Michigan preserve inventory.

Before you arrive

Access notes

Boat access; confirm current conditions and local support before planning. Published source coordinates are not a substitute for current navigation.

Plan within your training

Conditions and hazards

Extreme depth, decompression obligations, cold water, darkness, entanglement and overhead wreckage.

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.