LakeShipwreckFreshwaterSource Checked

NBM Dive Site Resource

David Dows

Chicago, Illinois, United States

The remains of a famously large five-masted schooner, now a shallow southern Lake Michigan wreck served by SeaQuest II.

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Historic Photograph

Color lithograph of the schooner David Dows unloading at the Union Railroad Elevator Company in Toledo in 1882.Library of Congress, Popular Graphic Arts Collection · No known restrictions on publication; public domain in the United StatesSource ↗

WaterFreshwater

AccessBoat charter

ExperienceOpen Water to intermediate

Maximum depth40–45 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 warm-season wreck encounter

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

David Dows lies in about 40 to 45 feet of southern Lake Michigan water. Illinois DNR reports smallmouth bass around rocky open-lake habitat during summer, making a sighting plausible along the wreck.

Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Open Aquatic Life Profile →

Likely warm-season structure encounter

Rock Bass

Ambloplites rupestris

Illinois DNR reports rock bass on nearshore and offshore rocky Lake Michigan habitat, with the best activity around sunrise and sunset in summer. Look close to wreck structure and shaded openings.

Sam Stukel/USFWS

Open Aquatic Life Profile →

Common bottom encounter

Round Goby

Neogobius melanostomus

Illinois DNR maps round goby to Lake Michigan and describes this introduced fish living along the bottom near shore. Small gobies may rest on low wreck surfaces and adjacent substrate.

Peter van der Sluijs

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

Rare five-masted schooner history at an accessible recreational depth.

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: Five-masted wooden schooner
Year built: 1881
Present condition: Historic wreckage in approximately 40 to 45 feet
Penetration guidance: Protect fragile wood structure and avoid overhead areas without training

History and significance

David Dows is often described as the only five-masted schooner to have sailed the Great Lakes.

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.