NBM Dive Site Resource
Edward E. Gillen
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Compact steel tug wreck resting upright east of Milwaukee, offering an intact recreational-depth Great Lakes wreck dive.
Save this dive site to your free member profile.
Historic Photograph
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.
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieuNOAA reports smallmouth bass as a dominant fish using warmer nearshore Great Lakes wreck and reef habitat in summer. Sightings at this wreck vary with season, water temperature, and visibility.
Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceOpen Aquatic Life Profile →
Rock Bass
Ambloplites rupestrisNOAA reports rock bass as a dominant fish using warmer nearshore Great Lakes wreck and reef habitat in summer. Divers may find them close to protected areas of the structure.
Sam Stukel/USFWSOpen Aquatic Life Profile →
Round Goby
Neogobius melanostomusNOAA documents round goby as a benthic, structure-oriented fish that can nest among rocks, shipwrecks, and other underwater structure. Look along the lower wreck and lakebed.
Peter van der SluijsOpen 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.High-confidence match — The wreck is approximately 5.1 miles from the Atwater station and its 60–70 ft depth range closely matches the 59 ft reference sensor.
| Month | Average air | Surface water | Bottom water | Bottom measurement depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24.0°F / -4.4°C | 35.2°F / 1.8°C | No reliable record | 59.1 ft / 18.0 m |
| Feb | 27.1°F / -2.7°C | 36.6°F / 2.6°C | No reliable record | 59.1 ft / 18.0 m |
| Mar | 36.4°F / 2.4°C | 37.8°F / 3.2°C | No reliable record | 59.1 ft / 18.0 m |
| Apr | 46.3°F / 7.9°C | 38.3°F / 3.5°C | 41.8°F / 5.4°C | 59.1 ft / 18.0 m |
| May | 57.1°F / 13.9°C | 42.5°F / 5.8°C | 45.8°F / 7.7°C | 59.1 ft / 18.0 m |
| Jun | 67.6°F / 19.8°C | 53.7°F / 12.1°C | 46.8°F / 8.2°C | 59.1 ft / 18.0 m |
| Jul | 73.3°F / 22.9°C | 68.2°F / 20.1°C | 50.3°F / 10.2°C | 59.1 ft / 18.0 m |
| Aug | 72.3°F / 22.4°C | 72.2°F / 22.3°C | 56.6°F / 13.7°C | 59.1 ft / 18.0 m |
| Sep | 65.0°F / 18.3°C | 68.4°F / 20.2°C | 56.5°F / 13.6°C | 59.1 ft / 18.0 m |
| Oct | 53.0°F / 11.7°C | 58.5°F / 14.7°C | 55.6°F / 13.1°C | 59.1 ft / 18.0 m |
| Nov | 40.4°F / 4.7°C | 49.0°F / 9.4°C | 46.7°F / 8.2°C | 59.1 ft / 18.0 m |
| Dec | 29.5°F / -1.4°C | 43.7°F / 6.5°C | No reliable record | 59.1 ft / 18.0 m |
Wisconsin State Climatology Office — Milwaukee Climate Data
1991–2020 climate normalsReview source ↗NOAA NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide — Station 45007
Historical monthly station averagesReview source ↗GLOS / UWM Atwater 20-meter buoy — 18 m sensor
2022–2025 available observations59.1 ft / 18.0 m measurement depthReview source ↗Bottom temperature is never inferred from surface temperature. A blank month means no reliable depth-specific average is available. Data reviewed 2026-08-25.
Why divers know this place
Highlights
Upright tug with wheelhouse, deck structure and recognizable bow-to-stern layout.
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
- Steel harbor tug
- Year built
- 1908
- Year sunk
- 1981
- Vessel length
- 56 ft
- Cause of loss
- Capsized during towing operations, June 4, 1981
- Wreck orientation
- Upright
- Present condition
- Largely intact tug with wheelhouse and deck features.
- Penetration guidance
- Interior spaces are overhead environments. Entry requires appropriate wreck training, equipment and a planned exit; depth alone does not establish suitability.
History and significance
Originally Erastus C. Knight, the tug later became Aubrey and was converted from steam to diesel power. The Edward E. Gillen Company acquired it in 1958 and renamed it in 1964. A towing-cable attachment incident pulled the stern down during an operation off Milwaukee. All four crew members were rescued.
Plan the trip
Dive boats that visit this wreck
Published in the operator's current Milwaukee-area wreck catalog; confirm the 2026 schedule.
Open boat profile →318 S. Water Street, MilwaukeeLen-Der — Milwaukee and southeast Wisconsin Dive CharterLen-Der Charters / Pirates Cove DivingPublished on the Len-Der Milwaukee wreck map and current charter page; confirm the scheduled date.
Open boat profile →MilwaukeeMolly V — Wisconsin Lake Michigan Dive CharterShipwreck Explorers LLCShipwreck Explorers publishes this wreck on Molly V's Wisconsin destination page and directs divers to its live schedule or charter-booking page.
Open boat profile →Before you arrive
Access notes
Approximately 4 miles east of Milwaukee; confirm current charter schedule and mooring status.
Plan within your training
Conditions and hazards
Cold water, variable visibility, boat traffic, entanglement and overhead/penetration hazards.
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.