NBM Dive Site Resource
Gallinipper
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States
TECHNICAL DIVE ONLY — Deep wooden schooner wreck near Sheboygan at technical-diving depth.
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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 namaycushNOAA identifies lake trout in Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast sanctuary waters and notes that wreck structures provide foraging habitat for predatory fish. Sightings remain season- and condition-dependent.
Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceOpen Aquatic Life Profile →
Burbot
Lota lotaBurbot use cold, deep Great Lakes habitat and are associated with deeper wreck structure. Divers should treat this as a possible rather than assured encounter.
USFWS Mountain-PrairieOpen Aquatic Life Profile →
Round Goby
Neogobius melanostomusNOAA describes round goby as a benthic, structure-oriented Lake Michigan fish that can nest among shipwrecks and other hard substrate. Look low on the wreck and adjacent 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.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 | 24.0°F / -4.4°C | 35.2°F / 1.8°C | No reliable record | — |
| Feb | 27.1°F / -2.7°C | 36.6°F / 2.6°C | No reliable record | — |
| Mar | 36.4°F / 2.4°C | 37.8°F / 3.2°C | No reliable record | — |
| Apr | 46.3°F / 7.9°C | 38.3°F / 3.5°C | No reliable record | — |
| May | 57.1°F / 13.9°C | 42.5°F / 5.8°C | No reliable record | — |
| Jun | 67.6°F / 19.8°C | 53.7°F / 12.1°C | No reliable record | — |
| Jul | 73.3°F / 22.9°C | 68.2°F / 20.1°C | No reliable record | — |
| Aug | 72.3°F / 22.4°C | 72.2°F / 22.3°C | No reliable record | — |
| Sep | 65.0°F / 18.3°C | 68.4°F / 20.2°C | No reliable record | — |
| Oct | 53.0°F / 11.7°C | 58.5°F / 14.7°C | No reliable record | — |
| Nov | 40.4°F / 4.7°C | 49.0°F / 9.4°C | No reliable record | — |
| Dec | 29.5°F / -1.4°C | 43.7°F / 6.5°C | No reliable record | — |
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 ↗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
Preserved schooner construction in deep, cold freshwater.
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
- Wooden two-masted schooner
- Year built
- 1833; extensively rebuilt in 1846
- Year sunk
- 1851
- Vessel length
- 95 ft
- Cause of loss
- Capsizing and flooding after a July 1851 squall
- Wreck orientation
- Upright with a starboard list
- Present condition
- Intact hull; displaced rigging and some fishing net remain.
- 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 Nancy Dousman, this early vessel transported frontier supplies and furs. An 1846 rebuild increased capacity and brought the name Gallinipper and a lumber-trade role. A July 7, 1851 squall capsized it; everyone aboard was rescued, while the abandoned hull remained afloat for a time before sinking. The site was found in 1994.
Plan the trip
Dive boats that visit this wreck
Regional context
Located within
Before you arrive
Access notes
Boat-access sanctuary site; verify current mooring and charter availability.
Plan within your training
Conditions and hazards
Cold water, technical depth, substantial decompression obligation, entanglement and fragile overhead 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.