NBM Dive Site Resource
M.F. Merrick
Offshore Lake Huron, Michigan, United States
TECHNICAL DIVE ONLY — M.F. Merrick is a Lake Huron shipwreck documented by NOAA at 321 ft / 98 m. This depth exceeds recreational limits and requires appropriate technical and decompression training.
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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.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
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.
Why divers know this place
Highlights
NOAA-documented Great Lakes wreck: Sail: schooner; 137 feet.
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
- Sail: schooner
- Vessel length
- 137 feet
History and significance
On May 16, 1889, the schooner M.F. Merrick left Port Austin, Michigan, and sailed north on Lake Huron with a cargo of sand. The spring waters were still ice cold, and a dense fog shrouded the schooner as it passed Presque Isle late that night. Just after midnight, the crew heard the whistle of another vessel. Thirty minutes later, the bow of the steamer R.P. Ranney suddenly appeared out of the fog and smashed into the M.F. Merrick ’s side. Frigid lake water poured into the schooner’s hull as the crew on deck climbed up into the rigging to escape the freezing waves. M.F. Merrick sank quickly, offering little chance for the crew below decks to escape. Five crew members perished. The crew of R.P. Ranney managed to rescue the captain and one seaman. M.F. Merrick was not seen again until 2011 when it was discovered in 310 feet of water, preserved by the cold, fresh water on which it once served. M.F. Merrick ’s discovery was chronicled in a documentary titled “ Project Shiphunt .”
Before you arrive
Access notes
Technical dive only. Confirm current conditions, mooring status, gas plan, decompression plan and operator requirements before departure. NOAA coordinates are reference points, not navigation instructions.
Plan within your training
Conditions and hazards
Depth beyond recreational limits, decompression obligations, cold water, limited light, changing visibility, entanglement and possible wreck overheads. Penetration requires separate wreck-penetration training and planning.
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.