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Alger Underwater Preserve & Munising · United States · Wreck · Freshwater

Kiowa

A gale-wrecked steel freighter from 1929 in shallow water

The Kiowa is a steel bulk freight steamer, 77 m (251 ft) long, that a gale drove ashore in November 1929, inside the Alger Underwater Preserve. Her remains lie in shallow water between 8 and 12 m (25 and 40 ft), and on clear days huge sections of her hull are visible from the surface.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Kiowa: typical dive 8–12 m (26–40 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit8 m12 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

46.6452° N, 86.2202° WPublished position for this site.

The dive

What is left of the 77 m (251 ft) steel freighter lies between 8 and 12 m (25 and 40 ft). The stern rests on her port side, exposing the steering quadrant and the emergency steering gear. A short distance forward, an enclosed ladderway leads down toward the propeller shaft tunnel, at the end of which the propeller shaft and the massive thrust bearing can be seen.

The wreck

Vessel
Kiowa
Type
Steel bulk freight steamer
Length
77 m (253 ft)
Built
1920
Sunk
1929
Cause
Driven ashore in a gale on 30 November 1929
Lies
In shallow water from 8 to 12 m (25 to 40 ft)

Marine life and season

  • Freshwater fish
Month-by-month season rating for Kiowa
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Off-seasonOff-seasonOff-seasonOff-seasonGoodPrimePrimePrimePrimeFairOff-seasonOff-season

Season follows Alger Underwater Preserve & Munising: The diving season runs from mid-May to early October, and charters need booking in advance.

Dive videos

Diving the Kiowa Shipwreck · WheelerHobbies on YouTube

Sources

  1. Alger Underwater Preserve — Michigan Underwater Preserves Council
  2. Dive Shipwrecks at the Alger Underwater Preserve — Munising Visitors Bureau
  3. Divers Inc trips — Divers Incorporated

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