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Isle Royale · United States · Wreck · Freshwater

SS Henry Chisholm

A large intact steam engine with its drive shaft and propeller

The Henry Chisholm was lost in 1898, and her remains lie in two parts. The hull wreckage sits between 6 and 18 m (20 and 60 ft), while the large intact steam engine, still joined to its drive shaft and propeller, lies far deeper and dominates the wreck scene.

Also known as Henry Chisholm, Chisholm, Chisolm.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of SS Henry Chisholm: typical dive 6–18 m (20–60 ft), deepest point 47 m (154 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit6 m18 m47 m maxtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 60 m (197 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

47.8576° N, 89.3280° WPublished position for this site.

The dive

The typical dive covers the hull wreckage, which lies between 6 and 18 m (20 and 60 ft), and portions of the wooden hull are mixed in with the wreckage of the Cumberland, which sank in 1877. The engine slid downhill away from the wreck and is a separate, deep dive: it sits at 35 to 47 m (115 to 155 ft), intact, with its drive shaft and propeller still attached.

The wreck

Vessel
Henry Chisholm
Type
Wooden steam freighter
Length
81 m (266 ft)
Built
1880
Sunk
1898
Cause
Struck a reef near the Rock of Ages Light while entering Washington Harbor
Lies
Hull wreckage at 6 to 18 m; the intact engine apart from it at 35 to 47 m

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for SS Henry Chisholm
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Off-seasonOff-seasonOff-seasonOff-seasonGoodPrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodOff-seasonOff-season

Season follows Isle Royale: The park is shut from November 1 to April 15; dive charters run in summer.

Know before you go

  • The engine lies at 35 to 47 m (115 to 155 ft), well beyond the depth of the hull dive.

Dive videos

Henry Chisholm - MSD Dive Isle Royale Shipwrecks · MNDiving on YouTube

Sources

  1. Isle Royale National Park – Michigan Underwater Preserves — Michigan Underwater Preserves Council
  2. Scuba Diving – Isle Royale National Park — National Park Service
  3. Diving Info - Isle Royale Charters — Isle Royale Charters
  4. SS Henry Chisholm — Wikipedia

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Wreck

SS George M. Cox

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