Milwaukee & Port Washington · United States · Wreck · Freshwater · Night
Edward E. Gillen
Intact, upright 1981 tug, small enough for a night dive
The Edward E. Gillen is a 17-metre (57 ft) tug boat that sank in 1981 and lies fully intact and upright at 20 m (65 ft). It is one of the Milwaukee wrecks suited to beginners, and the small size of the tug makes it a good choice for a night dive on Lake Michigan.
Also known as Gillen Tug Boat.
Where it is and how deep
43.0275° N, 87.8187° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The Gillen sits upright on the bottom at 20 m (65 ft) and the tug is fully intact, so the descent arrives on a complete small vessel rather than scattered wreckage. At 17 m (57 ft) long she is a compact wreck, and with an intact hull and a maximum depth of 20 m she is rated a good wreck for beginners. The tug's small size is what makes her a good night dive: the whole wreck stays close at hand in the dark.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Edward E. Gillen
- Type
- Tug boat
- Length
- 17 m (56 ft)
- Sunk
- 1981
- Cause
- Not recorded
- Lies
- Fully intact and upright at 20 m (65 ft)
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Milwaukee & Port Washington: Surface water warms from mid-June and reaches about 24 °C in midsummer; the bottom stays near 4 °C all year.
Know before you go
- Bottom water stays at about 4 °C (40 °F) all year; a drysuit is recommended for most dives.
Dive videos
Lake Michigan Shipwrecks - Edward E Gillen · Lewander Family Films on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is the Edward E. Gillen a good wreck for beginners?+
Yes. The tug lies fully intact and upright at 20 m (65 ft), and her small size also makes her a good night dive.
Sources
- Edward E. Gillen Shipwreck — AJ Dive Charters
- AJ Dive Charters — AJ Dive Charters
- Shipwreck Explorers FAQ — Shipwreck Explorers
- Edward E. Gillen (1908) - WI Shipwrecks — Wisconsin Sea Grant / Wisconsin Historical Society
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