Milwaukee & Port Washington · United States · Wreck · Freshwater
Northerner
Upright schooner in 43 m with her main mast still standing
Photo: Tamara Thomsen · Public domain
The Northerner is a two-masted wooden schooner launched from the John Oades shipyard in Clayton, New York. She filled with water and capsized off Port Ulao while under tow to Milwaukee, and now lies upright and reasonably intact in 43 m (140 ft) of water. The wreck is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Where it is and how deep
43.3167° N, 87.8107° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The Northerner lies upright and reasonably intact on the lakebed at 43 m (140 ft), deeper than recreational limits, so the dive is planned with deep or technical training and the gas to match.
The main mast is still in place and rises 23 m (75 ft) above the deck; the stern mast was recovered for a local museum. The hold still holds her cargo of cordwood, stacked up to the deck openings, and the windlass, anchor chain, centerboard winch, bowsprit and figurehead remain in place.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Northerner
- Type
- Two-masted wooden schooner
- Cause
- Filled with water and capsized off Port Ulao while under tow to Milwaukee
- Lies
- Upright and reasonably intact in 43 m (140 ft) of water
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
- The wreck lies at 43 m (140 ft), past recreational depth; plan it as a deep or technical dive.
- Bottom water stays at about 4 °C (40 °F) all year; a drysuit is recommended for most dives.
Photos from Northerner
w:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration · Public domain
Dive videos
Great Lakes Wreck Diving - The Northerner, Port Washington, WI 8/11/13 · Daniel Kramer on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Northerner wreck?+
The Northerner lies upright and reasonably intact in 43 m (140 ft) of water, beyond recreational depth.
Sources
- Northerner (1851) - WI Shipwrecks — Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society
- Shipwreck Explorers FAQ — Shipwreck Explorers
Photo credits
- Diver above the intact wooden hull and deck rail of a schooner wreck in green water by Tamara Thomsen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Dark 3D model render of a wooden schooner hull resting on the lake bed by w:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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