Straits of Mackinac · United States · Wreck · Freshwater
Cedarville
Three moorings: bow, stern and amidships at the crack in the hull
Photo: timlitw · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Cedarville is a 184-metre (604 ft) lake freighter, launched in 1927 as the A.F. Harvey, that went down after a collision in fog on May 7, 1965. She lies intact on her starboard side with her forward section close to upside down, at 12 to 34 m (40 to 110 ft), and her size, depth and orientation call for careful planning.
Also known as A.F. Harvey.
Where it is and how deep
45.7873° N, 84.6708° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
Three preserve moorings mark the wreck: one at the bow, one at the stern and one amidships at the crack in the hull. The shallowest parts of the ship are at about 12 m (40 ft) and the deepest at 34 m (110 ft). Her forward section sits about 45 degrees from fully inverted and the stern a little less, so decks and hull plating meet the diver at unfamiliar angles and the dive can be confusing; the cabins, plenty of deck equipment and the fatal gash are all visible.
The bow and stern moorings sit off the wreck, with small guide lines to help divers find the hull when visibility drops, while the mid-ship buoy is chained right at the crack. A light line crosses the hull from the bow guideline attachment, a guide for divers following the hull back from the crack to the bow line. Noting where each line meets the wreck matters: because of the way the hull lies to the currents, visibility is often 11 m (35 ft) or less.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Cedarville
- Type
- Bulk carrier, converted to a self-unloader in 1957-58
- Length
- 184 m (604 ft)
- Built
- 1927
- Sunk
- 1965
- Cause
- Collision in fog with the Norwegian vessel Topdalsfjord
- Lies
- On her starboard side, forward section about 45 degrees from inverted, at 12 to 34 m
Launched in 1927 at River Rouge, Michigan, as the A.F. Harvey, a straight-deck bulk carrier for the Pittsburg Steamship Company, she was 184 m (604 ft) long. On May 7, 1965 she left Port Calcite near Rogers City for Gary, Indiana, with 14,411 tons of limestone and a crew of 35. In thickening fog near the Straits the Norwegian vessel Topdalsfjord struck her port side, cutting a deep gash between the seventh and eighth hatches.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season |
Season follows Straits of Mackinac: Charters run from mid-May and the season is June through September, with most preserve moorings in from late May to mid-September; early dives bring spawning whitefish and perch.
Know before you go
- Her size, depth, upside-down orientation and variable visibility all call for careful planning; penetration needs proper training and equipment.
- Visibility often drops to 11 m (35 ft) or less; divers note where the guidelines meet the wreck so they can find the mooring again.
Dive videos
Diving the Cedarville Shipwreck (Midship) · antrimbountyhunter on YouTube
Shipwreck SS Cedarville Straits of Mackinac · Rob Knolle on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Cedarville wreck?+
The hull lies between 12 m (40 ft) and 34 m (110 ft). She rests on her starboard side with the forward section close to inverted, and with variable visibility the dive calls for careful planning.
When are the moorings on the Cedarville?+
The Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve maintains moorings at the bow, the stern and the mid-ship crack, generally from late May to mid-September.
Sources
- Cedarville — Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve
- St. Ignace SCUBA — St. Ignace Scuba
Photo credits
- The Mackinac Bridge stretching across the open blue water of the straits under a clear sky by timlitw, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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