Straits of Mackinac · United States · Wreck · Freshwater
Eber Ward
Rare mushroom anchor at the bow of an upright 1888 freighter
The Eber Ward is a wooden bulk and package freighter, built in 1888, that sank on April 20, 1909 after ice tore open her bow. She sits upright with her hull intact and her cabins gone, headed due south in 44 m (145 ft) of water about five miles west of the Mackinac Bridge, and her depth makes her an advanced dive.
Where it is and how deep
45.8121° N, 84.8189° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
A bow and a stern buoy mark the site from late May to mid-September. The highest parts of the wreck are at about 34 m (110 ft) and the hull rests on the bottom at 44 m (145 ft), which makes it an advanced dive that needs careful planning. Equipment is spread around the deck, and several anchors remain at the bow, including a rare mushroom anchor just above the ice-damaged timbers.
The hull is intact and headed due south, with the cabins missing. The engine room and cargo holds are accessible to divers trained for penetration. Off the starboard side lie the smoke stack and a damaged lifeboat.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Eber Ward
- Type
- Wooden bulk and package freighter
- Built
- 1888
- Sunk
- 1909
- Cause
- Bow torn open by ice
- Lies
- Upright, hull intact, headed due south, in 44 m (145 ft)
The Eber Ward was built in 1888 by F.W. Wheeler & Co. in Bay City, Michigan. On the bright spring morning of April 20, 1909 her captain met a field of slush and windrow ice in the Straits that appeared to be no obstacle. The ice tore open her bow and she sank within ten minutes, taking one lifeboat and five crewmen with her.
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
- Depths of 34 to 44 m (110 to 145 ft) make this an advanced dive that needs careful planning and suitable training.
- The engine room and cargo holds are overhead environments, for trained divers only.
Dive videos
Eber Ward Shipwreck, Straits of Mackinac -May 4, 2019. · Dusty Klifman / Blueyes Below on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Eber Ward wreck?+
The freighter sits upright in 44 m (145 ft) of water, with the shallowest parts of the wreck at about 34 m (110 ft), which makes it an advanced dive that needs careful planning.
Sources
- Eber Ward — Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve
- St. Ignace SCUBA — St. Ignace Scuba
Photo credits
- Black-and-white photo of the wooden steamer Eber Ward under way, her name painted on the bow by Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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