Lake Michigan seasonal conditions and current guidance.
Boat dive on an intact Milwaukee freighter wreck.
Boat dive on an intact Milwaukee freighter wreck.
Prins Willem V is a large Lake Michigan freighter wreck off Milwaukee that lies on its side over a clay bottom. Open hatches, cargo spaces, and surviving machinery make it a clear wreck-navigation dive, and a seasonal mooring buoy helps keep the boat approach orderly when the lake is calm enough to dive. It suits divers comfortable with wreck orientation and limited overhead exposure.
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
17m - 27m
Depth Note
Upper port side starts shallower; deeper hull sections sit near 85-90 ft.
Best Season
Late spring through early fall
Typical Conditions
Bottom around the wreck is usually muck or sand; marine life is generally sparse.
Site conditions, restrictions, and access requirements.
Site Conditions
Safety Notes
Treat open hatches and interior spaces as overhead environment, keep penetration conservative, and plan for changing Lake Michigan weather on the boat ride.
Access Restrictions
Boat access only; no anchoring on the wreck; use the seasonal mooring buoy when available.
Legal Notes
Protected state wreck; do not remove artifacts or disturb the structure.
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
Best for open-water scuba divers comfortable with wreck navigation and optional overhead exposure. Penetration should stay limited to trained teams in suitable conditions.
Freediving
Not a practical freedive target.
Snorkeling
Not suitable for snorkeling.
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Planning answers for access, conditions, timing, and site logistics.
Last Updated
Research Sources
Lake Michigan seasonal conditions and current guidance.
Operator visibility guidance and charter-diver planning notes.
Charter dive listing with layout and popularity notes.
Public attraction listing used only as a popularity cross-check.
Buoy, mooring, and boat-access reference.
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Lake Nagawicka is a shore dive with a fast drop-off.