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Lake Michigan Dive – Ironsides wreck off of Grand Haven
Date: July 28th and August 25
The Ironsides lays straight off Grand Haven’s harbor. It is easy to get to and an excellent wreck for anyone who’s comfortable with diving the depths of 120ft.
She was launched in 1864 as a comfortable passenger steamer. The 1,123 ton, wood hull steamer was 218 feet long at the keel and 231 feet long overall length with a beam of just over 30 feet. It was distinguished by the strengthening arches running along both sides. Her machinery consisted of two direct-acting engines -- called "Jack and Jill" by the crew -- with 34 inch cylinders and a 42 inch stroke which drove two four-bladed propellers at her stern. Twin smokestacks rose prominently above the decks, just aft of amidships.
On September 14, 1873, the Ironsides left Milwaukee with 19 passengers and a crew of about 30. The ship’s cargo was heavy: 13,000 bushels of wheat, 500 barrels of flour, 125 barrels of pork and assorted general merchandise. She was greeted with a full gale and began laboring so hard that she took on water. Captain Harry Sweetman tried twice to bring the ship through the Grand Haven channel to safety, but to no avail. Each time the ship would miss the channel, she would have to be swung around in the huge waves and headed back out for another attempt.
At the time, it was reported the ship "narrowly missed going on the beach". We now believe the ship did "bottom out" on the beach during her fierce battle with Mother Nature as six of her eight propeller blades show significant damage. No doubt her bottom was also damaged allowing even more water to enter the hold. Five lifeboats were loaded but only two reached shore. The other three capsized and 20 lives were lost. The Ironsides lies flat on the bottom in 121 feet of water. The highest point -- the top of the cylinder heads -- is another 10 feet higher. Her superstructure and passenger decks are gone. The forward half of the vessel is split open but the arches are intact.
COST:
$85
Package Includes: One tank dive on the wreck. No equipment is included.
Package Includes: One tank dive on the wreck. No equipment is included.
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