There are several shipwrecks believed to lie within the boundaries of the Southwest Michigan Underwater Preserve which have not yet been discovered. Some of the most exciting shipwrecks are still waiting to be found!

The Chicora

The Chicora, lost in 1895, was an especially stout ship designed for winter passenger and cargo runs between Wisconsin and Southern Michigan. The Chicora was built to cut through the ice pack and safely ply the often violent waters of the Great Lakes.

The Alpena

The Alpena, lost in 1880, was a 197 foot wooden hulled side wheel steamer. The Alpena left Grand Haven Michigan on Friday, October 15, 1880 at 9:30 PM. By 3:00 AM Saturday the worst gale in Lake Michigan's history swept across the lake, sinking the Alpena. Ten car loads of apples were stowed on the main deck of the Alpena at the time of its sinking. Some speculate that this cargo became unmanageable in the storm, shifted, and led the the capsizing of the vessel.

The Andaste

The Andaste, lost in 1929, was a 266 foot long steel hulled whaleback vessel built for the Lake Superior Iron Company. At about 10 PM on Monday, September 9, 1929, the Andaste encountered a gale while heading west shouthwest across southern Lake Michigan toward Chicago. Andaste was noted to be late on Tuesday but no alarm was raised until Wednesday since the old ship was often tardy. With no radio, there was no way to ascertain the fate of the ship. After two days, however, it was feared the ship was lost.

The Search Continues... In May of 1998, the SWMUP conducted the "Quest for the Chicora '98" and in May, 1999 conducted "Shipwreck Quest '99." The services of renowned shipwreck hunter David Trotter were utilized during each of these 10 day searches in an attempt to locate the Chicora or other yet to be discovered shipwrecks. Mr. Trotter utilizes a Klein side scan sonar, with which he has located more than 70 shipwrecks in the past 15 years. The search area spanned from Holland down to Glenn from 50 to 130 feet deep. Over a total of 14 good weather search days during both Quests, approximately 70 square miles were covered as shown on this map. No new shipwrecks were discovered. However, a new unusual area of clay formations was discovered off Pier Cove (see John Butler Johnson II Clay banks). In years to come, the Preserve hopes to cover additional square miles in hopes of uncovering more dive sites within Preserve boundaries.