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Chicago, USA

Scuba Diving in Chicago: Lake Michigan Wrecks and Cold Water Clubs

Lake Michigan holds hundreds of well-preserved wooden and steel wrecks in cold fresh water, and Chicago sits right on top of the most accessible cluster of them.

Find divers in ChicagoCertification guides

Quick facts

Season
June–October
Water temperature
4–20°C; cold below the thermocline all year
Visibility
6–25 m

Dive sites in and around Chicago

  • Wells Burt

    12 m schooner off Evanston, intact hull, excellent first wreck.

  • Straits of Mackinac

    26 m car ferry; advanced divers, superb structure.

  • Material Service

    9–14 m, easy access and a popular local charter stop.

  • Haigh Quarry, Kankakee

    Freshwater training site used by most Chicago schools.

Season, gear and getting on a boat

The diveable window is short, so charters book out early and clubs coordinate the calendar in spring. Dry suits are the norm; even in August the thermocline puts wreck depths into single digits Celsius.

Winter is spent on pool sessions, quarry trips and gear servicing — which is when most Chicago divers pick up dry suit and wreck specialities.

  • Charters typically 120–180 USD for two dives
  • Dry suit plus hood and dry gloves standard for wreck depths
  • Wreck penetration requires specific training and a reel

Diving is a buddy sport — find yours in Chicago

SportConnect is free. Add scuba diving as your sport, list your certification level and Chicago as your city, and you can browse and message local divers, clubs and dive centres planning trips.

Create your free diver profile

Frequently asked questions

Can you scuba dive in Lake Michigan?

Yes — it has hundreds of preserved shipwrecks, best dived from June to October.

Is a dry suit necessary?

For wreck depths, effectively yes. Below the thermocline the water stays near 4–8°C all year.

Where do beginners train?

Haigh Quarry in Kankakee is the standard training and refresher site for the Chicago area.

More diving guides

PADI Open Water DiverPADI Advanced Open Water DiverPADI Rescue DiverPADI DivemasterPADI Enriched Air (Nitrox)PADI Dry Suit DiverSSI Open Water DiverBSAC Ocean DiverDiving in MiamiDiving in New York CityDiving in LondonDiving in BarcelonaDiving in SydneyDiving in DubaiDiving in TorontoDiving in BerlinDiving in Los AngelesDiving in TokyoDiving in Singapore

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