The Edmund Fitzgerald lies about 530 feet (approximately 160 meters) underwater in Lake Superior, near Whitefish Point, Michigan. This depth has been consistently cited by official and historical sources since the wreck’s discovery in the 1970s.
Details and context
- Location and depth: The wreck is located in Canadian waters of Lake Superior, at a depth around 530 feet. Early Navy surveys and subsequent expeditions placed the bow and stern in two sections at this depth, with the hull resting on the lakebed.
- What this means for diving: At roughly 530 feet, the site is considered a deep, technical-depth dive requiring specialized equipment, training, and permissions. Recreational divers would not be able to reach this depth safely, and access has often been subject to regulatory restrictions.
- Notable historical points: The ship sank on November 10, 1975, after severe storms; divers who have reached the wreck (via unmanned subs or specialized diving gear) describe the bow upright in mud and the stern overturned, with the wreck heavily deteriorated over time.
If you’d like, I can pull exact coordinates, regulatory status for diving, or notable expeditions and findings from specific dives.
