About Who's Been Here Photos Revisions Rockaway South Haven, MI More Info Max Depth: 61-70ft/19-21m Average Viz: 36-40ft/11-12m Entry Type: Boat Bottom Composition: Sand Aquatic Life: Might See Something Rating: 3.00 by 4 divers Spring: Under 50°F/10°C Summer: 50-55°F/10-13°C Fall: Under 50°F/10°C Winter: Under 50°F/10°C 6/15/2009 11:06 AM

Rockaway is a boat accessible fresh water dive site, located in South Haven, MI. This dive site has an average rating of 3.00 out of 5 from 4 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 61-70ft/19-21m. The average visibility is 36-40ft/11-12m.

A 107’ scow schooner built in 1866 in Oswego, NY, that sank in 1891 off South Haven, MI

Comments

Eric_R - 9/09/2016 1:06 PM Rating Added: 3 Wreckage is scattered. The center board is the prominent fixture.

nomad-diver - 9/05/2015 7:38 PM Rating Added: 2 Lake Michigan, iss cold in the hottest part of summer. 7mm or dry suit, below 50 feet is almost always in the 40s. Not much left of Rockaway ... keel and ribs. Bottom is sand for miles around, viz is either great (crystal clear) or cloudy: dive on a day when the lake is flat. SWMUP (michiganpreserves.org/southwest.htm): Rockaway, a schooner, built in 1866 in Oswego, New York. 107 feet long overall, 24 foot beam and 7 foot depth of hold. Rockaway carried grain, wood products, coal, salt, produce, and packaged goods on Lakes Ontario and Erie. In 1880, the Rockaway was transferred to Muskegon, Michigan for the lumber trade. November 19, 1891, the Rockaway encountered a fierce storm sailing from Ludington to Benton Harbor, Michigan. The ship sank two and one half miles northwest of South Haven, Michigan. Rockaway was discovered in 1983 by Don Nichols when his anchor became entangled in an obstruction. Rockaway is broken into three major pieces on a level plane in 70 feet of water. The keelson and centerboard with immediate port and starboard sides are attached. The ship’s centerline assembly, including keelson, sister keelsons and centerboard trunk, is largely intact. The trunk, or centerboard case, stands nearly six feet off the bottom, and is the site’s most prominent feature. The starboard section is broken at the chine and lies parallel and adjacent to the inner starboard section. The 106 foot long outer port section has pivoted away from the keelson at the bow and lies about 30 feet out. The windlass can be found about 35 feet forward of the bow. A turnbuckle and spar are also forward of the bow. There is a chain pile at the starboard bow quarter and a hand lever for operating the windlass on the port side.

DaveT - 11/07/2013 2:38 PM Rating Added: 3 Rubble wreck, cool to see what changes everytime the sands shift