Ethel Rock

Long before the Titanic, the Great Lakes had their own tragic luxury liner disaster. The PS Atlantic was a grand paddle-wheel steamship, one of the finest of its day, carrying passengers and immigrants to new lives in the American Midwest. On a foggy August night in 1852, while traversing Lake Erie, the Atlantic was struck by the propeller-driven freighter Ogdensburg. The collision was catastrophic, and the Atlantic sank within minutes, taking an estimated 150 to 250 people with it, many of whom were Norwegian immigrants.

For over a century, the Atlantic was lost, becoming a ghost story of the Great Lakes. Rediscovered in 1991, the wreck is a stunningly preserved time capsule of the mid-19th century. Sitting upright in deep, cold water, its massive paddle wheels, engine components, and even luggage are still visible. This is a deep, advanced dive, but for those qualified, it offers a rare and haunting glimpse into a pivotal moment in maritime history.