Hawkins Rock - Alaska

The C. B. Benson is a proper slice of Great Lakes history, sitting upright and mostly intact on the lakebed. We love a wreck with a story, and this schooner barge, sunk in 1902, definitely has one. Descending through the thermocline, the water cools and the light changes, giving that classic Great Lakes gloom we’ve all come to appreciate. You’ll find the Benson’s mast still reaching upwards, and exploring the holds, we often spot shorthead redhorse cruising through the shadows. The visibility here can vary, but on a good day, it’s like peering into a well-preserved time capsule. We’d suggest a dive light, not just for penetration, but to really bring out the details in the wooden structure. This site is a gem for wreck enthusiasts who enjoy a bit of historical exploration without extreme depths or currents.

Location
Alaska, United States, North America
Coordinates
52.584877, -129.166170
Type
wreck

Wreck History - Hawkins Rock

Year Sunk
1893
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
storm
Tonnage
549 GRT

The C. B. Benson was a three-masted schooner built in 1873, a workhorse of the Great Lakes' golden age of sail. For two decades, she plied the vast freshwater seas, hauling cargoes of grain, lumber, and coal between bustling port towns. Her final voyage began in October 1893, when she departed Oswego, New York, with a full load of coal, bound for Kingston, Ontario. She never arrived.

Caught in a vicious autumn gale on Lake Ontario, the C. B. Benson foundered and sank with the loss of her entire crew. Her location remained a mystery for nearly a century until she was discovered in 1991, sitting upright and astonishingly preserved in the cold, dark depths. For technical divers, the Benson is a breathtaking time capsule. Her three masts still stand defiantly, rigging and deadeyes are still in place, and the deck is littered with artifacts from her final moments, including the ship's wheel, anchors, and tools. Exploring this wreck is like diving directly into the 19th century.

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Home to 64 recorded species including 27 reef fish, 8 whales & dolphins, 7 crabs & lobsters, 5 sharks & rays, 3 other, 2 clams & mussels.

Notable Species