Car Bodies - Great Lakes

So, the "Car Bodies" site, right? Sounds a bit grim, but trust us, it’s got a weird charm. It's essentially an underwater junkyard, a pile of old cars dumped decades ago, and it makes for a genuinely unusual dive. We love that it's a departure from your typical reef; the structure here is entirely man-made, and nature has just taken over. You'll weave through rusted chassis, past steering wheels long since fused with the lakebed, and peer into empty engine blocks now home to crayfish. It’s a great spot for macro photographers, honestly, because every surface is encrusted with sponges and hydroids, drawing in smaller fish like gobies. Our favourite part is spotting the pike lurking amongst the seats, camouflaged and still. This isn't a deep dive, making it accessible for newer divers wanting to try something a bit different, a bit eerie, but undeniably cool. Just watch your buoyancy; kicking up silt here is easily done and ruins the visibility for everyone.

Location
Great Lakes, United States, North America
Coordinates
44.905632, -85.385870
Type
wreck

Wreck History - Car Bodies

Vessel Type
unknown
Cause
unknown

While the Great Lakes are legendary for their historic and majestic shipwrecks, the 'Car Bodies' dive site offers a distinctly different and wonderfully quirky underwater experience. Located in the clear waters of the Straits of Mackinac, this site is not a ship, but an underwater pile-up of vintage 1950s automobiles. The exact origin of this submerged junkyard is shrouded in local lore; some stories claim the cars were lost when a transport barge foundered in bad weather, while others suggest they were simply dumped decades ago. Regardless of their story, they now form a unique and fascinating artificial reef. Divers can glide over the classic, rounded frames and chrome details of these automotive relics, which now provide a complex habitat for rock bass, sculpin, and other lake dwellers. It's a surreal dive that feels like a journey through a submerged time capsule.

Nearby Dive Sites in Great Lakes

Nearest Dive Centres to Car Bodies

Marine Life in Great Lakes

Home to 30 recorded species including 27 reef fish, 2 other, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species