Shipwrecks
Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary contains a collection of nearly 70 known historic shipwrecks and one historic aircraft that testify to Lake Ontario’s rich history and heritage. Many more shipwrecks await discovery. Each shipwreck tells a unique story of its history, career, and loss, providing a tangible connection to the past.
Sanctuary shipwrecks are accessible to the public and open for recreational use, such as diving and snorkeling. However, please be aware of and follow sanctuary and state regulations, which are in place to protect these invaluable and irreplaceable pieces of our nation’s heritage.
Help Protect Historic Resources
One of the primary goals of the National Marine Sanctuary System is to provide the public opportunities to learn about our nation’s maritime heritage through experiencing it themselves. Shipwrecks within Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary are protected by both federal and state laws, but they remain open to the public for diving and snorkeling.
Shipwrecks are fragile and irreplaceable links to our maritime history. Please partner with us in stewarding and preserving these sites for future generations by avoiding contact with the wrecks and not disturbing or handling any artifacts you may discover.
If you come upon a shipwreck site or historical artifact, including shipwreck remnants located along a beach, it is fine to look, but please do not touch or disturb it. The National Marine Sanctuaries Act makes it illegal to disturb a site or remove artifacts within Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. Likewise, shipwreck debris that has come ashore is protected by both federal regulations and state laws.
- Take a photo or make a sketch of what you found, and estimate its size.
- Record the location using GPS or a smartphone, or write down an accurate description of its location.
- Report your discovery with the above information to the sanctuary staff at lakeontario@noaa.gov.
- Do not disturb, remove, or try to uncover any part of the historical resource.