Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve, Michigan

On the northwest coast of Michigan, the preserve's most popular dive site is the wreck of the Francisco Morazan, a package freighter that ran aground during a December 1960 snowstorm. The Francisco Morazan is easily accessible and lies in only 15 feet (5 m) of water. Divers enjoy exploring the hull of the 246-foot (75-m) ship. Some machinery remains in the engine room. Although much of the wreck is not submerged, divers should not attempt to explore the superstructure, as it is a nesting area for cormorants and gulls.

Nearby is the wreck of the Walter L. Frost, a wooden steamer that ran aground in 1905. The Walter L. Frost is broken up because the Francisco Morazan literally landed on top of the wreck during the 1960 storm. The Walter L. Frost is popular with divers because so much of the vessel remains. It lies in about 12 feet (3.5 m) of water. In addition to the shipwrecks, dock ruins throughout the region attract schools of fish, and many artifacts, including anchors and pieces of shipwrecks, can be found among the pilings.

The 282-square-mile (733-sq-km) preserve is adjacent to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which offers multiple amenities. Access to the wrecks is from South Manitou Island, which can be accessed by private boat or by passenger ferry service operated by Manitou Island Transit, (231) 256-9061 or www.leelanau.com/manitou/. The ferry service operates from the Fishtown Dock in Leland, Michigan.

Depths to: The deepest wreck in the preserve is at 165 feet (50 m) but others rest no deeper than 45 feet (14 m).
Visibility: 12-25 feet (3.5-7.5 m)
Water temperature: It's cold.

On-site amenities: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore amenities include historical museums, public beaches, trails and hundreds of campsites.
More info: Call Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore at (616) 326-5134 or visit www.michiganpreserves.org/manitou.htm.

Open: Year-round.
Getting there: From Traverse City, take Michigan 22 (M-22) north to Suttons Bay. Take Michigan 204 across the peninsula to intersect again with M-22. Turn right and go two miles (3.2 km) to Leland. Cross the bridge and take the first left. Continue down the hill. The last building on the left is the Manitou Island Transit ticket office.