Our Fleet
Munising Bay has always been a treasure trove of maritime artifacts with numerous shipwrecks preserved in Lake Superior’s frigid waters. Until a few years ago, the only way to visit this “maritime museum” was to brave the cold by diving into these waters. That was before Captain Pete Lindquist came up with the idea of Glass Bottom Boat Shipwreck Tours.
The first year the wrecks were viewed by looking over the side of the boat using Polaroid sunglasses. The response was positive, so Captain Lindquist acquired the Divemaster and equipped it with a 2′ x 8′ viewing well. Again, tourist response was positive, though the well size was not adequate for optimum viewing. In 1996, Captain Lindquist enlarged the viewing well to 4′ x 10′, which offered an excellent view of the wreck sites. The response was enthusiastic enough that the following year he purchased the Miss Munising.
He converted it with two 4′ x 10′ Lexan viewing wells offering excellent viewing to as many as 101 passengers per tour. Shipwreck Tours offers non divers the opportunity to see three of the over eight wreck sites in the Munising Bay area.
Every passenger gets ample opportunity to have unobstructed access to the two large viewing ports which accommodate 36 people. Narration is provided throughout the cruise. Captain Lindquist is a history hound and has studied the area extensively, so his trips are not only entertaining but educational.
Captain Lindquist and his son, Captain Joe Lindquist, have installed vibration dampers on the two big GM diesels that power the boat. This eliminates anything that could cause turbulence, and improves the quality of the view. The boat improvements combined with the extreme clarity of the water give passengers of the Miss Munising and Fireball the best underwater views available anywhere.
There is no need to be concerned about cloudy weather. The viewing ports are inside the boat and the overcast day acts as a light diffuser and eliminates shadows under the boat so the shipwreck tour is just as good on an overcast day as it is on a bright sunny day.
Munising Bay is rich in history, containing well-preserved vessels which met their fates when Lake Superior’s unpredictable moods turned ugly. Shipwreck tours offers the chance — quite literally — to look into the past. The Bermuda, sunk in 1870, lies in 25 feet of water in the shelter of the bay, protected from the ravages of Lake Superior’s storm waves and the grinding destruction of winter’s ice. Consequently, she remains in remarkably good condition for you to see.
