Gunilda

If you thought the Titanic was the only shipwreck worthy of films and media coverage, think again!  May we present the Gunilda, one of the most glamorous steam yachts to sail on Lake Superior .  At 166 feet in length with gold scrollwork, mahogany, and brilliant while hull, she was owned by an extremely wealthy man by the name of William Lamont Harkness.  Unfortunately, William was a frugal millionaire who refused to pay the appropriate charges for a guide on one of her voyages.  As a result, the boat became stranded after it ran into a reef near Copper Island .  Despite efforts to save the vessel, the Gunilda sank to the bottom of Lake Superior .

Since Gunilda is resting in 250 feet of water, this site is considered to be a technical dive.  You need proper training and breathing equipment to survive this site.  Several divers have either died or have been seriously injured exploring the remains of this vessel.  It’s considered to be a very prestigious dive since Gunilda is one of the best preserved shipwrecks in the world. It’s also a protected site, hailed as a Heritage Shipwreck, and now requires a ton of paperwork with various government institutions (including the Ministry of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Ontario Provincial Police and the Canadian Coast Guard) to visit.  Also, pictures can be taken but divers are not permitted to penetrate the vessel.

This ship and her story have been the focus of a number of films, including “Drowning In Dreams,” the recount of Fred Broennle’s hopes of locating, diving and then raising the Gunilda.  Among other works are numerous documentaries, including one produced by Jacques Cousteau and his team, who proclaimed that Gunilda was one of the “finest shipwrecks in the world.”

For the original 1911 New York Times article covering the shipwreck, click here.

For more information about the Gunilda’s history, visit Sea-View Diving

Finally, if you want to acutally DIVE Gunilda, try contacting the people at Tekdiv