Whitefish Point Bay Preserve
A Precious Limited Resource

The Department of Environment Quality, Land and Water Management, established the first Great Lakes Bottomland Preserve in 1981. They include Thunder Bay, Alger, Straits of Mackinac, Thumb Area, Whitefish Point, Sanilac Shores, Manitou Passage, Marquette, Keweenaw, DeTour Passage, and Southwest Michigan preserves. (By authority conferred on the Department of Natural Resources by section 4e of Act No. 173 of the Public Acts of 1929, as amended, being S299.54e of the Michigan Compiled Laws)

Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve was established on September 12, 1987 (R 299.6005). Encompassing 376 square miles, it is the largest of the 11 underwater preserves in Michigan. Following the high water mark from the Betsy River to Little Lake, roughly north to the international boundary, following it toward the St. Mary's River, then northwest back to the Betsy River. 

The pristine shipwrecks in the clear waters of Lake Superior attract scuba divers, adventures and researchers from all over. In recent years the Paradise Area Tourism Council has provided funding for polypropylene line and rigging equipment. Thank you Paradise Area Tourism Council! The accessible moored shipwrecks and nearby facilities offered in Paradise, has built Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve into an awesome scuba diving destination. Attracting the highly experience "tech" divers to the deeper, penetrable wrecks and also drawing beginner divers to the many wrecks in the 20-60 foot range. 

The Michigan Underwater Preserve Council, Inc.

The Michigan Underwater Preserve Council (MUPC) was formed in an effort to preserve, protect the Great Lakes shipwrecks and to educate divers and non-divers on their history and aid in their preservation.

MUPC is a private, non-profit, volunteer driven organization. We promote diving and conservation of the shipwrecks in the 11 underwater preserves and Great Lakes. These shipwrecks have been under water for many years, and are often found in good condition, even after being submerged for 100+ years. There are various factors which keep these shipwrecks in the wonderful condition they are in, some natural factors, some manmade. Great care is used in the placement of the buoy, buoy chain and ropes, the amount of scope in lines used and as well as other considerations in preserving and protecting the wrecks. One of our many goals for the future involves placing mooring bases on many of the wrecks in the preserves. This will allow divers to dive the wrecks, without damage from lines, chains and hooks. It will also aid in making the dive safer for the diver.

Mission Statement The PURPOSE of the Council is to: • Foster cooperative stewardship of the historical, cultural, natural and recreational resources associated with the preserves. • Enhance the quality (safety, access and diver ethics) of preserve diving, and provide preserve-related opportunities for non-divers. • Support and speak as a unified voice for the preserve committees. • Promote wider involvement in the preserve council and individual preserves through membership, networking, partnerships and volunteers. • Market the preserves, and cooperatively market diving in Michigan. • Identify, support and participate in projects which benefit the state’s preserves (e.g., placement of marker buoys, development and application of new technologies, artificial enhancement, education) • Provide input and advice on permits and preserve-related research efforts. • Act as an information clearinghouse and referral service to: existing preserve committees, existing and potential preserve-related businesses, and groups interested in establishing new preserve committees. • Facilitate communication among preserve committees and with different preserve stakeholders. • Monitor, assess and develop positions on emerging issues and factors which impact on the preserves and preserves committees. Communicate these positions to the legislature, relevant agencies and organizations, and preserve stakeholders.

A Diver's Guide to Michigan Underwater Preserves

Michigan Underwater Preserve Council produces A Diver's Guide to Michigan Underwater Preserves booklet. You may view or download the MUPC 2004 booklet. The PDF file is 7.4 MB and you'll need Adobe Reader® version 6, availible at no charge from Adobe.