Site Description: The site contains over 85 feet of exposed hull and numerous identifiable features, such as its stern post skag, keel, exterior hull strakes, and drive shaft.  The Scotch Boiler remains intact with many features still discernable. 

Location:  Approximately 3500 feet offshore of Dunes State Park Pavilion and Boat House.

Depth: 30' to 35'

Visibility: Varies from 2' to 20', depending upon environmental conditions.

Marine Life: Common marine life include salmon, crawfish, rainbow smelt, sea lamprey, zebra mussels, smallmouth bass, longnose sucker, lake sturgeon, lake trout, dwarf lake iris, and lakeside daisy. 

Diver Level: Novice. Recommended training in cold water environments.  Proper exposure protection is required.

Access: The J.D. Marshall Shipwreck and Nature Preserve is accessible only by boat, and is within two to twenty miles from various Lake Michigan marinas. 

Comments: The Marshall’s shallow depth of 30-35 feet make the site an exceptional venue for recreational diving, provided that divers are trained for low visibility environments.  Dive conditions vary, but the site is typically dived between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

J.D. Marshall Nature Preserve Mooring Buoys

During the 2021 dive season, researchers from Indiana University’s Center for Underwater Science completed enhancement work on the J.D. Marshall Nature Preserve, particularly involving the site's designated marker buoys.  Divers will be able to locate the boundaries of the nearly 100 acre preserve by the seasonally-placed mooring buoys at the corners and along the northern perimeter.