Shipwrecks
Videos

Winfield Scott

Over 165 years ago, the passenger vessel Winfield Scott took a detour through what is now Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and collided with Anacapa Island. Learn what happened when the vessel started taking on water in our video.

Shipwreck W.G. Mason in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

In 1924 the W.G. Mason was dismantled and its steering gear removed and the tug’s enrollment was surrendered as “abandoned and dismantled at Rogers City” in December 1926.

Lightning Strikes Twice: The real-life sequel to Moby Dick

In the middle of the night on February 11, 1823, the seafaring career of Captain George Pollard, Jr. came to a dramatic end in the remote northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Having survived the tragic events of the Essex, one of the world’s most infamous seafaring disasters, Pollard optimistically set sail for the Pacific once again in the whaleship Two Brothers.

Wreck of Montana

Step back in time and take a tour of the wreck of the Montana in NOAA’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Wreck of Lucinda Van Valkenburg in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Dive under the surface of Lake Huron to discover the remains of the Lucinda Van Valkenburg shipwreck! For over a century, this vessel has rested within NOAA’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Joseph S. Fay

Now, the Joseph S. Fay is one of 32 wrecks in the sanctuary to have a seasonal mooring buoy that allows boaters to easily locate the wreck -- plus, now those boaters don't have to drop anchor and risk damaging the wrecks.

James Davidson

After a relatively short career as a freighter -- in which it carried what was then the largest load ever on the Great Lakes -- the James Davidson ran aground on October 4, 1883 in what is now Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

D.M. Wilson

Take a trip with us to the wreck of the D.M. Wilson in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary!

The Great Lakes Big Five Dive

Last year, a group of adventurous women -- including staff from Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary -- dived one historic site in each of the five Great Lakes in 24 hours. Watch our video to hear why they did it.

Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron protects one of America's best-preserved and nationally significant collections of shipwrecks. But you don't have to be a diver to visit many of the wrecks within the sanctuary! Many of them are shallow enough to explore with just a snorkel.

Diving Thunder Bay

Already thinking ahead to warmer summer days? Take a virtual diving trip to Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary!

Stories from the Blue: A Teacher's Perspective

Through his "Shipwreck Alley" class, high school teacher John Caplis has been connecting Alpena High School students directly to the nearby Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and through it, to Great Lakes history, ecology, geology, meteorology and more.

Honoring the Merchant Marine

Watch this video to learn how Monitor National Marine Sanctuary is working to preserve these wrecks and the legacy they represent.

Lost Arctic Whaling Fleet Video

In 1871, a fleet of 33 whaling ships sailing off the north coast of Alaska were warned by the local Inupiat people that it was going to be a bad weather year.

The USS Monitor and NOAA: A Look Through Time

Travel back to 1862 in this educational video to learn how the USS Monitor turned the tide of the Civil War. The video not only includes the history of the Monitor, but also the discovery of the shipwreck in 1973, the site's designation as the first national marine sanctuary, and the recovery of major iconic artifacts and how they are being conserved today.

North Carolina Shipwrecks

From the lighthouses to the wildlife to the shipwrecks offshore, the Outer Banks culture reflects the surrounding marine environment. We invite you to take a trip down this stretch of road and experience the maritime heritage of the Outer Banks of North Carolina through videos, pictures, and stories.

Marine Archaeology Video Playlist

Over the years, NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research has supported several expeditions to explore deep water shipwrecks and other archaeological sites. Check out this collection of some of our best archaeology videos from these expeditions.

The Monitorium

Check out this video to learn how the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary collaborated with artist Wayne White and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art to bring this shipwreck, and its story, to life.