A Wreck Diving Scuba Vacation not to be Forgotten when Diving The Eagle Wreck in Florida

Scuba Diving Vacation Packages

The Eagle Wreck

Located off Lower Matecumbe Key, The Eagle is well known to most people enjoying an advanced wreck diving scuba vacation in Islamorada, and you have to include this dive in your schedule if you are an advanced diver.

Divers travelling on scuba diving vacation packages are warned that local dive centers will insist on the correct certification as this is not an easy dive and the wreck lies in 120 feet of water.

Strong currents mean you must use the guide lines down to the wreck which after Hurricane Georges in 1998 caused the ship to break into two and the two halves now lie some 30m (100ft) apart.

This is a spectacular artificial reef, and with sections of the ship reaching 40 feet and 65-100 feet visibility, you do not have to dive deep before seeing and reaching your destination.

If you are on a wreck diving scuba vacation and this is an initial dive of The Eagle, you are recommended to stay at 65 feet to get the maximum bottom time and explore some of the marine life that is abundant around and in the wreck.

The ship is encrusted with coral, which are well developed. Spiny oysters, hydroids and sponges and other marine life continue to populate the area.

Enter one of the many penetration points and you are likely to encounter nurse sharks, cobia, jewfish, silversides, batefish and grunts.

Terence’s notes

Eagle Wreck
Depth: 19-33m (65-110ft)
Visibility: 9-30m (30-100ft)
Advanced
Wreck dive
Plenty of fish and predators
Snorkeling: No

Interesting Facts About
The Eagle

Originally the Raila Dan
Built in Werf-Gorinchem, Holland in 1962
Transport freighter 269 feet long, with a 40-foot beam
Freighter obtained by the Eagle Tire Company
Caught fire in 1985 whilst transporting cargo from Miami to Venezuela
Islamorada dive shops, tourism agencies and The Eagle Tyre Company worked together to have the Eagle become an artificial reef
Sunk in 1985 in 120 foot of water after being stripped and made safe
Sunk on starboard side during initial sinking
Broken in two by Hurricane Georges in 1998

Terence’s Log

Once I got used to the strong currents this had to be one of the best adventure diving scuba vacations ever!

I can’t recommend this dive strongly enough. The clear visibility means you get to see the fantastic site of the massive propellers and at just 65 feet there was plenty to see and explore.

Although the light is excellent for such a deep dive I would still recommend a dive light when penetrating the wreck. Here I met a couple of nurse sharks and the coral formations outside were stunning.

An amazing amount of marine life has formed on and around this wreck and this is a definite must do dive if you have the certificates.

One of the attractions of Florida Key scuba diving is that you will be able to take underwater photographs or underwater videos such as the one below. With excellent light and clear waters you will be able to get some excellent shots.

This video was taken at The Eagle Wreck and you can see how clear the waters are when scuba diving off the Florida coast (Press the button second right on the bottom of the video player to see it in full screen)...