Marathon Florida Keys Wreck Scuba Diving

Thunderbolt Wreck

If you go scuba diving to the Florida Keys, Marathon will be ideal as a base to travel to dive sites such as Thunderbolt Wreck where you will be able to take a spectacular scuba diving photo.

The wreck is located sitting upright on the sea bed just south of Coffins Reef some 5 miles southeast of Marathon, Florida Keys.

At a depth of 110ft and the potential for strong currents only advanced divers will be allowed to dive this site by Marathon, Florida Keys dive centers.

The ship sits on the bottom and reaches up to 45ft from the surface and as the ship is approached the huge propellers provide an awesome sight together with the view of the huge cable laying wheel now encrusted with marine life.

This dive is an excellent experience for those qualified to dive.

The ship was carefully prepared before sinking and therefore has access to some interesting parts of the ships structure such as the wheelhouse and engine room.

There is plenty to see and do at this site with sponges, hard and soft corals providing a back drop to silversides, barracuda, amberjack, grouper and tarpon to name but a few.

Interesting facts about the Thunderbolt

Built by Marietta Manufacturing Company, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
190ft cable laying navy vessel - used as a Minelayer initially
Initial service June 2nd 1942
Originally named USS Randolph
Purchased and used by Florida Power and Light for lightening experiments in 1980
Renamed the 'Thunderbolt' after the thunderbolt strikes upon the vessels structure following the experiments
Deliberately sunk March 1986

Scuba Videos

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 Thunderbolt Wreck and it gives you an idea of what to expect diving off the Florida coast ... look at the size of that Jewfish! (Press the button second right on the bottom of the video player to see it in full screen)...