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Empire Mica Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail
The Empire Mica was a British tanker that played a role during World War II before meeting its fate in the Gulf of Mexico. Today, it serves as an artificial reef, attracting marine life and divers alike. Article at a Glance Empire Mica Wreck Location Coordinates and Depth Depth Approximately 110 feet (33.5 meters) Location…
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USNS Vandenberg Key West Florida
The Vandenberg’s transformation from a military vessel to a vibrant underwater ecosystem exemplifies the potential for artificial reefs to enhance marine habitats and promote recreational diving. Article at a Glance USNS Vandenberg Wreck Location Coordinates and Depth Depth The wreck lies at a depth of 140 feet (approximately 43 meters) in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.…
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Ana Cecilia West Palm Beach
The Ana Cecilia’s journey from a humanitarian vessel to a site of illicit activity and finally to an artificial reef illustrates the complex interplay of history, ecology, and recreational diving in the region. Article at a Glance Ana Cecilia Wreck Location Coordinates and Depth Depth The wreck sits at a maximum depth of 85 feet (approximately 26…
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USS Rankin Stuart Florida
Article at a Glance • Location: 6 miles east of Stuart, Florida• Coordinates: 27°11.332’N, 80°01.431’W• Depth: 130 feet (40 meters)• Ship Type: Tolland-class attack cargo ship• Length: 459 feet (140 meters)• Sunk: July 24, 1988, as an artificial reef• Notable Features: Rests on starboard side, home to diverse marine life including Goliath groupers USS Rankin…
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MV Castor Wreck Palm Beach Coast
The MV Castor’s transformation from a cargo ship to a vibrant artificial reef exemplifies the intersection of maritime history and ecological conservation, making it a significant site for divers and marine enthusiasts alike. Article at a Glance The MV Castor Wreck Location Coordinates and Depth Depth In terms of depth, the wreck sits at a…
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USS Mohawk Near Sanibel Island Florida
Article at a Glance USS Mohawk Wreck Location Coordinates and Depth Depth The wreck rests at a depth of approximately 90 feet of water, situated about 28 miles west of Sanibel Island, Florida. Location Coordinates What to Scuba Divers Say About This Wreck What Kind of Marine Life Can Be Found on The Wreck Key Information Category…
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Queen of Nassau Key Largo
The Queen of Nassau’s location makes it a challenging dive site, suitable for technical divers due to its depth. The wreck was discovered in 2001 by recreational divers, and its location has since been documented by researchers from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Article at a Glance Queen of Nassau Shipwreck Location Coordinates and…
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Urca De Lima Wreck Fort Pierce
The wreck site includes remnants of the ship’s hull, a ballast mound, and several concrete replicas of cannons and an anchor placed around the site for educational purposes. The underwater preserve allows for public diving and exploration, where visitors can see marine life and the remains of the ship. Article at a Glance Urca de…
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SS Arratoon Apcar Wreck Key Biscayne
The shallow depth makes the SS Arratoon Apcar wreck site excellent for snorkeling and diving. The wreck is situated close to Fowey Rocks, which is part of the Florida Reef system. It’s worth noting that the ship ran aground on these rocks on February 17, 1878, due to a miscalculation by her captain. Article at a…
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USS Oriskany Transformation: Warship to Artificial Reef & Diving Attraction
Article-at-a-Glance The USS Oriskany: From Warship to Underwater Marvel A Brief History of the USS Oriskany The USS Oriskany, nicknamed the “Mighty O,” was an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1950. It played a significant role during the Korean War and the Vietnam War, earning multiple battle stars for its service.…
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USS Oriskany Marine Life: Coral Development Study on Artificial Reef
The USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier that served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. After being decommissioned in 1976, it was eventually prepared to be sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Pensacola, Florida in 2006. Key Takeaways Introduction to the USS Oriskany Artificial Reef The USS Oriskany, affectionately known…
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Hog Heaven Fort Lauderdale Florida
The Hog Heaven wreck was intentionally sunk in 1986 as part of an artificial reef program, flipped upside down during deployment, and has since become a thriving habitat for diverse marine life. Its unique orientation and surrounding structures make it a popular and interesting dive site off the coast of Fort Lauderdale. Article at a…
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Georges Valentine Martin County Florida
The Georges Valentine was an Italian barkentine that sank off the coast of Hutchinson Island in Martin County, Florida in the late 19th century. The shipwreck site is now one of Florida’s Underwater Archaeological Preserves, allowing visitors to explore the wreck through diving or snorkeling. Article at a Glance Georges Valentine Shipwreck Location Coordinates and Depth…
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USS Duane – U.S. Coast Guard Shipwreck
The USS Duane was a U.S. Coast Guard cutter that served from 1936 to 1985. Some key details about the Duane:The Duane was one of seven “Treasury-Class” cutters named after prominent U.S. Secretaries of the Treasury. She was built in 1936 at the U.S. Naval Yard in Philadelphia and was 327 feet long. Article at a…
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Captain Dan Wreck, Pompano Beach, Florida
The Captain Dan (formerly named Hollyhock) is a 175-foot long former U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender that was intentionally sunk as an artificial reef in February 1990. It lies upright on the seafloor in about 110 feet of water, with its wheelhouse at around 70 feet depth and its main deck at 90 feet. Article at…
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SS Breconshire Shipwreck
The SS Breconshire was a schooner-rigged, iron-hulled steamship built in Sunderland, England, in 1884. It was 300 feet long and 37 feet wide, with compound engines of 350 horsepower complementing its sail power. The ship was commanded by Captain Robert Taylor and had a crew of 24 men, including Second Officer Edwin Curling. Article at…
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USS Spiegel Grove Key Largo
The Spiegel Grove is a massive wreck, measuring 510 feet in length and 84 feet across the beam, making it one of the largest artificial reefs in the world. The wreck is located within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and is only accessible by boat due to its offshore location. Article at a Glance •…
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Thunderbolt Shipwreck Marathon
The City of Washington was an iron-hulled steamship launched on August 31, 1877. It now rests in 32 feet of water on the north end of the Elbow Reef barrier reef system east of Key Largo. The wreck is a popular dive site in the Florida Keys and is part of the Florida Keys National Marine…
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City of Washington Wreck Diving
The wreck has broken up significantly since sinking in 1917, key structural elements like the keel, stern, and general hull shape remain identifiable, allowing divers to visualize the historical steamship. The wreck’s archaeology has been extensively studied and documented by researchers over the decades. Article at a Glance City of Washington Shipwreck Location Coordinates and…
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SS Benwood: Night Dive Experience
The SS Benwood was a steam cargo ship that sank in 1942 after colliding with another ship off the coast of Key Largo, Florida. Her wreck now lies in 25-45 feet of water and is a popular dive site in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Article at a Glance SS Benwood Wreck Location Coordinates…
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USS Massachusetts Shipwreck Location Coordinates and Depth
The USS Massachusetts was a pre-dreadnought battleship commissioned in 1896 as part of the “Indiana” class, the first steel battleships built for the U.S. Navy. She participated in the Spanish-American War before being decommissioned in 1919. In 1921, the ship was sunk as a target during a training exercise by guns at Fort Pickens. Article at a…
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SS Gulfamerica: Shipwreck Diving Location Coordinates and Depth
Scuba divers seem to really enjoy diving the accessible and historic Gulfamerica shipwreck off Jacksonville Beach. The relatively shallow depth, intact wreck structure, and ability to penetrate make it an appealing dive for everyone from novices to experienced wreck enthusiasts. Article at a Glance Shipwreck Location, Coordinates and Depth Shipwreck Location Coordinates Depth The SS…
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What Makes The SS Tarpon a Unique Diving Experience
The Tarpon had a long operating history as a freight and passenger ship along the Gulf coast after being constructed in the late 1800s, before sinking in 1937 due to overloading in a storm. Article at a Glance Shipwreck Location, Coordinates and Depth The SS Tarpon shipwreck is located: Depth Location & Coordinates What Kind…
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SS Copenhagen: Shipwreck Diving Depth and Coordinates
The SS Copenhagen combines shallow depths ideal for all levels, plentiful marine life, historical shipwreck artifacts, preserved archaeological status, and convenient accessibility – creating a truly unique Florida Keys wreck diving experience. Article at a Glance Shipwreck Depth and Diving Coordinates Diving Depth As for depth, the wreckage is scattered over an area of approximately…
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USS Oriskany: Reef Diving Depth and Location Coordinates
The USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier that served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. After being decommissioned in 1976, it was eventually prepared to be sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Pensacola, Florida in 2006. Article at a Glance • Location and Coordinates: The USS Oriskany artificial reef is located…
