Within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary lies a most popular dive destination for experienced and novice divers alike: Shipwreck Trail. This incredible section of the sanctuary is home to nine separate wrecks that ended up there either by fate or by intentional sinking to create an artificial reef.
Here is a brief synopsis of each ship:
- The Adelaide Baker – Pieces of this wreckage are scattered over a square quarter mile and rest at 20 feet. The ship came to rest in 1883 when it ran aground on Coffins Patches Reef. The site has become a thriving reef with corals, gorgonian fans, sponges, and reef fishes.
- The Amesbury – The Amesbury was built as a destroyer escort in 1943, and served in multiple missions before being decommissioned in 1946 and sold for scrap in 1962. The wreckage consists of two sections lying 200 yards apart, and is locally known as Alexander’s Wreck.
- The Benwood – The Benwood originally came from England as a merchant marine freighter in 1910. During a haul in which the ship was operating blacked out to avoid detection by German U-boats, the Benwood collided with another ship, the Tuttle, and began to sink. Its remains are scattered over a wide area in depths of 25-45 feet.
- The City of Washington – The City of Washington has the distinction of having met its end via the demise of another nearby ship, the USS Maine. The Maine suffered an explosion that night, causing irreparable damage to the City of Washington. She now rests in 25 feet of water on Elbow Reef.
- The Duane – Lying upright on the sandy bottom of Molasses Reef in 120 feet of water is the Duane, a cutter built in 1937 that served with the US Atlantic Fleet. Although its depth is beyond the reach of most novice divers, on a clear day, her hull can be seen from above the surface.
- The Eagle – Another deep wreck, the Eagle rests in 110 feet of water on her starboard side. While waiting to be sunk as an artificial reef, the Eagle’s moorings failed, causing her to be sunk where she sat. You can find the Eagle three miles northeast of Alligator Reef Light.
- The North America – Perhaps one of the most accessible wrecks in Shipwreck Trail is the North America, resting in just 14 feet of water north of Delta Shoals. Much of it is covered by sand and turtle grass/
- The San Pedro – Just a mile south of Indian Key you’ll find the San Pedro resting in 18 feet of water, the oldest of the bunch. Originally hailing from Spain, this wreck was a major point of interest for scavengers and treasure hunters, and continues to be a curiosity for divers and snorkelers today.
- The Thunderbolt – And finally, the Thunderbolt was a non-commissioned vessel in the US Naval Reserve Fleet, serving as a research vessel for Florida Power and Light to test the energy of lightning strikes, lending her new name. She now rests in 120 feet of water 4 miles south of Marathon.
Check out this incredible video displaying many of the wrecks to be dived in Shipwreck Trail and see for yourself what an amazing dive destination this place really is!
