This Dutch freighter was built in 1956. She is 215 feet long and has a 33 foot beam.
On May 12, 1990 this wreck was renamed the Rodeo 25 in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Pompano Fishing Rodeo. She was sunk while almost 100,000 spectators watched.
Today, this twin masted freighter sits upright in 130 feet of water. The main deck is at 100 feet of water and the masts rise to within 52 feet of the surface.
Because the Rodeo 25 lies at the limit of recreational diving, she makes a good practice dive for technical divers. She is deep enough to practice the ins and outs of the ups and downs and still get decent bottom time as a no decompression dive. Dive this wreck on EANx32 for even more bottom time.
This Dutch freighter was built in 1961. She is 227 feet long and has a 34 foot beam. Originally named the Poinciana, she gained notoriety after she capsized and sank in the Miami River. The vessel was raised, towed off shore and then sunk as an artificial reef on September 23, 1987.
When the Jim Atria settled to the bottom, she landed on her port side in 112 feet of water. There she remained until Hurricane Andrew in August of 1993. The strength of this killer storm was such that it righted the vessel and moved it off shore to 132 feet of water!
Today, some commercial boats will not book the Jim Atria since she lies in 132 feet of water ... two feet more than the recreational limit.
From Peter's log book - July 20, 1997 - What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We dove both the Jim Atria and the new wreck the Guy Harvey (145 feet of water).
The turn out for the dive was great! We had about 18 divers on the trip. Every one dove Nitrox for more bottom time and most also had Nitrox computers. With these two technologies we were able to get about 20 minutes of bottom time on both dives without going into decompression.
This was my first dive on the Jim Atria since it had been righted and moved deeper by Hurricane Andrew. It's an impressive dive with much to see and do. There is good soft coral growth ---particularly on the stern. And, there are low risk penetration opportunities in and around the engine room. This wreck is now on my do again soon list.
Sample Dive Plan
The Guy Harvey is our newest ship wreck. Built in Holland in 1957, this 185 foot freighter spent the last of her 10 years sailing between Haiti and the Lesser Antilles as the Lady Kimberly. She was sunk in 145 feet of water on May 10, 1997 courtesy of Guy Harvey and the Pompano Fishing Rodeo.
Like most new wrecks, the Guy Harvey will take time to develop as an artificial reef site. First will come the soft coral and sponge growth, then the schools of small fish looking for shelter, and finally, big fish looking for small fish. Dive it now, dive it later and watch the underwater world unfold before your eyes.
This German refrigerator cargo vessel was built in 1957. She is 186 feet long and has a 29 foot beam. On May 17, 1987 she was sunk as an artificial reef just outside the Hillsboro Inlet in 165 feet of water. For the best dive conditions, dive the Miller on an incoming or high tide.
As time passes this wreck just gets prettier and prettier. Soft coral now adorns the wreck in a profusion similar to that on the Hydro Atlantic. There is a swim through on the stern that provides a great photo opportunity for framing a diver full face or in silhouette. And there is still brass for the taking on the wreck.
Because of the relatively shallow depth, this is a good dive for new technical divers. And, because the wreck is often passed over in favor of more glamorous wrecks, this is a good change of pace dive for experienced technical divers who have seen all the other deep wrecks in the area.
From Peter's log book - November 3, 1996 - Finally! After being shut out by the weather on two prior weekends we got a break in the weather. The last time I dove the Miller Lite was about five years ago. The increase in the amount of soft coral is impressive. In many ways the growth resembles that on the Hydro Atlantic.
The turnout for the dive was great and there were about as many different dive plans as there were divers. I dove my favorite mix 20/25/55. Joe P., Tom H. and Sue S. dove various trimix blends from new mix to leftover remix. Paul H. and John S. chose to dive air and the rest dove air 'cause they had no choice.
Every one dove a fairly conservative profile of 20 to 25 minutes of bottom time and everyone surfaced within an hour of entering the water. A good time was had by all.
Sample Dive Plan
Lucky us! On December 7, 1987 a ship of huge proportions sank in a storm just one mile East of the Boca Raton Inlet. The ship was being towed to Brownsville, Texas where it was to be salvaged. Instead it sank on our door step.
Today the Hydro Atlantic is considered to be one of the 10 best dives in the United States. Lying in 172 feet of water, the 320 foot long freighter is a real wreck, not a diver prepared, artificial reef wreck. A huge crane stands mid ship, with one of the ships main anchors at its base. The winch is still on the bow and the engine is still in the engine room. This is a real wreck!
Tour the deck at 145 feet and enjoy the forest of soft coral that decorates the wreck. Perch on the bow with clouds of bait fish. Dive the Hydro Atlantic once and you will leave wanting to return again and again.
From Peter's log book - March 29, 1997 - I never tire of diving the Hydro Atlantic. It shows so well and I get such a kick out of the enjoyment others get in seeing it for the first time or seeing it from another perspective.
Today, I dove the wreck with two trimix students, Doug and Pedro. We did the dive with a 20/25/55 mix --- just to see what it was like to be on the Hydro with less narcosis than an air dive to 100 feet. Their reaction? Wow! "The colors were so much more vivid." and " I remember everything I saw."
Maggie, John and Ryan did the dive on air and also had a great time. With good vis and good friends it's hard to not have a good time on this dive.
Sample Dive Plan
This 150 foot long Dutch freighter was built in Holland in 1951. She was sunk in 190 feet of water on July 10, 1985.
Because of it's small size, this wreck is often passed over as a dive in favor of the massive Lowrance which lies only 300 yards to the North (17 degrees NNE). On occasion the Renegade is dove by accident when divers miss the Lowrance and drift North. Keep this wreck in mind when diving the Lowrance --- it makes a nice bailout dive if you miss the Lowrance during a free descent.
This 320 foot long wreck lies upright in 200 feet of water, just outside the Boynton inlet. Soft coral is starting to blanket this wreck and the schools of Jacks that circle it provide a great visual treat.
Note: While this ship wreck is still dove on air, Trimix is the gas of choice for those who want to remember all they saw.
From Peter's log book - April 11, 1999 - Flat seas, blue water and a strong current to the North.
I volunteered to tie off and Mike Rodriguez offered to help. The drop was slightly to the starboard side of the wreck and while we could see the wreck we couldn't pull the float line to the wreck. So we let go of the line and crawled/clawed our way to wreck.
Once on the wreck all was well with our world. There were enough places to explore without fighting the current. And there were monster Greater Amberjacks that seemed to enjoy our company as much as we enjoyed theirs.
Too soon it was time to go. Deco was uneventful but pleasant due the unseasonably warm 80 degree water.
Back onboard the Splashdown we learned that nine of the ten divers on the trip, including Mike and me, had successfully made it to the wreck. This speaks well of the Captain and the divers because it takes a good drop by the Captain and a real effort on the part of the divers to get to a deep wreck in a strong current. In fairness to the diver who didn't make it to the wreck, more than a little luck is also required.
The Lowrance is one of the largest artificial reef wrecks off the Florida coast. Built in 1953, she is 420 feet long with a 55 foot beam. Renamed several times, her last name before becoming an artificial reef was the Mason.
On March 31, 1984 the Lowrance was sunk in 190 to 210 feet of water. She sits upright, pointing East on a downward slope reaching 210 feet of water at the bow. Most of the superstructure was removed before the sinking. Still, there is significant relief with the main deck running at 165 feet of water and the upper deck coming within 150 feet of the surface.
Features to enjoy while diving the wreck are the vast cargo holds with interesting contents and the outside passage ways on the main deck. The deck is laced with mono filament line and can be a significant hazard. Enjoy the dive but be careful.
From Peter's log book - September 29, 1996 - What a wonderful dive. I dove with Susan S., Tom H. and John S. The seas were two to four feet, the sun was shining and the water was blue. Mike tied off to the wreck. There was only a light South current so we went down the line.
We dove trimix 20/25/55 for a planned bottom time of 25 minutes at 200 feet with EANx70 as the decompression mix. The total dive time, including stops from 70 feet on up was 81 minutes. With 80 foot visibility and only light current on the wreck we had an great time exploring the total length of the wreck.
The 56 minutes of decompression passed easily in the 85 degree / 100 foot visibility water. Tom tried to read a paperback but it fell apart too rapidly. The Barracudas were interested in what was left of the book. As for me, I just enjoyed being warm and seeing the colors of the other divers.
Sample Dive Plan
The Johnny Morris is our newest shipwreck. Last named the Sucre, this 237 foot long, German freighter, was sunk on April 27, 1996 as part of the Broward County artificial reef program. Today the wreck lies upright in 210 feet of water with the main deck at 190 feet of water.
One of the reasons for diving a new wreck is to see it before it is encrusted in coral and then appreciate it later for the fine job nature does on our artificial reefs. But, this wreck is worth diving for it's own merits. It has a lot of relief with a high bridge and deep cargo holds. Two cranes flank the cargo holds, and a heavy anchor chain runs from the bow out onto the sand.
To get the most out of the dive, do it on Trimix --- there is a lot to see and remember.
From Peter's log book - December 7, 1997 - What a work out! The current was really cooking today! After a string of easy high vis, low current dives over the past few months, this dive was as a reminder of how tough tech diving can be.
We all drifted into the wreck. And, to the credit of Captain Mike for the fine drops and the divers for doing their part, everyone made it to the wreck. Ten out of ten --- a job well done.
The reward was 60' to 80' visibility, lot's to see and do on the wreck, and 77 degree water to deco in.
As a note on the changes in technical diving in South Florida, nine of the ten divers did the dive using trimix. It sure is nice to have a clear head when the current is as strong as it was to day.
In closing, congratulations to Ryan Grotta and Mark Zurl for completing their trimix certification course on this dive. These are the type of people I enjoy having as students and as dive buddies --- they know how to take care of themselves.
Sample Dive Plan
The steel hulled Tracor was a 200 foot long Navy dry dock. She was sunk as an artificial reef on June 22, 1982. Today the dry dock lies upright in 220 feet of water with about 30 feet of relief.
North West of the Dry Dock are molds used by Chris Craft to build fiber glass boats. These molds were sunk in the 1970's to form an artificial reef.
Because of sometimes strong currents and generous amounts of monofilament line this dive is best done on trimix.
From Peter's log book - August 8, 1999. This was a surprise dive in many ways. When we get to the dive site there was a 2.5 knot current to contend with. Surprise! Then, when we got to the wreck the temperature dropped from 88 degrees at the surface to 66 degrees. Surprise! But, the biggest surprise of all was that there was an upside down barge leaning up hill from the sand to the top of the Dry Dock on the North side. The last time I dove the Dry Dock in 1989 the barge was not there. Surprise!
Sample Dive Plan
What luck! On May 18, 1986, a 130 foot US Army dredge, the Corey N Chris, was sunk in 260 feet of water as part of the Broward County artificial reef program. Then, on May 15, 1988, a 226 foot freighter, the Ronald B. Johnson, was sunk as part of the same program. The R.B.J. landed, by accident, right on top of the Corey N Chris.
Today, these wrecks sit upright in 260 feet of water, joined by impact at their sterns. While this dive is still sometimes done on air, trimix is the gas of choice if you want to remember what you saw.
From Peter's log book - July 13, 1997 - Piece of cake! With flat seas, 60 foot visibility and only the slightest of current, getting to the wreck was a piece of cake. We just dropped down the line to the wreck like fireman down a pole. Of course there are usually surprises on a dive like this --- today's surprise was a 65 degree F. thermocline --- burr.
Susan Q., John C., Tom H., and I dove the wreck on the same mix --- Trimix 16/40/44. With only 16% O2 the ppO2 did not exceed 1.4 and with only 44% nitrogen we were no more narced than we would be on a 130 foot air dive.
On the wreck we split into two groups. John and Tom went in search of the engine room --- their favorite place on all wrecks though I don't know why. Susan and I did the grand tour including the swim through under the R.B.J. where it drapes over the Corey n' Chris. All too soon it was time to go.
Decompression passed easily in the 86 degree water. With 80 foot plus visibility and good friends it was time easily spent.
Sample Dive Plan
The Bill Boyd is a 211 foot German freighter that was sunk as an artificial reef on July 18, 1986. Today she sits upright in 265 feet of water and rises 70 feet off the bottom.
Formerly the USCG Nemesis and ex-Fort Lauderdale restaurant, the Ancient Mariner was sunk in June of 1991 in 70 feet of water.
The Captain Tony a.k.a. M/V Becks was sunk on October 22, 1996 in 85 feet of water where she sits upright with her bow to the South.
This 167 foot long coastal freighter was built in 1965 and used as a coastal freighter to transport dry goods to the Bahamas and Haiti.
This German freighter was built in 1952. She is 194 feet long and has a 31 foot beam. On March 30, 1985, she was sunk in 97 feet of water as an artificial reef while 20,000 spectators looked on.
Originally named the Hollyhock, this 175 foot long ex-USCG buoy tender was sunk as an artificial reef on February 20, 1990. She now lies in 110 feet of water with her bow pointing North.
This 160 foot long ship sits upright in 110 feet of water with the bow facing North. There are large holes in the hold making this an easy wreck to penetrate.