Dec 222009
The Vandenberg Artificial Reef is the newest spot to dive, although the longer you wait to dive this incredible sunken ship, the more marine life you’re apt to see. Sunk May 2009, this 522 foot former Navy transport ship from World War II features large satellite dishes that come up to within 50 feet of the surface. When the water is clear, even snorkelers can see them!
The beam is 72.5 feet and she has eight decks. Now resting in about 150 feet of water, she makes an excellent choice for you next Key West diving vacation. There are access openings cut into the sides of the ship, and all doors and hatches have been removed. In fact, there are lots of access openings:
Second deck – 46 access openings
• Upper deck – 50 access openings
• Superstructure deck 34 access openings
• Between bulk heads interior 60-80 access openings
Access openings are 79 inches in diamter. In addition, all vertical passageways have been cleared of covers, which helped the sinking of the Vandenberg, but also contributes to safety for advanced divers who penetrate the wreck.
A Conch Republic Flag was raised on the Vandenberg once the ship was sunk, and within a few days giant barracuda were already lurking all around the ship. Most Key West dive companies run trips out to the Vandenberg. The dive can be combined with a stop at either Nine Foot Stake or
Joe’s Tug.
Dec 212009
Marquesas Keys
Marquis de Cadierata, who might be famous for having commanded a fleet of ships in the 1600s that included the Atocha, gave his name to the Marquesas Keys. Several wrecks occurred at that time, in the 1620s, under his command. Mel Fisher discovered the Atocha in 1985 with much fanfare and many many years of searching.
The Marquesas are a circle of mangrove islands set in shallow water flats that are great for fishing. They are located 25 miles west of Key West and accessible through the ocean side or through the Lakes Passage, a more protected route through shallow water in between mangrove keys. They are not on the reef line, but six miles north of the reef. Divers are mostly interested in diving the Marquesas Reef line, which has nice structure and marine life but strong currents. This is considered an intermediate dive.
Dec 212009
Cottrell Key
Cottrell Key is also on the Gulf of Mexico side, and on the way to Alexandar’s Wreck. It’s a popular spot for snorkeling catamarans on windy days, since it’s on the Gulf side and pretty shallow. It’s protected by mangrove islands and grassy flats on one side. There are visible and easy to find remains of a wreck here, and it’s one of the few wrecks that snorkelers can enjoy from the surface.
Dec 212009
Alexander’s Wreck
Alexander’s Wreck is really the USS Amesbury, a steel-hull vessel sunk in 25 feet of water. The top of the wreck sticks out of the surface and the deepest part is in 40 feet of water. She broke in half shortly after runnign aground here while being towed out to deeper waters to become an artificial reef. Alexander is the name of the salvager who was towing the wreck.
Alexander’s Wreck lies in two pieces 150 feet apart. The site is home to Goliath Grouper, and many other kinds of marine life. It’s locate five miles west of Key West on the Gulf side. Originally a 300-foot destroyer, Alexander’s Wreck is now a great snorkeling and scuba diving spot.
Dec 212009
Western Dry Rocks
Western Dry Rocks is a wonderful area for novice divers. It’s not within a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA), however, and there are often charter fishing boats trolling over the area in the afternoon. There are nice rock alleys with soft corals all over them, which are fun to swim through.
Western Dry rocks is shallow, and therefore more of a snorkeling spot but depths get to almost 35 feet so scuba divers occasionally frequent this site. There are friendly resident barracuda- very large ones, but don’t be afraid. Also frequently seen here are huge Eagle Rays, who swim through the rock alleys and startle divers quite often!