Skip Navigation Website Accessibility
ALMIRANTE
Depth in Feet: 110 - 135 ft
Depth in Meters: 34 - 41 m
Skill Level: Technical
GPS:   25 22.068     80 07.863
Almirante is a 200-foot steel freighter that was sunk off of Elliot Key in 1974. Although the wreck was originally in immaculate condition with beautiful coral growth, Hurricane Andrew picked her up and dumped her upside down on the bottom in 1992. Since then, sea life has re-inhabited this vessel making it a great site once again.
There are many areas of twisted metal which are great for exploration. Depths reach below 135 feet making this a dive for a more experienced diver. Red gorgonians, jewfish, and many other varieties of pelagic life call this ship home.


ARIDA
Depth in Feet: 88 ft
Depth in Meters: 27 m
Skill Level: Advanced
GPS:   25 40.830     80 04.250
The Arida was a 165 foot sister ship to the Lakeland which was sunk in August of 1982. Like the Lakeland, she was a landing craft utility vessel (LCU) from the Vietnam War era. She sits in 88 feet of water and offers 25 feet of relief laying on her side, but over the years she has been torn apart by storms and much of the ship has collapsed.


BELCHER BARGE
Depth in Feet: 60 ft
Depth in Meters: 20 m
Skill Level: Novice, Intermediate and Advanced
GPS:   25 41.810     80 05.282
This 195 foot steel barge lies upside down in 60 feet of water, approximately five miles offshore. She was sunk by explosives on November 29, 1985. Divers can enter the wreck through the twelve three foot by four foot holes that were cut in the barge's bulkheads prior to her sinking. In the sand off the barge's south side are some large concrete sewer pipes. The barge and the concrete reef attract quite a variety of marine life.
According to diver Don Scholen, by swimming for approximately 60 feet off the Belcher Barge's northern most corner, divers will find the wreck of the Lady Free.


BELZONA BARGE
Depth in Feet: 35 ft
Depth in Meters: 10.5 m
Skill Level: Novice
GPS:   25 41.750    80 5.220
Chances are if you received your certification in Miami, you dived The Belzona Barge on your third dive. This 115 foot steel barge was originally sunk in 72FT of water, just north of the South Seas, in August of 1991. However, in August of 1992, Hurricane Andrew moved her to only about 40 feet of water. Like most of the barges, it inverted when it was blown up by the Miami Bomb Squad, and rests upside down on the bottom. The wreck is extremely dark inside and it is not a good idea to try to penetrate it, but there is a great deal of surface area to explore. The top of the wreck, which is really the bottom of the hull, is fully covered with soft corals and the flowing gorgonians constantly waving in the current, make the wreck look more like a coral reef than a rusty old vessel. Located within fairly easy swimming distance of the Belzona Barge (80 feet to the south) is the Belzona Two, a 90 foot steel tug boat sunk in February of 1991 which sits in about 60 feet of water.


BELZONA ONE
Depth in Feet: 65 ft
Depth in Meters: 20 m
Skill Level: Novice, Intermediate and Advanced
GPS:  25 41.752     80 05.220   
The 85 foot tug boat Belzona One served throughout the Bahamas. According to shipwreck historian, Joel Auerbach, the Belzona One was originally named Tug Mitza, then James G, then Alco Caribe, then Holley. She was gutted by a fire and then purchased by a Miami salvage company. The plan was to restore the tug, but it soon became apparent that this was not feasible. Belzona America, Inc., purchased the vessel and donated her to be sunk as an artificial reef site. Renamed the Belzona One, she was sunk on May 30, 1990, by the Miami and Dade County Bomb Squads. She rests in the Key Biscayne Artificial Reef Site and sits upright in 72 feet of water. Belzona Inc. has provided funding for a total of three wrecks to be sunk off Key Biscayne. The entire site will be known as the Belzona Triangle, and each of the wrecks will be connected by rope so divers can navigate between them.


BELZONA TWO 
Depth in Feet: 58 ft
Depth in Meters: 18 m
Skill Level: Novice
GPS:   25 41.800      80 0.409
The Belzona Two, a 90-foot wrought iron tug of early 1900's vintage, settled to her new home in sixty feet of water on Thursday, February 21, 1991, in the Key Biscayne Artificial Reef Site. On that day, despite protesting seas of four feet with a generous mix of higher waves, the new Belzona quickly succumbed to the small, 25 pound charge of dynamite. Belzona II used to be within visual distance of Belzona III, but is now a long but manageable swim away. Located within fairly easy swimming distance of the II is the Belzona Barge which sits about 80 feet to the north. Please go out and enjoy the Belzonas and remember that the Key Biscayne Artificial Reef Site is a Federally designated and protected Special Management Zone, SMZ, which prohibits any and all spearfishing on this site. In addition, the use of fish traps, bottom long line fishing gear and the taking of jewfish by any method is prohibited.


BISCAYNE FREIGHTER
Depth in Feet: 50 - 60 ft
Depth in Meters: 15 - 18 m
Skill Level: Novice
GPS:   25 42.263      80 05.203
The Biscayne Wreck is located 4.5 miles east of Key Biscayne and was a well-kept fisherman's secret from 1974 to 1980. This 120-foot ship was often referred to as the "Banana Freighter" because it was used to transport bananas between the Caribbean Islands and from Central America. It was later confiscated for financial reasons and bought by fisherman who desired to sink it for themselves 250-feet down. When it was being towed, strong winds blew this vessel and landed it in only 55 feet of water.
Because of this shallow sinking, this site became a great location for divers. Because of depth and the coral covered hull, this is a great location for night diving. Penetration can be done in the cargo hold where bait fish often reside. The picturesque colors and variety of sea life make this a great site for photography. The stern and starboard sections of the wreck have collapsed. However, the decades of growth leave this site fully inhabited with sea life and a great dive for beginning wreck divers or slightly more advanced divers.


BLUE FIRE
Depth in Feet: 130 ft
Depth in Meters: 40 m
Skill Level: Technical
GPS:   25 42.263      80 05.203
The Blue Fire, a 175-ft freighter, was sunk in January 1983 in 110-ft of water.
This vessel was seized by the Coast Guard during the Cuban Exodus. This wreck is fairly broken up, though sits fairly upright on a white sandy bottom. It is an easy and safe wreck to penetrate and abounds with sea life which reportedly includes cobia, grouper, amberjack, barracuda and parrotfish.
Great dive for photographers!


C-ONE 
Depth in Feet: 70 ft
Depth in Meters: 22 m
Skill Level: Intermediate and Advanced
GPS:   25 54.551      80 05.405 
The C-One is a 120 foot steel tug that was sunk in the Sunny Isles Reef Site in November of 1990. She sits in 68 feet of water and is considered an intermediate dive. She is approximately 1.9 nautical miles east northeast of Bakers Haulover Inlet.
This area has an abundance of fish and almost immediately after the sinking, despite the low visibility and adverse conditions, fish began to congregate around the wreck, especially barracuda, most commonly seen in the winter in the waters off Miami.


CASCADES DRIFT
Depth in Feet: 50 - 80 ft
Depth in Meters: 15 - 25 m
Skill Level: Advanced
The Cascades is a series of deep reefs that start near the Orion and end over a mile away to the North.

CUBAN FREIGHTER
Depth in Feet: 30 ft
Depth in Meters: 10 m
Skill Level: Novice
The Cuban Freighter is an old freighter that is now covered in coral. 


DEEP FREEZE 
Depth in Feet: 100 - 135 ft
Depth in Meters: 30 - 41 m
Skill Level: Technical
GPS:   25 49.300      80 04.954
The Deep Freeze -- now one of Miami’s most popular advanced dive sites -- was a 210' freighter sunk in 135' of water in October 1976. She had a 33.5' beam and displaced 1,138 gross tons of water. Her top deck can be reached at 110'.
The Deep Freeze was sunk in the artificial reef site known as Pflueger, located north of Government Cut and south of Haulover Islet. Fairly strong currents are the norm here.
The Deep Freeze is a popular spot for local fisherman and spear fisherman. Due to the monofilament lines on this wreck and the heavy buildup of silt, the Deep Freeze is only recommended for advanced divers. Be sure to bring a knife for the monofilament. The wreck offers excellent penetration for the experienced wreck diver.
Hurricane Andrew separated a 35' section of the stern from the hull in 1992, but otherwise caused little damage.


DEEP TRENCH 
Depth in Feet: 60 ft
Depth in Meters: 18 m
Skill Level: Novice
During the 1920's a Deep Trench was cut through the reef to allow a pipe carrying waste to discharge into the ocean. The pipe is no longer in use, but the resulting trench which is 15-20 ft wide has created an excellent environment for marine life.


DEMA TRADER
Depth in Feet: 70 - 80 ft
Depth in Meters: 21 - 24 m
Skill Level: Advanced
GPS:    25.703633     -080.086917
The DEMA Trader (formerly known as the GGD Trader) is a 165-foot-long freighter in 80 feet of water about 3 1/2 miles off Key Biscayne.
The ship was seized by U.S. Customs for carrying drugs, and was renamed DEMA Trader after the Dive Equipment and Marketing Association annual convention held in Miami Beach on October of 2003. She was sunk October 28, 2003.
The ship is keel down in the sand with the stern lying in 80 feet of water and the bow in 75 feet of water. Large openings were cut in the sides of the superstructure to allow safe penetration dives into the former galley and cabin areas. Tons of concrete culvert pipes and junction boxes were loaded into the ship’s cargo hold, creating ballast in case of storms, and providing more habitat than just an open cargo hold.
The ship has a large profile making it easy to find with a decent fish finder. Most of the dive can be seen at 60 feet of water. Great dive!


DOC DEMILLY MEMORIAL REEF
Depth in Feet: 70 - 140 ft
Depth in Meters: 21 - 43 m
Skill Level: Technical
GPS:    25 22.068      80 07.863
This 287-foot steel freighter is located 150 feet down underwater and just ¼ mile east of the Pacific Reef Lighthouse. This vessel was built in 1949 and renamed for a local veterinarian and pioneer before it was sunk in 1986.
The interesting thing about this sinking is that it was done by the Air Force. They staged an attack on this ship to simulate what may have occurred in war, dropping concrete bombs with remote-controlled charges.
The ship remains intact and managed to avoid damage in 1992 during Hurricane Andrew. It takes multiple dives to explore all that this wreck offers. Jewfish are a common sight here and share the area with a variety of sea life.


EMERALD REEF
Depth in Feet: 30 ft
Depth in Meters: 10 m
Skill Level: Novice
GPS:    25 40.450    80 5.920
Emerald Reef is a small shallow-water patch reef one mile east of Key Biscayne. It's considered by many to be one of the most beautiful reefs in Miami, rivaling those found further south in the Florida Keys.
The reefs are in 10 to 20 feet of water and support living elkhorn and pillar coral, a variety of sponges, and schools of juvenile tropicals. The clarity and color of the water makes this a spectacular snorkel or dive location. Please protect our reefs and dive carefully. There are no mooring buoys on this reef. Remember to drop anchor only in the sand!


ETOILE DE MER
Depth in Feet: 150 ft
Depth in Meters: 46 m
Skill Level: Advanced
GPS:    25 41.970     80 4.990
The US Customs Reef is located four miles east of Key Biscayne and contains four cargo ships. These ships include the Bradywine, Minguana, Etoile de Mer, and Tacoma which were all sunk in 2001. The Tacoma was not one of the initial ships sunk to form an artificial reef but was added after it was seized during a drug smuggling.
These ships lie in approximately 130-145 feet of water and are within 200 feet of each other. In total, 925 pounds of cocaine valued at $7.7 million were seized from these ships. The ships lie near each other and are all upright and intact.


HALF MOON PRESERVE
Depth in Feet: 12 ft
Depth in Meters: 4 m
Skill Level: Novice
GPS:    25 22.068      80 07.863
 The Half Moon was built in Germany in 1908 as the Germania. It was one of the fastest racing yachts of its day and won the German Kaiser’s Cup. The Germania had the misfortune to be in England for a race when World War I was declared. The ship and crew were the first German ship to be captured by England.
Eventually the ship was purchased by Captain Earnest D. Smiley who converted the yacht to a floating saloon permanently moored in Biscayne Bay throughout Prohibition. Captain Smiley’s son, of the same name, grew up on her decks, and went on to become a famous naturalist painter.
The Half Moon broke free of its moorings during a storm and ran hard aground in 1930. Efforts to raise her were futile and the ship sank beneath the water. Eventually the Half Moon was dedicated as Florida’s seventh Underwater Archaeological Preserve.
In 1999, Bruce White (a member of the Marine Archaeological Research & Conservation, Inc.) produced a digital video of the rich sea life at the site. He also highlighted the many deck plank fasteners still visible on her deck beams and the main sheet winches still in place both port and starboard. The video is available for viewing at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Nature Center in Crandon Park on Key Biscayne.
The Half Moon is a terrific spot for snorkelers and beginning divers. The shallow waters are usually very calm. The hull is covered with soft corals and sponges. Damsel fish, angel fish and many juvenile reef fishes hide beneath the deck.
The wreck is easy to locate from the Bear Cut channel. Half Moon lies about 75 yards northwest of the red marker #2. The wreck lies within the Biscayne National Park, so divers must remember that collection of artifacts is prohibited. Spear fishing and collection of tropical fish is also prohibited.


JOSE CUERVO BAR 
Depth in Feet: 10 - 20 ft
Depth in Meters: 3 - 6 m
Skill Level: Intermediate and Advanced
GPS:    25 46.132      80 07.692
Located in the South Beach Artificial Reef Site, approximately 150 yards southeast of the Second Street lifeguard station on Miami Beach, this 22-ton concrete margarita bar was sunk on May 5th, 2000 during Ocean Realm Splash, nicknamed 'Sinko De Mayo.' Designed with a dive flag roof, six bar stools and a protective wall of tetrahedrons (pyramid-shaped concrete forms), the structure was intended to be the first element of the South Beach Underwater Trail.
According to Brian Flynn, special projects manager of Miami-Dade's Department of Environmental Resources Management, a mooring buoy will be attached to an anchor near the bar during the first quarter of 2006.
The bar was featured, along with the Atlantis Reef Project, during the first Ocean Realm Conference on Underwater ART (Artificial Reefs and Tourism) planned for May 5th, 2006 at Nikki Beach.


LA CONCEPCION
Depth in Feet: 71 ft
Depth in Meters: 21 m
Skill Level: Advanced
This 150 foot long Honduran freighter was built in 1965. In 1990 while en route from Miami to Haiti with a cargo of trucks, cars, clothing, wheat and rice she developed engine trouble. The La Concepcion anchored off South Beach. Before repairs could be made the Concepcion's anchor failed and she drifted aground. The La Concepcion was high and dry and cost the State over $300,000.00 to pull her off the beach. The La Concepcion was sunk as an artificial reef on June 7, 1991. She now sits in 71 feet of water just north of the C-One wreck.


MATTHEW LAWRENCE BARGE
Depth in Feet: 110 ft
Depth in Meters: 33.5 m
Skill Level: Advanced
GPS:    25 48.660    80 4.403
This vessel is located in the Anchorage Site and was deployed in memory of Mathew Lawrence who was one of the founders of Aqua Video and was involved in the development of underwater video housing. He died while diving on the Andrea Doria in 1992. A plaque can be seen at the top of the pilot house. The vessel lies in 50 feet of water.
The 110-foot barge was sunk in 1995 as part of the Dade County Artificial Reef Program. This is a fairly shallow wreck making it a good dive for beginners and can be easily penetrated. The wreck can occasionally be seen from the surface and is also a good site for snorkeling. Sites nearby can be accessed via rebar stakes. This is a great site for training new divers. 


MISS KARLINE (KARLEEN)
Depth in Feet: 35 - 51 ft
Depth in Meters: 11 - 16 m
Skill Level: Novice 
GPS:    25 46.772      80 04.333
 This wreck is a collapsed steel hull 85 feet in length. It’s located just 100 feet southeast of the Patricia in the Anchorage Artificial Reef Site. Also close by are the police barge, Radio Tower Pyramids and Army Tanks. The Karline has been on the bottom since 1989 which has allowed an abundance of coral growth in a once sandy area. Because of the close proximity of the other wrecks there is an abundance of fish and other sea life. With a maximum depth of just 51 feet and a 15-foot profile, divers can have longer bottom times.


NEPTUNE MEMORIAL REEF
Depth in Feet: 40 ft
Depth in Meters: 14.5 m
Skill Level: Novice
GPS:    25 42.044     80 05.391
The Atlantis Reef Project is building a man-made reef off the coast of Miami, Florida (3.25 miles east of Key Biscayne) in the image of The Lost City of Atlantis. Atlantis will be the largest man-made reef ever built, covering more than 600,000 square feet of ocean floor and using 10,000 cubic yards of cement. The completed site will have a diameter of over 900 feet, making this a multi-tank dive!
After three years of design and engineering efforts, the re-creation of the Lost City of Atlantis will soon become reality. The project team received final approval and permits in December 2005, and construction of the reef will begin January 2006.
The site is being billed as the first underwater theme park in the world. Designed as an artificial reef, with concrete statues, columns, domes and arches, the mythical city of Atlantis is scheduled to be built in the SW corner of the Key Biscayne Special Management Zone - a little less than 5 miles southeast of Government Cut.


THE OPHELIA BRIAN
Depth in Feet: 110 ft
Depth in Meters: 34 m
Skill Level: Advance
GPS:   25 42.346    80 5.148
The Ophelia Brian, previously named the Sea Taxi was sunk in December 2009 by the Miami Dade Reef Guard Association with a grant from the Brian and Lavinia Snyder Foundation.
The 210 foot freighter, built in 1965 by J.J. Sietas in Hamburg, Germany christened Hoheburg and lastly called Sea Taxi, became the Ophelia Brian when she sunk at a pre-permitted site off Key Biscayne on December 30, 2009. The vessel is a sister ship to two very popular, previously sunk Miami-Dade artificial reefs -- the Ultra Freeze and the Deep Freeze. It's been renamed several times in the past 40 years, most recently called the Sea Taxi as you can see painted on the side of the vessel in the photo taken just before the sinking.


ORION
Depth in Feet: 75 - 95 ft
Depth in Meters: 23 - 29 m
Skill Level: Advanced
GPS:   25 41.460     80 5.180
This ship was used during the widening of the Panama Canal in Central America. The vessel's engines were converted from electric to diesel to be used as a floating mechanic school. However, funding decreased and the boat went unused for 5 years until the State of Florida seized it and absorbed this ship into the artificial reef program. She was placed in 125 feet of water but shifted to 95 feet with the pressure of the anchor pulling her along. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew brought destruction to this vessel, tearing off the pilot house which landed in the sand next to the ship still intact. The pilot house often contains schools of bait fish. Grouper are also a common sight at this location. The Gulf Stream runs near this wreck often bringing strong currents. 


PATRICIA
Depth in Feet: 33 - 53 ft
Depth in Meters: 10 - 16 m
Skill Level: Novice
GPS:   25 48.475    80 5.221
The Patricia was sunk in the artificial reef site known as Anchorage, located north of Government Cut and south of Haulover Islet in approximately 53 feet of water in June of 1990. She is a 65 foot steel tug located within swimming distance of the Rock Pile, The Patricia is part of an extensive "Trek Diving" artificial reef site, where you can visit several wrecks during the same dive. Located within the immediate area are the Miss Karline, Police Barge and Radio Antennas as well as several Rock Piles. The Mathew Lawrence and Army are not far away, either. There is a tremendous amount of fish life here and because of the shallower depths, it is an ideal dive for photography. 


PIPES
Depth in Feet: 45 ft
Depth in Meters: 15 m
Skill Level: Novice
These left over sewer pipes were disposed of just offshore south of Government Cut where they have sort of "stacked up" on top of each other in about 55 feet of water. The growth on the structures is incredible as the open pipes allow uninhibited flow of water and thus nutrients. Oysters, clams, sponges and the associated invertebrates are abundant and growing not only on the outside, but all along the inside of the pipes.
Fish congregate on the adjacent reef and moray eels and lobster are a common occurance here. The inside of the pipes are literally full of gorgonians attached to the sides, making it difficult, but not impossible to swim through. Yes, the pipes are large enough for a diver to comfortably navigate.
It is truly amazing how these discarded sewer pipes have turned into a base for prolific life. These all-concrete pipes not only attract varied and numerous marine-life to the area, but if placed closer to shore would also prevent the erosion of the sand beach.


PRINCESS BRITNEY 
Depth in Feet: 65 - 90 ft
Depth in Meters: 20 - 27 m
Skill Level: Advanced
GPS:    25 42.029    80 5.210
The 165-foot freighter, Princess Britney, was donated by Customs and Border Protection to the Miami-Dade Artificial Reef Program and now lies 90 feet below the surface of the water. She lies about 3.5 miles off the coast of Key Biscayne. This ship was seized in 2002 during Operation River Walk when more than 70 kilograms of cocaine were found hidden inside. The expected value of these drugs was $1.3 million. This is a new wreck which was sunk in 2003 and has not had much time to form a reef. However, sea life immediately found this wreck and made it their new home. Barracudas in large numbers and giant basket stars are a couple of the organisms that are often seen by divers who explore this site. 


PROTEUS
Depth in Feet: 60 - 75 ft
Depth in Meters: 18 - 23 m
Skill Level: Advanced
GPS:    25 42.331    80 5.240
The Proteus is a 220' freighter sunk in the Key Biscayne Artificial Reef Site on January 24, 1985. This site is one of the shallower wrecks dives in South Florida, resting in only 72' of water with at least 30' of relief (top deck is at 50'). This artificial reef site makes an excellent opportunity for the novice wreck diver and serves as a great introduction to Miami's exceptional collection of artificial reefs.
She was once a ferry boat on the Great Lakes before carrying freight and supplies between the Caribbean islands. Most of her superstructure was removed to allow maximum cargo space, but the ship failed to make a profit resulting in bankruptcy in 1980. The freighter sat on the Miami River for 5 years as a derelict vessel behind Bud's Auto Parts on 34th Avenue. During its tenure as Bud's garbage barge, thousands of license plates were thrown into the ship from the auto shop. Although most of the plates have been salvaged by sport divers as souvenirs, if you look close you may still be able to find one laying in the hold to this day.
NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) expressed their interest in helping to obtain and sink a ship in late 1984 and discovered the Proteus through Ben Mostkoff, then Director of the Miami-Dade County's Artificial Reef Program. Volunteers cleaned and prepared the ship to made it environmentally safe before sinking.
Resting on a sandy bottom, not far from the popular Biscayne wreck, the Proteus was broken into several large pieces by the forces of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Since the structure spread out over a wider area, more marine life seems to have taken up residence in the various twisted metal remains of the wreck. Moray eels, schooling grunts, barracudas, angelfish and the occasional groups can be found within the wreck and around debris field. 


RAINBOW REEF
Depth in Feet: 30 ft
Depth in Meters: 10 m
Skill Level: Novice
Second reef tract with a variety of relief off of Key Biscayne north of Emerald Reef. The southern buoys are shallower and provide good snorkeling locations. The benthic cover at this site is dense and diverse with numerous hard corals, gorgonians and sponges, including the threatened Staghorn Coral.


RIO MIAMI
Depth in Feet: 50 - 80 ft
Depth in Meters: 15 - 24 m
Skill Level: Novice, Intermediate and Advanced
GPS:    25 42.166    80 5.232
Rio Miami was featured on a 1989 episode of 20/20 where Hugh Downs detonated the ship for sinking and dove the site less than 24 hours later. The remote-controlled detonation with which Downs sunk the ship was the first of this type to be used. The publicity brought some popularity to this location.
Today, this 105-foot tug lies in 72 feet of water after being shifted by Hurricane Andrew. She is upright and her cabin and ladders are intact and rise up to 30 feet from the surface. This is one of the most intact wrecks in the area and is easily penetrated.
Barracudas, angelfish, jewfish, grunts, yellowtails, colorful sponges, sea fans and many forms of hard and soft corals are just some of the beautiful organisms that can be seen on this dive.


SHERI-LYN
Depth in Feet: 75 - 90 ft
Depth in Meters: 23 - 27 m
Skill Level: Advanced
GPS:    25 40.090    80 4.223
In 90 feet of water lays Sheri-Lynn, a 235-foot freighter. It took 400 pounds of high-explosives to bring this ship down. Dutch-built, she carried a small crew as she was launched in 1952 and used for shipping. When she had been docked for several years without use, it was assumed that this ship was abandoned and ownership was gained by the Department of Environmental Resource Management.
The vessel took a hard hit from Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and was spread across a wide area. Her bow lies 60 feet away from the rest of the wreck. This allowed for increased marine life to inhabit the remains. Although prior to this she was intact and upright, she now has a larger variety of sea life. She has many foot holes cut through bulkheads that allow for exploration. South of the bow lies 50 Chevron tanks, each 30 feet long and 8 feet in diameter with the ends cut off. Twenty cement-mixer tanks also lie near by. The variety of wreckage provides home to large amounts of pelagic life.


SOUTH SEAS
Depth in Feet: 75 ft
Depth in Meters: 23 m
Skill Level: Advanced
One of the more infamous of Miami's artificial reefs, the "South Seas" sits in 73 feet of water off Key Biscayne in the artificial reef site with the same name.
This vessel is a 175 foot luxury yacht that was built back in 1928 for the Guggenheim family. It is the sister ship and exact replica of Adolph Hitler's private yacht. The ship changed hands over the years and was even owned by the Woolworth family at one point.
By the 1980's the ship had deteriorated greatly, at that time over 50 years old. Although investors bought her to restore her, she sank in a Miami canal and it was finally decided that the ship be donated to DERM, Department of Environmental Resource Management.
Sunk in February 1983, the South Seas has been scattered across the sand bottom over the years, however, the area is still shrouded by baitfish and barracudas. Because of its shallow depth of less than 73 feet, is a good dive for novices.


SPIRIT OF MIAMI
Depth in Feet: 110 ft
Depth in Meters: 33 m
Skill Level: Advanced
GPS:    25 41.880    80 5.220
The Spirit of Miami is a 727 jet airplane sunk in the Key Biscayne Artificial Reef Site by DERM (Department of Environmental Resource Management) on September 8, 1993.
In contrast to the usual explosive technique of sinking ships, she was simply placed on the sandy bottom with a crane.
During the 1995 hurricane season tropical storm Gordon generated seas in excess of 15 feet for an extended period of time breaking the 727 in half. The nose, forward fuselage and wings remain on site while the tail section now sits in 110 feet of water 150 yards to the north east.
Not much of the Spirit of Miami remains. The wings came off during a hurricane a couple of years after it was sunk. According to recent reports, all that is left is a couple of pieces of fuselage. A diver might find a piece now and then, but local dive boats don't consider this a viable dive any more.


STEANE D'AURAY
AKA ST. ANNE
Depth in Feet: 40 - 68 ft
Depth in Meters: 12 - 21 m
Skill Level: Novice and Advanced
GPS:    25 37.062    80 5.431
The Steane D'Auray, often referred to as the "St. Anne", is a 110 foot North Atlantic trawler, sunk in only 68 feet of water. It has over 28 feet of relief and is basically still intact. There is still a picturesque air vent on the port side, the perfect backdrop for the underwater photographer. Some of the wreck has been torn apart and scattered across the bottom in the sand after Hurricane Andrew in August of 1992.
The St. Anne was sunk on March 28, 1986 and has a tremendous amount of growth. The rich nutrients of the Gulfstream have brought an abundance of life to her structure. Brilliant soft corals undulate in the current while the dark passageways beckon you to investigate her inner structure. 


TACOMA
Depth in Feet: 110 - 120 ft
Depth in Meters: 34 - 37 m
Skill Level: Advanced
GPS:    25 42.01    80 5.067
The Tacoma is a 165-foot steel freighter that was sunk in 2002. This wreck remains in good condition and intact. Big game fish are often found on this dive because it is rarely visited. The dive goes down to 120 feet. Tacoma was seized as part of the Operation River Walk, a drug confiscation mission. This dive is fairly deep and great for seeing pelagic life and the beauty that lies underwater. 


TANKS
Depth in Feet: 40 ft
Depth in Meters: 12 m
Skill Level: Novice
GPS    30 21.775    86 35.359
As part of the Okaloosa County Artificial Reef Program, fourteen United States Armored M-60 tanks were placed underwater in December 1994. The tanks were sunk in three sets at depths ranging from 65-70 feet. The tanks are all intact, making this dive spot a great site for underwater photographers.


TENNECO TOWERS
Depth in Feet: 110 ft
Depth in Meters: 33.5 m
Skill Level: Advanced
GPS:    25 58.930    80 5.142
The Tenneco Towers are among the most unique Miami scuba diving wrecks, and they dually serve as the understood northern boundary for Miami-based dive operators. The "Tenneco Towers" are actually old Tenneco Oil Platforms, and in their past lives they served in the Gulf of Mexico. In 1985, Tenneco Oil Company moved the platforms to the Miami coast, with the sole purpose of sinking them to create artificial reefs. This is a dive to be made by intermediate and advanced divers, as the depth of the three separate towers ranges from 110-190 feet. The platforms, having been submerged for 22 years, offer a novel diving experience among their coral-covered rungs, and they harbor a variety of sea life such as barracuda and bull sharks, as well as hundreds of species of fish.


TORTUGA
Depth in Feet: 95 - 110 ft
Depth in Meters: 29 - 34 m
Skill Level: Advanced
GPS:    25 49.252    80 5.087
The Tortuga is sometimes called the Fair Game ship because its explosion and sinking in 1995 was used as the final scene in the movie Fair Game, starring Cindy Crawford and William Baldwin. The 165 foot steel ship is a part of the Pflueger Artificial Reef Site located about five miles North of Government Cut.
The Tortuga is upright in 110 feet of water with the deck at about 90 feet. The large openings in the ship make this wreck fairly easy for the trained wreck diver to penetrate. The wheelhouse can be explored and the twin propellers are intact. There is a good amount of growth and abundant marine life. Divers report spotting Boxfish, Snapper, and Barracuda. 


ULTRA FREEZE
Depth in Feet: 135 ft
Depth in Meters: 40 m
Skill Level: Novice
The Ultra Freeze ia a steeled hulled, 195' freighter with 45 feet of superstructure still attached. She was placed in the RJ Diving Ventures artificial reef site by the South Florida Spearfishing Council in the summer of 1984.