Wreck of the Benwood

Depth: 20-50 feet
Ship Length: 285 feet
Skill Level: Open Water
Scheduled: Tue 1:00 PM

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The remains of the Benwood are scattered over a wide area. The bow of the ship is the most intact feature, forming a 25-foot profile in the water column. The hull structure is mostly intact up to the level of the first deck. Large steel knees join the deck plate to the outer hull and sides of the vessel. These knees are massive reinforced triangles of steel which outline the ship’s hull shape despite the loss of the hull plates themselves.

The first deck has been punctured in many places, forming a network of “nooks and crannies” perfect for fish habitat. Divers can peer through these holes into the cargo hold and see the space where ore was once carried.

History:

The Benwood was built in England in 1910 and sunk in 1942. She lies between French Reef and Dixie Shoals on a bottom of low profile reef and sand. This 285’ freighter was accidentally rammed at night while running with its lights off to avoid German U-Boats. She sank after a collision in 1942 with the Robert C. Tuttle.

Salvage began soon after the sinking and continued into the 1950s. It is believed that she was dynamited as a navigational hazard and was used by the U.S. Army for aerial target practice after World War II. This is one of the most popular WWII shipwreck dives in the Keys.

Marine Life Commonly Observed on this Site:

• Watch for these fish and invertebrates: goatfish, grunts, moray eels, lobster, glassy sweepers, snapper, grouper, and hogfish.
• Look for these bottom dwelling organisms: sea fans, sea whips, brain coral, fire coral, and sponges.

Christ of the Abyss

Depth: 15-24 ft
Skill Level: Open Water
Scheduled: Mon. 8:30am, Wed. 1:00 PM. Fri. 1:00 PM

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The original "Il Christo Degli Abissi" statue was placed in the Mediterranean Sea off Genoa, Italy, in 1954. In 1961, a second statue "Christ of the Deep" was cast from the same mold. The Cressi family of Italy donated the statue to the Underwater Society of America, which in turn donated it to the Florida State Park Service, in recognition of the conservation efforts involved in the creation of America's first underwater park.

In 1965, the nine foot tall 4000 pound bronze statue "Christ of the Deep" was attached to a concrete base, and placed in 25 feet of water on the seaward side of Key Largo Dry Rocks. Since then, "The Statue" has become an icon of Key Largo scuba diving. In 1975, Key Largo Dry Rocks became a part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The Christ Statue is one of the most famous and visited underwater sites on earth, accessible to divers and snorkelers alike! Shallow high profile spur and groove coral formations are surrounded by relatively flat, coral and sponge encrusted hard bottom, and sand. Large Spotted Eagle Rays and Southern Stingrays are often sighted near the sandy perimeter.

Wreck of the USCG Cutter Duane

Depth: 70' (bridge), 107' (main deck), 120-130' (sand)
Ship Length: 387 feet
Skill Level: Advanced Open Water
Scheduled: Sat 1:00 PM

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The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Duane lies upright on a sandy bottom in 120 feet of water one mile south of Molasses Reef off Key Largo. After being decommissioned on August 1, 1985 as the oldest active U.S. military vessel, the Duane was donated to the Keys Association of Dive Operators for use as an artificial reef. On November 27, 1987 she was towed to Molasses Reef, her hatches opened, her holds pumped full of water, and down she went to begin her final assignment. On a clear day, the outline of Duane’s intact hull can be seen from above. The mast and crow’s nest, protruding high above the hull, can be seen at 60 feet. At 70 feet. The superstructure deck is at 90 feet and the main deck lies at l00 feet. The hull structure, completely intact with the original rudders, screws, railings, ladders and ports makes an impressive display. Her upright position makes for an excellent multi-level deep wreck dive. For experienced divers visiting Key Largo, the Duane is a definite must!

History:

The Duane was built in 1936 at the U.S. Naval Yard in Philadelphia. She was a 327-foot long Treasury Class Cutter, one of seven such vessels, and was named for William J. Duane, Secretary of the Treasury under Andrew Jackson. She had various assignments before being sent to the Atlantic in 1941, where she eventually served with the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Her service included an impressive wartime and peacetime record. In 1980 she was an escort vessel for thousands of Cuban refugees coming to the United States. Her last assignments included Search and Rescue work and Drug Enforcement.

Marine Life Commonly Observed on this Site:

• Watch for these fish and invertebrates: large pelagic fish, barracuda, yellowtail snapper, angelfish, wrasse, damselfish, spotted blenny, butterfly fish, trumpet fish, grunts, winged mollusk, and an occasional sea turtle.
• Look for these plants and bottom dwelling organisms: dead man’s fingers, watercress algae, white telesto, cup coral, star coral, finger coral, sea fans, and sea plumes. 
  

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The Elbow

Depth: 15-30 feet
Skill Level: Open Water
Scheduled: Fri 8:30 AM, Sun 8:30 AM

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The Elbow gets its name from the shape of the reef as viewed from the air. It earned its reputation as a navigational hazard due to the number of wrecks lying on the reef, as well as ones that struck here and sank into deeper waters. The City of Washington is the signature wreck here, with several wrecks close by.. Relatively shallow water from 6 to 60 feet surround The now lighted navigation aid tower marks this popular dive site.

At the Elbow lies the City of Washington Shipwreck and is the site of the weekly Creature Feature dives. Captain Slate, world famous for taming barracudas and moray eels invites you to his weekly creature feature to meet his pets! Tamed and nurtured for over 25 years, these pets have been featured on the Discovery Channel, SEATV, Animal Planet, and dozens of TV features along with covers of most dive magazines.

Let Captain Slate introduce you to one of his pets for an experience you'll never forget. Each Creature Feature is video taped, so you may take a memory home of this unforgettable experience.

Minnow Caves

Depth:
Skill Level: Open Water
Scheduled: Mon 8:30 AM, Wed 8:30 AM

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This is a beautiful shallow reef loaded with marine life. Each year the "cave" portion of the reef fills with thousands of small glassy minnows; giving divers a chance to swim through the open cave amongst them. The swarm of minnows parts like a curtain as divers swim in and out of the cave.

Minnow Caves offers superb photo and video opportunities,so bring your cameras!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Molasses Reef

Depth: 8-60 feet
Skill Level: Open Water
Scheduled: Wed 1:00 PM

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The “Big Mo”. Probably one of the most famous reefs in the Keys.

It’s a maze of coral channels and canyons that are populated with a wide diversity of marine life. Large Pelagics, such as Turtles and Spotted Eagle Rays are frequent visitors.

This is arguably the most beautiful collection of reefs in all of Florida! Rather than a single site, Molasses is an extensive reef complex with diving depths from about 10 feet to more than 70. At depths ranging from 10-40 feet, Molasses Reef features high profile spur and groove coral formations. At 40-60 feet down, seaward sand chutes separate a gently sloping hard flat bottom adorned by hard and soft corals, along with a variety of sponges

Certain areas have distinct features for which they have been named, such as Spanish Anchor Winch Hole, Fire Coral Caves, Hole in the Wall and many others. Snorkelers will enjoy the shallow spur and groove formations typified by Elkhorn and Boulder Corals punctuated by sea fans. Divers will find plenty to occupy them as well. Visibility is generally excellent on this reef as it is "rinsed" by the currents of the nearby gulfstream.

Divers and Snorkelers, this is a spot not to miss for anyone traveling to the area. It is also a very popular night diving spot.

History:

Local legend suggests that Molasses is named for a barge that grounded here many years ago carrying a cargo of molasses barrels, but much of the strewn wreckage is probably from a wooden hulled Austrian ship named Slobodna, run aground here in 1887.

Wreck of the LSD Spiegel Grove

Depth: 55-130 feet
Ship Length: 510 feet
Skill Level: Advanced Open Water
Scheduled: Tue 1:00 PM, Sat 1:00 PM

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The first thing divers notice is the shear size. At 510 feet, almost two football fields in length, the Spiegel Grove is one of the largest artificial reefs in the world. The Spiegel Grove is so large; it’s almost like an underwater city. Even the most experienced divers will need between 6 and 12 dives to become completely oriented.

The retired Navy transport ship was intentionally sunk about 6 miles off Key Largo, Florida in order to create the backbone of a new coral-reef ecosystem. The Spiegel Grove is one of the largest ship ever sunk for this purpose.

The Sinking:

May 17, 2002 was intended to be the culmination of an eight-year project to sink the world's largest underwater reef. However, as the crews made their final preparations, something went terribly wrong. The ship began to sink prematurely, forcing the crews to abandon ship. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

She began to take on water at the stern, beginning a twist to starboard; ultimately rolling her onto her starboard side. She then continued the roll becoming partially submerge, upside down, with her bow protruding out of the water.

On June 10, 2002 after weeks of strategic planning how to right the ship, and with the help of several tug boats, crews managed to roll the Spiegel Grove over onto her starboard side, allowing her to fully submerge and sink to the bottom. The attempt to fully upright her had failed. She remained on her starboard side.

However, in time, "Mother Nature" changed all that! In July 2005 Hurricane Dennis came through the Upper Keys, up-righting the ship to the originally intended position! Today she is firmly planted upright on the bottom, offering divers a whole new dive!