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| 10-15 ft (3-4 m) | Jose Cuervo Margherita Bar | Beginner / Snorkel |
| This is a real dive of a bar ... but with plenty of redeeming features! Sunk as a promotion during the "Sinko de Mayo festival" in May 2000. The 10,000 pound concrete bar was built for Jose Cuervo and then donated to the Artificial Reef program. Located just offshore in Miami Beach, this is another intriguing and unusual site for snorkelers and divers to interact with tropical fish. | ||
| 10-20 ft (3-6 m) | Half Moon Underwater Archaeological Preserve | Beginner / Snorkel |
| The Half Moon is a popular site for snorkelers and divers alike. In shallow water, this wreck of a 360-ton steel two-masted schooner is an introduction to wreck diving and a unique experience for snorkelers. | ||
| 10-100 ft (3-30 m) | Fowey Rocks | Beginner / Snorkel |
| Much of the bottom around the Fowey Rocks is like a soft coral garden, abundant in fish life. This is a good spot for snorkeling as well as diving. | ||
| 15-30 ft (5-9 m) | Emerald Reef, Cuban Freighter Reef, Starfish Reef, Starfish Reef & Coral Reef | Beginner / Snorkel |
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Considered by Ned DeLoach to be, by far, the most beautiful shallow reef group in Miami. It ranges in depth from 15 to 30 feet where colors in the clear water are breathtaking. Sponges of every color are complimented by patches of living coral, where every coral and sponge teems with juvenile tropical fish in the spring and summer. There are many larger fish, including parrotfish, angelfish, grouper, barracuda, puffer fish, lizard fish and hogfish. Outlying patches of this reef are also known as Starfish Reef, Freighter Reef, Keith's Ledge & Rainbow Reef. | |
| 15-30-ft (5-9-m) | Shamrock Landing Craft | Beginner / Snorkel |
| This 120-foot steel troop-landing craft was sunk in 1985 to form an artificial reef. | ||
| 25-40-ft (8-12 m) | Neptune Atlantis Memorial Reef | Beginner / Snorkel |
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The Neptune Memorial Reef project is the largest man made reef ever
conceived and provides an extraordinary living resting place for the
departed, an environmental and ecological masterpiece, a superb
laboratory for marine biologists, students, researchers and ecologists,
and an aesthetically exquisite, world-class destination for visitors
from all walks of life. The most innovative concept in artificial reef design is currently emerging in 50-feet of water, 3.25 miles east of Key Biscayne, Miami. Wrapped in the silence of the clear blue ocean a new reef is evolving. The Neptune Memorial Reef is attracting recreational scuba divers, as well as homeless fish while enhancing the costal environment and reducing demand on other fragile natural reefs. |
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| 30-50 ft (9-15 m) | Radio Tower Reef | Beginner |
| Lying in 50-ft of water, 19 pyramids have been formed using sections of radio towers. The pyramids were designed by Ben Mostkoff, a coordinator for DERM's Artificial Reef Program, as an experiment to attract marine life. | ||
| 35-45-ft (10-14-m) | Police Barge (Koppin Memorial Reef) | Beginner |
| This site began as a memorial to a Miami motorcycle patrolman when a 75-foot steel barge was sunk. Near the barge lie 32 eight-foot concrete pipes and six, 90-foot concrete girders that were once part of the Rickenbacker Causeway. | ||
| 35-65 ft (10-20 m) | Rio Miami | Beginner |
| The105-ft tug Rio Miami was featured on a 1989 episode of 20/20. She is upright and her cabin and ladders are intact rising up to 30 feet from the surface. This is one of the most intact wrecks in the area and is easily penetrated. | ||
| 40-50 ft (12-15 m) | Army Tanks | Beginner |
| Two Vietnam War era M-60 Army tanks were placed in 50-ft of water in Miami's Anchorage Artificial Reef Site in June 1994. Nearby are 400 tons of limestone boulders. This site affords many hiding places for lobster and other marine life. | ||
| 40-50 ft (12-15 m) | Billy's Barge | Beginner |
| This 110-ft steel barge rests in 50-ft of water surrounded by 360 tons of concrete pipe which are quickly attracting hard & soft corals. | ||
| 40-50-ft (12-15-m) | Mathew Lawrence Barge | Beginner |
| Mathew Lawrence, was involved in the development of underwater video housings and was one of the founders of Aqua Video. He died while diving on the Andrea Doria in 1992 and a memorial plaque can be seen at the top of the pilot house of this 110-ft barge. | ||
| 40-50-ft (12-15-ft) | Golden Beach Artificial Reef | Beginner |
| The Golden Beach Artificial Reef Site was inaugurated in January 2005 with the deployment of approximately 850 tons of limestone boulders in 45' of water. The boulders are arranged in three distinct "patch" reefs, lying 30-50' apart and ranging in size from 45'Lx35'Wx9'H to 70'Lx35'Wx12'H. | ||
| 40-60 ft (12-18 m) | The Conception | Beginner |
| While anchored off Miami Beach in February of 1991, this 165-ft freighter was pummeled by heavy winds and rough seas until it broke anchor and ran aground. The ship was seized by the U.S. government and purchased by the Dade County Artificial Reef Program; the Conception was sunk in June 1991. The cargo area has collapsed and Hurricane Andrew broke off the stern which now lies approximately 40 feet north of the main hull. | ||
| 40-80 ft (12-21 m) | St. Anne D'Auray | Intermediate |
| The St. Anne D'Auray was a 110-ft North Atlantic trawler that was sunk in March 1986. Many holes were cut in the bulkheads, so swimming down the passageway past the dining room and galley and into the engine room, before rising into the pilothoues, is an exciting dive. The main deck hatch leads divers through the refrigeration compartment bulkhead and out a hole in the bow of the St. Anne D'Auray. | ||
| 45-55 ft (13-16 m) | Biscayne | Beginner |
| The Biscayne was a 120-ft freighter that sat derelict on the Miami River until she was sunk to form an artificial reef in 1974. This is a popular wreck dive because of the breathtaking concentration of fish life constantly moving about its structure. At times, the baitfish schools are so concentrated and immense that they hide the Biscayne from view. | ||
| 45-60 ft (13-18 m) | Belcher Barge #27 | Beginner |
| This 195-ft steel barge was sunk near Key Biscayne in November 1985 when four explosions opened its corners. The barge turned over on its way to the bottom. Experienced divers can swim inside the entire length, passing through the holes that were cut in the bulkheads; a flash light and safety reel is recommended. The Belzona One, Two & Three are close by and form a wreck trek. Ghostly spotted eagle rays and a large stingray are often resident. | ||
| 45-72 ft (13-22 m) | Belzone One, Belzone Two & Belzone Three | Beginner |
| The Belzone One is an 85-ft oceangoing tug that was sunk in May 1990 and sits upright. The Belzone Two lost its roof to a hurricane and lies in 60-ft of water. Belzone Three is a 100-ft tug in 85-ft of water. All three can be visited, along with the Belcher Barge #27, on a 'wreck trek'. | ||
| 45-55 ft (13-16 m) | Patricia / Miss Karlene | Beginner |
| The Patricia is a classic tug boat lying in 50-ft of water very close to the hurricane damaged and collapsed Miss Karline. | ||
| 45-50 ft (13-17 m) | Fish Hole | Beginner |
| The Fish Hole is a natural recess in the sea bed that is frequented by many species of fish, including hogfish, grouper, snapper, angel fish, parrot fish & lobster. This is a great dive after one of our wrecks. | ||
| 45-60 ft (13-18 m) | Deep Trench | Beginner |
| During the 1920's a Deep Trench was cut through the reef to allowing 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. | ||
| 50-85 ft (15-26 m) | Princess Britney | Intermediate |
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The Princess Britney was seized and sunk by US Customs for drug smuggling in April 2003. | |
| 50-70 ft (15-21 m) | Proteus | Intermediate |
| The Proteus, a 220-ft steel freighter with its superstructure removed is spectacular due to its sheer size and huge propeller. Clean-up help was provided in association with NAUI prior to its sinking in July, 1985. Hurricane Andrew broke the Proteus in half so now the bow and stern face the same direction, with the mid-ship flattened and the bow on its side. Plenty of growth on the Proteus provides a habitat for fish, offering excellent photographic opportunities. | ||
| 55-80 ft (20-26 m) | DEMA Trader | Intermediate |
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This 165-ft freighter, the latest addition to the Key Biscayne Artificial Reef Site, was placed in 85-ft of water in October 2003 when the Diving Equipment Marketing Association held its annual meeting in Miami Beach. Large openings were cut in the sides of the superstructure to allow penetration into the cabin. A concrete module was placed on her stern deck to provide additional habitat for marine life. | |
| 60-70 ft (13-21 m) | Tarpoon | Intermediate |
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May 10, 1988 was a wonderfully sunny, calm, quiet day which
was interrupted at 11:03am by a thunderous explosion approximately 3½
miles East of Key Biscayne, It is a great site full of fish life with schools of grunts, yellow tail goatfish, black grouper, hogfish and Gray and Lane snapper. Goliath grouper are also resident. The Tarpoon is an excellent reef wreck combo site that is unique to South Florida Diving. |
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| 70-95 ft (22-29 m) | Orion | Intermediate |
| The steel hulled tug boat Orion was sunk in 1981 as part of the artificial reef program. It's wheelhouse was removed by current from a hurricane and now lies over 50-ft from the hull. The Orion is often dived as there is a lot of coral and sponge growth providing a habitat for schools of fish. | ||
| 70-95 ft (22-29 m) | Sheri-Lyn | Intermediate |
| The Sheri-Lyn was a 265-ft steel freighter that was torn apart by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. It's bow section now lies 60-ft from the remainder of the wreck. The cargo area is immense and large through holes were cut through several bulkheads prior to sinking. The Sheri-Lyn is home to barracuda and Goliath Grouper, amongst others. | ||
| 70-120 ft (21-37m) | Ultra Freeze | Advanced |
| The Ultra Freeze was a 195-ft steel freighter that now lies in 120-ft of water, with its wheelhouse at 70-ft. The bow section is broken and lies at a 90-degree angle to the main section. | ||
| 70-140 ft (21-43 m) | Doc DeMilly Memorial Reef | Advanced |
| The Doc DeMilly was a 287-ft freighter sunk on March 6, 1986 in 140-ft of water as a memorial to a local veterinarian. The freighter remains sitting upright with a 70-ft profile. Current can be strong here and is a determining factor when planning your dive. | ||
| 75-105-ft (23-32-m) | Andro | Advanced |
| The Andro was a 165 foot luxury yacht built in Germany in 1910. During World War II, the electric motors were converted to diesel, machine guns were added, and the Andro became a patrol boat used to chase submarines. After the war, the Andro served as a freighter on the U.S. Atlantic coast eventually being seized by U.S. Customs for transporting illegal drugs. The Miami Bomb squad sank the Andro on December 17th, 1985. The ship has twin propellers, two smokestacks and a large wheelhouse still intact. Hurricane Andrew broke the ship into three sections, exposing the engine block. | ||
| 75-120 ft (23-58 m) | Tenneco Towers | Advanced |
| The Tenneco Towers were once oil platforms used by the Tenneco Oil Co. in the Gulf of Mexico. Placed at their current location in October 1985, they are popular dive sites for dive operations between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. There are, in fact, four platforms: West Tenneco sits in 110-ft of water and Middle Tenneco in 120-ft; both have a profile of 35-ft. Deep Tenneco is two platforms sitting in 190-ft of water, each with a 60-ft profile. The towers provide refuge to many species of fish and corals. Barracuda, amberjacks and a bull shark are resident. | ||
| 80-110 ft (24-34 m) | Blue Fire | Advanced |
| The Blue Fire, a 175-ft freighter, was sunk in January 1983 in 110-ft of water. | ||
| 80-110 ft (24-34 m) | Tacoma | Advanced |
| The Tacoma was a 186-ft steel freighter that was seized by US Customs and sunk in February 2002. | ||
| 85-135-ft (25-41-m) | Almirante | Advanced |
| The Almirante was a 200-foot steel freighter that was sunk off of Elliot Key in 1974 and was relocated upside-down by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. This is a great sire for various species of marine life. | ||
| 95-110 ft (27-33 m) | Tortuga | Advanced |
| The Tortuga was sunk in April 1995 for the movie Fair Game. She settled upright in 110-ft of water with her upper deck at 90-ft. This wreck is much easier to penetrate than most other sites in the area. | ||
| 110-126 ft (34-38 m) | Narwal | Advanced |
| The Narwhal, a 137-ft steel freighter, was sunk in April 1986. A hurricane broke it in half and moved it into deeper water. The rudder and propeller are still intact and the hull compartments are accessible through holes that were cut into the bulkheads. | ||
| 110-135 ft (33-41 m) | Deep Freeze | Advanced |
| The Deep Freeze is a 210-ft freighter resting on her keel in 135-ft of water, with her upper-most deck at 110-ft. Hurricane Andrew caused the stern quarter to break away from the hull in 1992. Since being sunk in October 1976, the Deep Freeze has acquired a covering of algae and corals. The ship is host to many large fish, including grouper, jacks and barracuda. Experienced wreck divers can enjoy some excellent penetration on the Deep Freeze. | ||
| 120-145 ft (36-44 m) | Lakeland | Advanced |
| The Lakeland, a 200 ft steel freighter, was sunk in June 1982. After many years in the marine environment and being battered by hurricane induced currents, she remains at depth with a 25-ft relief. Beyond recreational diving limits, the Lakeland is rarely visited except by Tech divers. | ||
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Tarpoon
SCUBA Diving Centers |
