Changes on the Prince Albert

[cfelliot]

I was surprised at the changes in the PA in two years since my last visit to Cocoview.

The side cracks mid-ship have widened and the deck cracks show even more of a vertical shift. The stack has fallen off to the stern.

 

[Doc]

Considering she was placed in 1984 (or 85?) this is pretty amazing. That is about 30 years lying in very shallow water.

Her nose is in 35fsw and her rudder is in 65fsw, her top most sections are at about 22fsw.

Most shallow wrecks are quiclky devoured by wave action. The deep wrecks on the North side sit at about 100' and have been decimated in 1/2 the exposure time.

Serendipity of placement by a brilliant engineer. Thank you, Mr. Bill.

 

[Carl_F]

What's the wreck on the north side just east of Palmetto Bay right on the breakwater? Not much of it left. Snorkeled on it in early March. Saw a juvenile Spotted Drum on the lee side of it.

 

[cfelliot]

No argument here! It was a brilliant idea and implementation.

Changes happen and the animals seem to adapt. The stack seems to be the home of several blue parrot fish now. The green moray is still there and was found in the engine room on a morning dive.

I would not be surprised to see her split at mid-ship in the not too distant future creating even easier access for some critters!

 

[Doc]

15 years difference:
In 1998, hanging from the forward davit:

and 2012:

That thing there hanging off of the davit is a chandelier that was packed down in the mid 1980's by a dive club- one of the members hated it hanging in her foyer, so her husband thought he'd have a laugh by committing it to the briney-deep- she was quite surprised!

---------- Post added April 30th, 2012 at 09:08 PM ----------

The DC-3 (Placed unfortunately by dunderheads):

Then

and now:

---------- Post added May 1st, 2012 at 05:50 AM ----------

 

[parrotheaddiver]

and the earthquake didn't help the PA either....but it is still the best dive ever

 

[turnerjd]

Considering she was placed in 1984 (or 85?) this is pretty amazing. That is about 30 years lying in very shallow water.

That must make her one of, if not the first wreck sunk deliberately as an artificial reef. Anybody know of a wreck sunk deliberately as an artificial reef before this?

Jon

 

[Wookie]

That must make her one of, if not the first wreck sunk deliberately as an artificial reef. Anybody know of a wreck sunk deliberately as an artificial reef before this?

Jon

The low hanging fruit includes Palm Beach County, FL in the 1960's. Not many ships, though, as it turns out, but Broward county sunk at least 3 major wrecks in 1985, including the Mercedes and the Lowrance, as well as the Qualmann tugs in 1984.

 

[DeputyDan]

It's a great dive!