Question: What's the Nicest Rec. and/or Tek Wreck in SFL and Why?

[SFLDiver3445]

I'm just looking to start an interesting thread and hopefully receive some interesting feedback in the process.

What's the nicest or most memorable recreational (shallower than 140') wreck and/or technical (deeper than 140') wreck you've dove in South Florida and why?

I'll break the ice:

Recreationally: Doc De Milly - Some of my most memorable moments have been while diving the Doc De Milly and descending down the anchor line in crystal clear water through a school of giant Eagle Rays and approching the huge wreck. There may be nicer wrecks, but that one is definitely the most memorable for me.

Technical - U.S.S. Kendricks - I had the good fortune back in the nineties to dive the this wreck, which is down in Key West in 300+ feet of depth. At the time, very few divers had dove this wreck; infact, Capt. Billy Deans told us at the time that we were numbers 5,6,7 & 8 of the divers who had ever been down therw. I still remember the eerie feeling of seeing the fish traps, laden with piles of fish skeletons within them, b/c the fisherman had not tied the door of the traps with biodegradable string and the traps had seperated from their buoys. Unfortunately, of the two times I dove it, we were unable to spend too much time down there, because of long decompression obligation which accumulated with each passing minute and the strong current which made us waste a fair amount of out bottom time just to get down ther. It was a challenging technical dive at the time, but definitely my most memorable.

 

[deepstops]

It sounds like we were on the same trip to the Doc De Milly. Was the one you're talking in 2000 on RJ's old boat?? Or maybe that happens more often than I thought. :14:

For tech, I'll throw in the Hydro Atlantic at 170' (give or take a few). She's about 325' LOA and has been down for over 20 years with plenty of profile and most importantly to me, amazing growth. I've brought a whole bunch of visiting technical divers to this wreck and it never disappoints

For recreational, wow, there's so many but I'll add the Rodeo 25. The fish life on this wreck is spectacular and for some reason, there's almost always a 100' of viz.

Another wreck I never get tired of diving is the Bayronto, 35 miles due west of Venice, FL. She's a 400' freighter that went down in a 'cane in 1919 just after being repaired from a torpedo from the U-88. She's turtled in 100' and is really just a huge steel cave with jewfish swimming inside.

 

[johnny_bravo]

The Duane: Conditions are unpredictable...the turtles in the crow's nest are a nice touch...I've even seen a bull shark there!

The Mexican Pride: More humongous Goliath Groupers than you can count...beautiful, deep blue water...the schools of fish...the anticipation of the 39 mile ride.

Cheers.

-J.-

 

[solensdotter]

This could become a fun thread - and provide some good ideas for future dives!

I can only speak for the recreational depths...

I second the Rodeo25. Beautiful, bright, sunny day, incredible viz well over 100', at least 60 'cudas just hanging out above the wreck, and absolutely no current. Gorgeous. Of course, we did have a little problem on this dive - bad case of narcosis + hypercapnia (no, not me), so things got a bit exciting for a few minutes. Due to the "emergency", it was unfortunately a very short dive, and obviously rather memorable! And, often as I've gone back, I just haven't seen those perfect conditions again...

I also really enjoy the Jim Atria. Can't really tell you why I like her so much, but she's a pretty wreck, lots of growth, and typically lots of fish. Just a nice dive...

Not sure that Tenneco Towers technically count as a wreck, but they make a great twighlight/night dive with all of the life!

So much for limiting myself to the "best" wreck! :blinking:

 

[Tom Winters]

I keep diving the wrong Jim Atria and Rodeo 25 wrecks. After a bunch of dives there, the viz has never been more than 25', the currents always ripping, and not many fishies.
I guess if you ever find yourselves on a dive boat with me going there, jump back on the pier and skip the ordeal.

 

[FLDVR]

For the best Recreational I'd put in a vote for the Sea Emporer. A poor excuse for a wreck but the sea life and resident moray and stingrays are always a treat for me

For Tech. I would second the Hydro. not only does it have an abundance of sea life, but also has some great sightseeing inside.

Of course I'll have to say that I've yet to be on a wreck that was not really great here in SFL!
Henry

 

[Thalassamania]

For rec: the Thunderbolt.
For tek: the Wilkes-Barre.

 

[solensdotter]

I keep diving the wrong Jim Atria and Rodeo 25 wrecks. After a bunch of dives there, the viz has never been more than 25', the currents always ripping, and not many fishies.
I guess if you ever find yourselves on a dive boat with me going there, jump back on the pier and skip the ordeal.

:14: Hmmm, you & one of my regular buddies must be related - it took him 9 tries to get on Tenneco. Everything from the boat breaking down to ripping currents to seasickness, he covered them all. The jinx was finally broken in September after about two years' worth of attempts!

 

[divad]

The Captain Dan is fun for long swim-throughs with tempting stairways.

 

[grazie42]

Hydro: Nice, relaxed dive and because of the depth you can spend a long time on her rooting thru the holds without ridiculous deco...

Lowrance: I don´t know why but I really like the (few) dives I´ve done there...it almost always looks "undisturbed"...

RBJ (I believe), this is the site of two wrecks in about 270ft: I´ve only dived it once but the "space-blue" colour of the water as you swim underneath the hulls of the two wrecks will propably stay with me forever...to bad that you spend a long time hanging because of the depth...