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Delaware has quite an active Artificial Reef Program for such a small state. Most of its reefs are located in Delaware Bay, and consist of concrete, rock, and rubble, not really of interest to divers. Three of the reefs, Numbers 9, 10, and 11, are in the ocean. Of these, Number 11 is of special interest, since, in addition to three "wrecks" and numerous Army tanks, it contains 619 Redbird subway cars - cars that New Jersey turned away. At least they didn't go very far - these cars are actually closer than some of the 250 that New Jersey eventually sank in our own reefs !
619 Redbird cars just 16 miles off our coast !
The Red Bird reef site was begun in 1996, taking its name as a derivation of the "Redbird" paint-schemed subway cars donated in 2001 by New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority. To build the Red Bird Reef, 619 of the obsolete subway cars were sunk, each of them 51 feet long by nine wide, making a substantial bottom structure for an artificial reef.
The 92-year-old tugboat Margaret was built by Staten Island Shipbuilding Co. for the Erie Railroad. Originally powered by a double-compound steam engine, the vessel is 97 feet long and 24 wide, weighed 171 gross tons. The Margaret was sunk in memory of Edward Hahn of Centreville, Md., an avid fisherman, and his family and friends funded preparation of the vessel for sinking off the Delaware coast.
The Navy tanker YOG-93 was built by RTC Shipbuilding of Camden, NJ in 1945 as a coastal gasoline tanker for use in the planned invasion of Japan. The ship is 180 feet long by 33 wide with a displacement of 1,390 tons. The single-screw, diesel tanker was most recently used by Navy Seals in tactics training and boarding party training.
I make no claim as to the accuracy, validity, or appropriateness of any information found in this website. I will not be responsible for the consequences of any action that is based upon information found here. Scuba diving is an adventure sport, and as always, you alone are responsible for your own safety and well being.
Copyright © 1996-2008 Rich Galiano
unless otherwise noted
