Scuba Diving - New Jersey & Long Island New York

Scuba Diving - New Jersey & Long Island New York

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Garden State North Artificial Reef

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6.5 Nautical Miles off Harvey Cedars

Vessel Number
barge 6
tugboat 3
tanker 3
freighter 1
other 2
Total 15

This reef is also scattered with Army tanks, and tire units in the east ( not shown. ) Minimum clearance at mean low water is 50 feet.

(c) 2007 Rich Galiano
Redbird car on the reef

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program


 

Aqua II

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program

Type:
shipwreck, barge, water
Built:
1913, Camden NJ USA
Specs:
( 110 x 30 ft )
Sunk:
Saturday November 7, 1987
Sponsor:
Eklof Marine Co., Marine Trades Assn. of NJ & the Fisherman Magazine
Depth:
80 ft

The pilot house was removed prior to sinking. The Aqua II appears to be more of a schooner barge than a barge, and is certainly the oldest vessel sunk on the Garden State North Artificial Reef.


 

Choctaw

(c) McAllister Towing
Photo courtesy of  McAllister Towing

Type:
shipwreck, tugboat
Name:
An Indian tribe of south and central Mississippi, later forcibly moved to the Oklahoma territory.
Built:
1966, Brooklyn NY USA (Bushey Yard)
Specs:
( 90 x 24 ft )
Sunk:
Tuesday April 7, 1991
Sponsor:
Spentonbush Red Star Company (Hess Oil),
Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club,
Fish America, Atlantic County Reef Society
Depth:
75 ft

intact, semi-upright, surrounded by tire units

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program
A close shave during sinking. Unlike the Spartan, the moveable
pilot house of this canal tug is in the up position.


 

Coleman II

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program

Type:
shipwreck, barge
Specs:
( 60 x 25 ft )
Sunk:
Wednesday June 21, 1995
Sponsor:
Coleman Construction Co., Fish America & the Artificial Reef Association
Depth:
80 ft


 

Fatuk

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program

Type:
shipwreck, freighter
Built:
1963, Japan
Specs:
( 160 x 25 ft )
Sunk:
Thursday October 27, 1988
Sponsor:
US Customs Service, Fish America & Sportfish Fund
Depth:
80 ft

The Fatuk was a Japanese long-line fishing ship, converted from a refrigerated freighter. It was confiscated by the U.S. Customs Service for attempting to smuggle 2000 pounds of marijuana into the country in a freezer.

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program

As is evident in the photo above, the Fatuk went over on her port side. There is no longer any sign of the superstructure, and the vessel has turned over about 135 degrees in total - almost upsidedown.

(c) 2007 Rich Galiano
(c) 2007 Rich Galiano
The rudder and propeller

(c) 2007 Rich Galiano
Looking forward along the starboard bilge keel - the highest point on the wreck

(c) 2007 Rich Galiano
(c) 2007 Rich Galiano
The bow, with a large mooring bit

(c) 2007 Rich Galiano
A distinctive bit of machinery at the break near where the bridge would be


 

Good Times

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program
Making history - the Good Times was the first vessel sunk by the
New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife's ( then ) new Artificial Reef Program.

Type:
shipwreck, charter boat
Specs:
( 52 x 14 ft )
Sunk:
Wednesday August 15, 1984
Sponsor:
Depth:
80 ft

The engine was removed and the wooden hull was filled with concrete and tire units. The Good Times broke apart after only a few weeks on the bottom, and is now completely disintegrated. The program has had enormous successes since this first small beginning.


 

Jerry

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program

Type:
shipwreck, tugboat
Built:
1952 Port Arthur TX USA
Specs:
( 42 x 15 ft )
Sunk:
Monday September 15, 1997
Sponsor:
Artificial Reef Association
Depth:
80 ft


 

YW-? "John Dobilas"

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program

Type:
shipwreck, tanker, water, US Navy YW-83 class
Specs:
( 165 x 35 ft )
Sunk:
Tuesday August 20, 1996
Sponsor:
Friends & the McGraw Hill Foundation
Depth:
80 ft

on starboard side, reef also includes 5 tanks

Details on the history of the "John Dobilas" are sketchy.

"John Dobilas" is a twin to the "Mako Mania" and the "Captain Bart".  See construction for more photos of this class of ship.


 

Mary C

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program

Type:
shipwreck, barge, tank
Specs:
( 240 x 38 ft )
Sunk:
Tuesday October 30, 1990
Sponsor:
Eklof Marine Co., Fish America, Atlantic County Reef Society,
Princeton Dive Club, Village Harbor Fishing Club & Fish Hawks
Depth:
80 ft

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program
Side-scan sonar image, showing a great deal of detail


 

"Molasses Barge"

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program

Type:
shipwreck, barge, tank
Specs:
( 250 x 42 ft )
Sunk:
Monday August 17, 1987
Sponsor:
Charlie Bobowicz
Depth:
80 ft

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program
Side-scan sonar image

This barge was actually used to transport molasses from the Caribbean to a New York distillery to make rum. Molasses is a thick syrup by-product from the processing of the sugarcane or sugar beet into sugar.

One of the oldest sites in the reef, the Molasses barge is falling apart and opening up, and the fish love it.

(c) 2007 Rich Galiano
(c) 2007 Rich Galiano
(c) DinaDee.com
(c) 2007 Rich Galiano
Plumbing and junk

(c) 2007 Rich Galiano
The big notch at the stern, where the nose of a tugboat would fit


 

Queen Mary

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program

Type:
shipwreck, cabin cruiser
Specs:
( 31 x 12 ft )
Sunk:
Saturday April 12, 1986
Sponsor:
Depth:
80 ft

steel hull, engine removed & hull filled with concrete


 

Shirley Ann

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program

Type:
shipwreck, barge
Specs:
( 80 x 28 ft )
Sunk:
Thursday May 9, 1985
Sponsor:
Depth:
80 ft

loaded with tire units prior to sinking


 

"V.P. Pessolano"

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program

Type:
shipwreck, tugboat ( real name withheld by request of donor )
Specs:
( 97 x 27 ft )
Sunk:
Thursday September 29, 1994
Sponsor:
Carbon Service Corp, GDF & the Pessolano family
Depth:
80 ft

surrounded by tire units

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program
Side-scan sonar image of the Pessolano, showing a very nice
sonar shadow of the deckhouse profile.


 

Weeks 218 "Penn Reels Reef"

New Jersey Artificial Reef Program

Type:
shipwreck, barge
Specs:
( 106 x 36 ft )
Sunk:
Wednesday June 21, 1995
Sponsor:
Penn Reels
Depth:
80 ft

This barge was sunk by Navy Seals in a demolitions exercise, and shows large blast holes. The reef also includes 5 tanks.

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