New Jersey Scuba Diving

Above is the lightship Barnegat, LV-79, 1904, stuck in the mud at the defunct Pyne Poynt marina in Camden. The site and the vessel were acquired by Camden County in 2023. Soon after, the county announced the intention of restoring the vessel, but since then nothing has been done, and I doubt anything ever will be. The vessel is in pretty bad shape, stripped of anything of worth, and Camden has more pressing needs for its budget dollars.

The vessel has two possible futures. It could be cut-up in place for its valuable pre-atomic steel, or it could be sunk as an artificial reef. For reefing, Barnegat would have to be re-floated and made somewhat seaworthy for the trip. It would also have to be stripped of all floatables and pollutants, and the masts would have to be cut down. The closest suitable reef is Atlantic City, a towing distance of approximately 130 nm, where Barnegat could be sunk next to her sister Boston.

Some people will say this historic vessel should be preserved, but that does not seem realistic to me, although it would look great all fixed-up next to the battleship. There are over a dozen preserved lightships around the country, they are not exactly rare. You can tour Barnegat's twin sister Ambrose at the South Street Seaport in New York, or dive her twin sister Relief, as well as the aforementioned Boston. The lightship Winter Quarter is used as a floating office in Jersey City, and Frying Pan is a floating restaurant in Manhattan. Delaware has the Overfalls. Reefing is a better fate than scrapping.