Wildwood Artificial Reef

Wildwood Artificial Reef

4.5 Nautical Miles off Wildwood, 2.99 sq miles
Depth: 40-65 ft [download]

Wildwood reef is composed mainly of Army tanks and tire units. ( not shown )



M60 tanks reef
M60 tanks undergo a thorough cleaning before use as reefs

The Artificial Reef Program used four types of obsolete Army armored vehicles as artificial reef materials off the New Jersey coast. These were cleaned at local military bases, loaded onto barges for transport, and pushed off at their final destination. Once the Army had disposed of its excess inventory, the program ceased, around 1999. The Artificial Reef Program has sunk almost 400 tanks altogether, far too many to list them here in this website.


Michael DePalma reef
Type:
artificial reef, barge
Specs:
( 70 x 28 ft )
Sponsor:
Creedon Tug & Barge Works, Friends of Michael DePalma, GDF, Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association
Sunk:
Tuesday February 27, 1996 - Wildwood Artificial Reef
GPS:
38°56.970' -74°41.337'




small commercial fishing vessel
A small commercial fishing vessel of unknown type, although the bushels on deck would imply that she was after some kind of shellfish.

There are three basic types of commercial fishing vessels found in the Mid-Atlantic region: trawlers, seiners/gill-netters, and long-liners. A trawler or "dragger" operates by towing its fishing gear across the bottom. Weighted nets take bottom fishes, while cage-like steel dredges take clams and scallops. A seiner uses a floating net to encircle schools of surface-swimming fishes such as herring and tuna. A long-liner sets out miles of buoyed line with baited hooks to catch sharks, tuna, and swordfish. One could also add lobster boats and charter fishing or "head" boats to this list. And of course, dive boats.