Moriches Artificial Reef ~ New Jersey Scuba Diving

Moriches Artificial Reef

Moriches Artificial Reef (historical)

Depth: 70 - 75 ft
2.4 nautical miles south of Moriches Inlet

Moriches Artificial Reef (now)

Moriches Reef was originally very small, but has been expanded greatly. The pink region is the historical area, and the blue region is the new deployment zone, while the full permitted size of the reef is roughly a square that encloses the deployment zone.

Moriches Artificial Reef

This reef is so tiny, some of these spots are probably within sight of each other underwater !

side-scan sonar image of Moriches Reef (old)

M-60 tanks sunk on Moriches Reef off Long Island
video by Dan Berg

Rock & Rubble

All manner of concrete, steel, and stone rubble from dredging, demolition projects, and other construction is used as artificial reef materials. This material is generally available at very low cost or free from construction companies who are more than happy to get rid of it. Transportation costs determine where this material is used by the Reef Program.

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St George II

Type:: artificial reef, trawler, USA
Built:: 1979, Canaveral Shipbuilding, Cape Canaveral FL
Specs:: ( 97 x 24 ft ) 185GT
Sunk:: Friday March 12, 1999 - Moriches Artificial Reef
Depth:
GPS:: 40°43.439' -72°46.440'

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Captain Sam

Type:: artificial reef, trawler, USA
Built:: 1979, Hudson Shipbuilders, Pascagoula MS
Specs:: ( 76 ft )
Sunk:: Friday November 6, 1998 - Moriches Artificial Reef
Depth:
GPS:: 40°43.506' -72°46.397'

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Vickie

Type:: artificial reef, trawler, USA
Built:: 1972, Master Marine, Bayou La Batre, AL USA
Specs:: ( 68 ft ) 91 GT
Sunk:: Friday June 18, 2004 - Moriches Artificial Reef
Depth:
GPS:: 40°43.382' -72°46.562'

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Army Tanks

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.

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