San Saba

Shipwreck San Saba
Type:
shipwreck, steamer, USA
Name:
San Saba is a river in central Texas, a tributary of the Colorado River of Texas.
Built:
1879, Chester PA USA, as Colorado
Specs:
( 306 x 39 ft ) 2458 gross tons, 37 crew
Sunk:
Friday October 4, 1918
struck mine laid by U-117 - 30 casualties
Depth:
80 ft

Being a hazard to navigation, the iron-hulled San Saba was demolished a week after sinking. Today she sits in 80 feet of water in two mangled pieces of wreckage. The bow section is a jumble of hull plates, with winches and other machinery still visible. The stern section, some 250 feet away is also broken up. The boilers are still visible at the end closest to the bow. Her propeller can still be found, as well as wreckage off to the starboard side. Many artifacts can still be found. Glassware, brass, .22 caliber bullets, and china are still being brought up with a little digging. The San Saba is sometimes called the "Southwest Barge", or the "Magnolia Wreck", for the anti-friction metal bars she was carrying.

A mine from the U-117 also sank the Chaparra.

Shipwreck San Saba
U-117
U-117, sunk as a target 1921

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Shark River Bay Aerial
The new steps are just off the top edge of the photo, past the tennis courts.
Type:
inland tidal bay
Depth:
20 ft max, 15 ft in most places

This dive site, formerly known as 'L Street' has changed completely, and for the better. The town of Belmar has done something really nice for us divers and installed wide wooden steps down the bulkhead in Maclearie Park. This more than makes up for the loss of the boat ramp area, which is off-limits to all swimmers since it was rebuilt. I suppose the little cove by the ramp is still accessible from the beach, but the new site is much better, and far from all the dangerous boat traffic around the ramp and marina.

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