Moriches Artificial Reef

Moriches Artificial Reef (historical)

2.4 nautical miles south of Moriches Inlet, 0.54 sq miles
Depth: 70 - 75 ft

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 a 1-nm square that encloses the deployment zone. The misalignment in the northern boundary between old and new is accurate.

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

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.



rock reef
A hopper barge full of rock

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.




190 ft barge
Type:
artificial reef, barges
Depth:
70 - 75 ft
Name Description Sunk GPS
Jean
Elizabeth
190 ft steel 1995 40°43.500'
-72°46.482'
60 ft steel 1995
40°43.558'
-72°46.340'
#335 80 ft steel Friday
Nov 12, 1999
40°43.514'
-72°46.309'
CFD 100 ft steel Thursday
Feb 8, 2001
40°43.476'
-72°46.343'
"Pump Boat" 25 ft steel Sunday
Oct 14, 2018
40°43.464'
-72°46.601'
Self-Propelled
Scow #56
50 ft steel Sunday
Oct 14, 2018
40°43.453'
-72°46.612'

hurricane

The diving season in New Jersey begins in June for most of us. Hardy souls in drysuits will dive all year long, but with a good 7mm wetsuit, early June is still chilly. By late July the ocean has warmed up nicely, and it keeps getting warmer through September and doesn't really get cold again until October or even later.

So the peak dive season is June through November, right? Well, not quite. Early August starts hurricane season, and by late August it is in full swing. A couple of good storms and everything is so roiled up that there is almost no point in trying to dive anymore. That's not to say that there can't be a good year with no hurricanes. Barring storms, with a drysuit you could reasonably expect to dive from late April to early December.