New Jersey Scuba Diving

Tamaroa WMEC-166

USCG Tamaroa reef

Type:: artificial reef, fleet tugboat, cutter
Built:: 1943, Portland, OR, as USS Zuni AT-95
Specs:: ( 205 x 38 ft ) 1,235 tons (light)
Sunk:: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°31.144' -74°30.747'
Depth:: 125 ft

USCG Tamaroa reef — Zuni assists the torpedoed cruiser USS Reno, 1944

Tamaroa was originally US Navy fleet tug Zuni, AT-95 ( Attack Tugboat? ) A fleet tug is a fully ocean-going vessel with the speed and range to go with the fleet wherever that takes it. For Zuni, that was the South Pacific, where she served in operations in the Marianas - Saipan and Guam, the Philipines and China, Caroline Islands - Palau and Peleliu, and Iwo Jima.

USCG Tamaroa reef — As a black-hulled Coast Guard cutter, 1947

USS Zuni was transferred to the Coast Guard in 1946, becoming USCGC Tamaroa WAT-166, later WMEC-166, a Medium Endurance Cutter. She served on the East Coast until 1994 and was a central figure in the book and movie "The Perfect Storm" ( although another vessel played her in the movie. )

USCG Tamaroa reef — Tamaroa capsized in a flooded drydock, New York, 1963

Efforts in Portsmouth VA to preserve the Tamaroa as a museum ship were well underway in 2012 when a leak in the engine room sank her, causing a collapsed bulkhead as well. More leaks and were found, and the effort had to be abandoned - the old hull had deteriorated beyond any reasonable repair. It was decided to use the famous ship as an artificial reef rather than scrap it outright.

USCG Tamaroa reef — Tamaroa in 1990, around the time of "The Perfect Storm" - Halloween 1991

USCG Tamaroa reef — Tamaroa painted back to Navy colors, 2008
Note that the 3" deck gun is gone

USCG Tamaroa reef — Just prior to sinking

I guess we'll finish with the obligatory 'pointing at the sky' shot

Artificial Reef Sites, Artificial Reefs, Coast Guard Artificial Reefs, Delaware Artificial Reef Sites, Delaware Artificial Reefs, DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef, Tugboats,

DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef

Depth: 120-140 ft

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Cape May Dive Sites Chart

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Coast Guard Artificial Reefs

Coast Guard Artificial Reefs

The United States Coast Guard has donated a number of vessels as artificial reefs over the years. They seem to be sensitive about having their vessels shown in a "bad" way, and typically paint out all the markings before turning them over.

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Comments on Tamaroa

John Fargo:

March 5, 2022 at 12:38 pm

I served aboard the CGC Tamaroa from 1983-1986 and I was wondering if anyone has taken any pictures of her since her reefing and if so, where would I be able to see them?

Thank you.

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Sonar

There are on the market today portable underwater direction-finding units that home in on each other by sound. These provide similar functionality to a strobe light, but with ( theoretically ) longer range, and are ( theoretically ) unaffected by water conditions and visibility. They are also very expensive, and prone to failure when a large object or wall gets between the two units. A number of times I have seen people get lost because they counted on one of these gadgets, and it didn't work.

Perhaps the most disturbing thing about these devices is that their users seem to be mostly beginners who place unfounded faith in them, probably because they paid so much for it at the dive shop. They seem to hit the water in "brain-off" mode, counting on their expensive gadgets to get them home, and making little or no effort at other forms of navigation. Unfortunately, these people are probably the least able to cope with the emergency situation that arises when they find out just how reliable their little sonar toy isn't. Learn to use a wreck reel instead.

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