Axel Carlson Artificial Reef ~ New Jersey Scuba Diving

Axel Carlson Artificial Reef

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2.0 Nautical Miles off Mantoloking
Depth: 65-80 ft

Axel Carlson Artificial Reef

The Axel Carlson reef is situated in a trough next to an underwater hill known as the Manasquan Ridge. This is an area of silty mud bottom and usually has relatively poor visibility. Axel Carlson reef is sometimes referred to as the Mantoloking reef. It also contains a number of sunken army tanks ( not shown. ) Minimum clearance at mean low water is 40 feet.

The pink areas on the chart are the "Full Access Zones". These are the areas where commercial fishermen will continue to be allowed to set their traps and lines as of 2015. For the rest of us, those are more like "No Access Zones," but some sort of fair compromise needed to be reached with the commercial fishermen, some of whom could legitimately claim to have fished those spots for generations.

Axel Carlson Reef side-scan — Side-scan image of the entire reef, back when it was largely empty

Much more recent side-scan, showing build-up of rock piles
NOAA

Hail Mary II

Type:: artificial reef, trawler
Built:: ???, 1993
Specs:: ( 65 ft ) 79 tons
Sponsor:: Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association
Dedication:: Angelo
Sunk:: Saturday November 4, 2006 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°02.641' -73°59.218'

More: Hail Mary II ...

Brooklyn DPC-15

Type:: artificial reef, tugboat
Built:: 1943 Neponset MA USA as DPC-15, later Brooklyn
Specs:: ( 86 ft )
Sponsor:: Friends of the Norma K
Dedication:: Joan La Rie III
Sunk:: Tuesday October 30, 2001 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°03.390' -73°59.550'

More: Brooklyn DPC-15 ...

Barbara Ann

Type:: artificial reef, barge
Specs:: ( 75 x 28 ft )
Sponsor:: Capt Steve Nagiewicz
Dedication:: Barbara Ann Nagiewicz
Sunk:: Friday June 27, 2003 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°03.560' -73°59.300'
Depth:: 80 ft

More: Barbara Ann ...

Megan Sue

Type:: artificial reef, tugboat
Built:: 1960, Jacksonville FL, as Nomad
Specs:: ( 61x17 ft )
Sponsor:: "4 of Clubs" - DVD, Ocean Wreck Divers, MRMTC, Ann E. Clark Foundation
Sunk:: Sunday January 9, 2005 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°03.181' -73°59.310'
Depth:: 80 ft, top at 60 ft