New Jersey Scuba Diving

Sea Transporter YF-879

YF-879 - March 1975

Type:: artificial reef, trawler, USA
Specs:: ( 133 x 30 ft )
Built:: 1945, American Bridge, Ambridge PA, as YF-879
Sponsor:: Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association, Atlantic Cape Fisheries, Artificial Reef Association
Sunk:: Friday August 21, 1992 - Cape May Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°53.118' -74°40.190'
Depth:: 70 ft

Sea Transporter - October 1975

YF-879 was sold by the Navy in 1974 and became marine survey ship Sea Transporter. By 1977 the vessel had been moved from southern California to Port Arthur Texas for a government study in the Gulf of Mexico, which was published in 1979. For the survey, Sea Transporter was equipped with side-scan sonar and underwater video cameras. Later the vessel was converted to commercial fishing, and finished its days in New Jersey. Exactly how it was modified for fishing is unclear, although it appears a deckhouse was added over the cargo hold.

YF-852 class covered lighter (self-propelled)

Displacement: 300 t.(lt) 650 t.(fl)
Length: 133'
Beam: 30'
Draft: 9'
Speed: 10 kts
Armament: none
Complement: one officer, ten enlisted
Propulsion: 2x 500hp diesel, twin screws

A large number of these small freighters were built during World War II, with slight variations to the design.

568087

Artificial Reef Sites, Artificial Reefs, Cape May Artificial Reef, Freighters, Military Reefs, New Jersey Artificial Reef Sites, New Jersey Artificial Reefs, Trawlers,

Cape May Artificial Reef

Cape May Artificial Reef

8.5 Nautical Miles off Cape May, 5.34 sq miles
Depth: 50-75 ft [download]

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Cape May Dive Sites Chart

Cape May Chart

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Gear Lanyards

lanyard

Chances are your light or other piece of gear came with a wrist lanyard. This item is probably ok for diving in the tropics where you shouldn't be doing anything with your hands anyway, but around here it is lousy. Wrist lanyards are a pain to put on and a pain to get off, and in the case of a light, if you let go of it to do something with both hands, it will invariably get in the way and bob around until it shines in your eyes and blinds you. When you finally get fed up with it, you will take it off, and in a careless moment, your equipment will be lost. Here is a much better rig, commonly known as a "hi-lo" lanyard:

Take the wrist lanyard off, and throw it away. Get two brass snaps and a piece of rope. Braided 1/2 " nylon is what I used because it is supple, won't rot, won't unravel, and doesn't float. Attach a brass snap to each end. You can just tie them on, or get fancy like me and make streamlined loops. The end-to-end length of mine is about four feet, including the snaps, but you can experiment. Attach the base ring of one of the brass snaps directly to your gear where the lanyard was.

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