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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Tides

tides

Shore diving is very much dependant on the tide. Tidal inlets and rivers will flow with the tide, such that a river may even flow upstream for a time when the tide is incoming. Normal river currents are far too strong to swim against, and will simply sweep away a loaded diver. Many inlets have time restrictions for divers, so you will have to take the local laws and the tide tables into account to work out a good dive time.

However, there are two times when the currents drop to near zero. Those are dead high tide, and dead low tide. Of the two, dead high tide is usually better, simply because there is more water, and it is cleaner ocean water rather than silty river water. You will get about a half-hour window on either side of dead high tide during which you can either drift in the weak current or swim against it. After that, you'd better get out.

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