New Jersey Scuba Diving

Sea Girt Artificial Reef

Sea Girt Artificial Reef

3.6 Nautical Miles off Sea Girt, 1.33 sq miles
Depth: 60-75 ft [download]

The Sea Girt reef is located atop an underwater ridge known as the "Klondike". This is an area of clean sandy bottom and usually has relatively good visibility. Fish life abounds on all sites in this reef, although lobstering is slim. There are many more Army tanks than shown here, as well as quite a bit of concrete rubble scattered throughout the reef. The Sea Girt Reef is one of the oldest artificial reef sites in New Jersey. Reef-building activities at this site date back to 1937. Minimum clearance at mean low water is 50 feet.

If you look at the state's official record, linked above, the four older sites that are outside the official reef boundaries are not listed.

drydock

Drydock reef

Type:: artificial reef, drydock barge
Specs:: ( 100 ft )
Sunk:: February 1979 - Sea Girt Artificial Reef
Sponsor:: Artificial Reef Committee
Depth:: 75 ft
GPS:: 40°07.759' -73°56.384'

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Horseshoe Wrecks

Horseshoe Wrecks reef — The barge-load of wreckage that will become the "Horseshoe Wrecks." the wreckage was pushed off three sides of the barge, hence the horseshoe pattern.

Type:: artificial reef, barges, tugboat
Specs:: ( huge junk pile )
Sunk:: Sunday December 23, 2012 - Sea Girt Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°08.203' -73°55.779'
Depth:: 80 ft

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railroad barge

Railroad Barge reef — Side-scan sonar image

Type:: artificial reef, barge
Specs:: ( 200 ft )
Sunk:: 1977 - Sea Girt Artificial Reef
Sponsor:: Artificial Reef Committee, Weeks Marine Co.
GPS:: 40°06.986' -73°56.868'
Depth:: 70 ft

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Cinderella

Cinderella reef

Type:: artificial reef, trawler
Built:: 1964, DESCO Marine, St. Augustine FL ?
Specs:: ( 70 ft )
Sunk:: Tuesday March 15, 1983 - Sea Girt Artificial Reef
Sponsor:: Artificial Reef Committee
GPS:: 40°06.777' -73°56.860'

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car float barge

Car Float #52 reef — The Car Float barge is pushed up the Navesink River below Twin Lights. The tugboat is the Billy D, later sunk on the Shark River Reef.

Type:: artificial reef, barge
Specs:: ( 270 x 39 ft )
Sponsor:: East Coast Tender Services
Sunk:: Wednesday February 10, 1988 - Sea Girt Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°07.135' -73°56.919'

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Matt Turecamo DPC-14

Matt Turecamo reef — Yes, that is wood grain

Type:: artificial reef, tugboat, U.S. Navy
Built:: 1943, Lawley & Sons, Neponset, MA as DPC-14, later Matt Turecamo
Specs:: ( 86 x 24 ft ) 146 GT, 9 crew
Sponsor:: Sean Maubray, FCO
Sunk:: Thursday October 17, 1996 - Sea Girt Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°07.514' -73°56.465'
Depth:: 80 ft, main deck at 65 ft

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The Buddy System ?

Here are a series of excellent articles regarding the buddy system, reproduced from their original sources before they "wink out", as so much good web content does. With regard to the Buddy System that is so entrenched in dive training, these articles are all negative. I feel no need to present counter-balancing positive arguments since you can get that from any dive instructor with any of the major certifying organizations.

When you first get certified, you will have had the buddy system drilled into you. At this point, you still have basically no idea what you are doing, so just do it that way. A lot of what is in the basic open-water certification is silly and even unnecessary, but it won't get you killed.

As a newly-certified diver, you are a danger to yourself and everyone around you. Be glad that any operator will take you out, and don't rock the boat. If they want you to dive with a buddy, dive with a buddy. As crew, I've spent numerous dives paired up with newbies to make sure they have a good time and get back to the boat OK. Shallow-water shore diving can get very tricky, and things can go very wrong, and if you are not experienced, having a buddy can be a lifesaver.

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