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.



M60 tanks reef
M60 tanks undergo a thorough cleaning before use as reefs

The Artificial Reef Program used four types of obsolete Army armored vehicles as artificial reef materials off the New Jersey coast. These were cleaned at local military bases, loaded onto barges for transport, and pushed off at their final destination. Once the Army had disposed of its excess inventory, the program ceased, around 1999. The Artificial Reef Program has sunk almost 400 tanks altogether, far too many to list them here in this website.


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'