New Jersey Scuba Diving

Type:

artificial reef, tugboat, USA

Built:

1957, Chicago IL USA

Specs:

( 85 x 23 ft )

Sponsor:

Spentonbush Red Star Company

Sunk:

Friday January 31, 1986 - Sea Girt Artificial Reef

GPS:

40°06.158' -73°57.198'

Depth:

70 ft

The Spartan was a canal tugboat that towed barges on the Erie Canal between New York City and the Great Lakes.

The pilothouse of the Spartan could be raised and lowered to fit under low bridges. Here it is in the "up" position; when she was sunk, it was in the down position.

The vessel is intact and upright. The roof of the deckhouse has been completely removed, forming a large "skylight" through which even student divers may safely penetrate the wreck. The interior is filled with silt. The railings evident in the photos have long since been pulled away by years of grappling hooks, but the visor around the pilothouse is easy to find, as is the open door and other features. The top of the wreck is 45-50 ft, while the deepest point is under the stern, where the propeller is no longer.

The Spartan swarms with Blackfish, including some real monsters. For those who know where to look, it can also produce a lobster or two. However, it is usually pretty clean of mussels. Because of the easy conditions and closeness to port, the Spartan is often used for training dives.