New Jersey Scuba Diving

Type:

artificial reef, tugboat, US Army

Built:

1945 - Orlando CA USA, as ST-842, R.J. Wales

Specs:

( 80 x 23 ft )

Sponsor:

Artificial Reef Association

Sunk:

Sunday July 27, 1997 - Shark River Artificial Reef

GPS:

40°06.320' -73°41.855'

Depth:

125 ft

The abandoned Billy D sank twice over the winter in the Shrewsbury River ( spilling a great deal of diesel fuel and other pollutants ) before it was towed out and sunk as the latest and smallest addition to the Shark River artificial reef. Even after cleaning, the decrepit old tug was deemed too contaminated to sink in inshore waters. So it was towed out to the offshore reef, but couldn't manage to stay afloat for the whole trip, and sank just short of the reef site.

Today the top of the wreck is at about 90-100 ft and can be penetrated through any of the side doors ( visible in the picture above. ) The superstructure shows obvious ice damage. The engine room and lower compartments look accessible from here, although I didn't try it.

Sealife is starting to take hold, although there is not yet a thick covering as on the older reef wrecks. I picked up a couple of scallops on the deck, but a complete search around the hull turned up only the usual fishes - Sea Bass and ling especially - but no bugs. There were also quite a few Sea Ravens on the wreck, including a bright yellow one. The wreck is fouled with quite a bit of rope and netting, although nothing dangerous, and also some monofilament. Obviously, the hook-and-line folks know where this wreck is, but the draggers do not!

Ironically, the Billy D was once used by the artificial reef program to tow other vessels out to their final resting places. Here, she moves the Car Float barge.