Fire Island Artificial Reef

Fire Island Artificial Reef

2.0 nautical miles south of Fire Island Lighthouse, 1.33 sq miles
Depth: 62 - 73 ft

Not Shown:

  • 1,500 automobile tires


The "Ocean Prince" drydock (above) was sunk in 1986 and is well-attested. New York has photos of a clearly different drydock which they place here, but I believe is actually at Shinnecock, and I have placed it there.

Type:
artificial reef, barges
Depth:
62 - 73 ft
Name Description Sunk GPS
110 ft steel Thursday
Sept 9, 1999
40°35.973'
-73°13.242'
Air Force
Scow
110 ft steel Sunday
Oct 14, 2018
40°35.914'
-73°11.986'
Dump Scow
DS-24
100 ft steel Sunday
Oct 14, 2018
40°35.838'
-73°12.015'
Irvington 60 ft steel 2024 40°35.949'
-73°12.308'
Piano Scow 30 ft steel Sunday
Oct 14, 2018
40°35.872'
-73°12.022'
"Ocean Prince"
Drydock #4
200 ft steel
drydock
Saturday
Nov 29, 1986
40°35.704'
-73°11.968'


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.




Here are a few pieces of gear to help you find your way around in the deep blue, or green, brown, or black, as the case may be. When diving, it is important to remember that you need to navigate both horizontally, and vertically. The vertical component is usually taken care of by the dive boat anchor, but emergencies do occur, and you should be prepared.

2016 Update

Nothing much has changed in twenty years. The Tektite strobe is exactly the same, and you can still get good big dive reels, although enclosed models have disappeared. Compasses still point north, and flags are still a bother.