Shinnecock Artificial Reef

Shinnecock Artificial Reef (old)
( 40.80139, -72.47293 )

Depth: 76 - 84 ft
2.0 Nautical miles south of Shinnecock Inlet

Shinnecock Artificial Reef

Shinnecock Reef was originally very small, but has been expanded greatly. The pink region is the historical area, and the blue region is the new deployment zone, while the full permitted size of the reef is roughly a square that encloses the deployment zone.

Shinnecock Artificial Reef

Not Shown:

  • 46 ft pleasure craft - 1987
  • 2 tugboats
  • 9 barges
  • 1,000 tire units

In the old version of the website, I had the names Marlu and Maroca recorded for this reef. When I got the new photos off most of the reefs, Maroca became apparent - it is spray-painted on the transom of the vessel. Marlu was harder, but I think I have that one figured out as well. I also had a second drydock at Fire Island that I think belongs here. New York's reef program was moribund for so long that the records are unclear.

Reef site coordinates differ from NOAA Navigational Charts.

side-scan sonar image of Shinnecock Reef, click to enlarge

Note the remains of the drydock at lower-left, the square lighthouse at top-center, with Marlu and Mandy Ray to the right. The freckles at the upper-left are Army tanks.



Type:
artificial reef, trawler
Built:
1968, Master Marine, Inc., Bayou La Bâtre AL USA
Specs:
( 72x20 ft ) 131 gross tons
Sunk:
1999-2000 - Shinnecock Artificial Reef
Depth:
GPS:
40°48.149' -72°28.501'


100 ft steel barge ( on a much bigger barge )
Type:
artificial reef, barges
Depth:
79 - 84 ft
Name Description Sunk GPS
60 ft steel
dredge
1987 40°48.063'
-72°28.622
Caddell 157 ft wood
drydock
Wednesday
September 12, 1990
40°48.007'
-72°28.634'
Dump Scow
DS-106
100 ft steel Wednesday
June 20, 2018
40°48.179'
-72°28.461'
Shannon C 60 ft steel Friday
Nov 5, 2021
40°48.118'
-72°28.390'



Purple Sea Urchin

Arbacia punctulata

Size: to 3"

Sea Urchins may be found on any solid structure, from tidal rocks to deep wrecks, although in our region they are more common in shallow estuarine waters than offshore.

This animal is related to the starfish, and shares many of its traits, with one exception. Starfish are predators, feeding upon clams and mussels, while these sea urchins are strict vegetarians. I once ordered Sea Urchin at a sushi bar, but I never even tasted it, it smelled so bad. Nonetheless, it is a delicacy in much of the far east. Unlike tropical black urchins, our northern ones are not poisonous, and the spines are not even particularly sharp.

Printed from njscuba.net