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.


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.




rock reef
A hopper barge full of rock

All manner of concrete, steel, and stone rubble from dredging, demolition projects, and other construction is used as artificial reef materials. This material is generally available at very low cost or free from construction companies who are more than happy to get rid of it. Transportation costs determine where this material is used by the Reef Program.



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'

Shipwreck Stolt Dagali
Type:
shipwreck, tanker, Norway
Name:
Stolt is the name of the line that owned the ship; it translates "proud". Dagali is a mountain valley in Norway.
Built:
1955, Denmark, as Dagali
Specs:
( 582 x 70 ft ) 12723 gross tons, 43 crew
Sunk:
Thursday November 26, 1964 ( Thanksgiving day )
collision with liner Shalom ( 25,338 tons ) - 19 casualties
Depth:
130 ft, starts at 60 ft

Printed from njscuba.net