Artificial Reef Sites (13/25) ~ New Jersey Scuba Diving

Artificial Reef Sites (13/25)

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Jill Adventure

Type:: artificial reef, trawler
Built:: 1980 - Master Boat Builders, Coden AL USA, as Tar Heel Tide
Specs:: ( 71 ft ) 112 gross tons
Sponsor:: Friends of Donna, Atlantic Capes Fisheries
Dedication:: Donna's Star
Sunk:: Tuesday December 20, 2005 - Townsends Inlet Artificial Reef
GPS:: 39°06.360' -74°36.300'
Depth:: 60 ft

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Jim Lynch E-13

Type:: artificial reef, barge, tank
Specs:: ( 178 x 38 ft )
Sponsor:: GPPCBA, Clean Water of New York
Sunk:: Tuesday October 30, 2001 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°03.840' -73°59.580'

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John Dobilas YOGN-8

Type:: artificial reef, tanker
Specs:: ( 165 x 35 ft )
Sponsor:: Friends & the McGraw Hill Foundation
Dedication:: John Dobilas
Sunk:: Tuesday August 20, 1996 - Garden State North Artificial Reef
GPS:: 39°37.564' -74°01.341'
Depth:: 80 ft

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John S Dempster Jr. (FS-355)

Type:: artificial reef, freighter, purse seiner
Built:: 1944, JK Welding - Yonkers NY, as FS-355 (US Army)
Specs:: ( 166 x 32 ft ) 542 tons
Sunk:: Thursday, Jan 21, 2021 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°31.340' -74°30.671'
Depth:: 125 ft

John S Dempster Jr. is sister to Shearwater and Reedville, see those vessels for details, links in the sidebar. All three vessels were originally small Army transports, converted to Menhaden fishing by Omega Protein company. FS-355 was USCG-manned, and retained by USA as PVT Carl V. Sheridan (see below) until sold in 1972.

The aging Shearwater and Reedville were retired when Omega got two new modern vessels in 2017, but Dempster was kept as a reserve. Finally, almost 80 years old, the Dempster was sent to her reward as well. Another sister, Tangier Island, was reefed off Georgia in 2020. As of 2023, one old sister remains - Smuggler's Point, FS-400, launched in 1944!

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Johnny Buoy

Tethered to the *Cape Straight* for sinking

Type:: artificial reef, buoy tender
Built:: 1969
Specs:: ( 46' x 16' )
Sponsor:: USCG, New Jersey State Police
Sunk:: Thursday September 9, 1993 - Cape May Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°51.106' -74°42.170'

The Coast Guard classification for this type was BUSL, for 'boat utility stern loading'. These boats had facilities to maintain the crew for 48 hours. They were powered by a diesel engine driving a steerable propeller, which would have made them extremely maneuverable. They were replaced by a 49-foot model.

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Kathy & Maria

Type:: artificial reef, barge, canal ( cut in two )
Specs:: ( 32 x 13 ft each piece )
Sponsor:: Ocean City Marlin & Tuna Club, Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association
Sunk:: Wednesday/Thursday June 22/23, 1997 - Ocean City Artificial Reef
GPS:: Kathy: 39°10.719' -74°33.259'
GPS:: Maria: 39°10.814' -74°33.044'