Axel Carlson Artificial Reef (1/3) ~ New Jersey Scuba Diving

Axel Carlson Artificial Reef (1/3)

Axel Carlson Artificial Reef

2.0 Nautical Miles off Mantoloking, 5.19 sq miles
Depth: 65-80 ft [download]

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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.

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Austin

Type:: artificial reef, trawler
Built:: 1956, Tampa Marine, Tampa FL USA
Specs:: ( 65 ft ) 79 GT
Sponsor:: Grady family, Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association, Ocean Reef Foundation of New Jersey
Sunk:: Wednesday Sept 21, 2016 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°02.900' -73°59.000'
Depth:: 80 ft

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Barbara Ann

Type:: artificial reef, barge
Specs:: ( 75 x 28 ft )
Sponsor:: Capt Steve Nagiewicz
Sunk:: Friday June 27, 2003 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°03.560' -73°59.300'
Depth:: 80 ft

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Bay King YTB-175

Type:: artificial reef, tugboat
Built:: 1941, Gulfport Shipbuilding, Port Arthur, TX, as YTB-175 USS Chekilli
Specs:: ( 96 ft )
Sponsor:: Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club, Ann E Clark Foundation
Sunk:: Sunday January 9, 2005 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°03.187' -73°59.283'
Depth:: 80 ft, top at 60 ft

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Brooklyn DPC-15

Type:: artificial reef, tugboat
Built:: 1943, Lawley & Sons, Neponset MA USA as DPC-15, later Brooklyn
Specs:: ( 86 x 24 ft ) 146 GT, 9 crew
Sponsor:: Friends of the Norma K
Sunk:: Tuesday October 30, 2001 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°03.390' -73°59.550'

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Captain Bill

Type:: artificial reef, tugboat, McAllister Towing (Boston)
Built:: 1950, Jakobson Shipyard, Oyster Bay, NY as Hazleton
Specs:: ( 110 x 27 ft ) 199 gross tons
Sponsor:: Herb & Veronica Segars
Sunk:: Wednesday November 10, 2004 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°03.104' -73°59.283'
Depth:: 75 ft

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Carrabassett

Type:: artificial reef, trawler
Built:: 1979, Gulf Coast Marine Builders, Bayou La Batre AL, as Cowboy
Specs:: ( 90 ft ) 159 tons
Sunk:: April 2024 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: SECRET

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Caterina.D

Type:: artificial reef, trawler
Built:: 1973, Bishop Shipbuilding, Aransas Pass TX USA as America 200
Specs:: ( 70 ft ) 137 gross tons
Sponsor:: Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club
Sunk:: Tuesday April 24, 2007 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°01.650' -73°59.747'
Depth:: 80 ft

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Colleen

Type:: artificial reef, tugboat
Built:: 1952, American Marine, New Orleans LA, USA
Specs:: ( 92 x 25 ft ) 150 tons
Sponsor:: GPPCBA, Budweiser, GDF
Sunk:: Saturday August 3, 1996 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°02.794' -73°59.350'
Depth:: 80 ft

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Ed Schmidiger YON-81

Type:: artificial reef, barge, tank, US Navy
Built:: 1942, Levingston Shipbuilding, Orange TX USA
Specs:: ( 174 x 40 ft ) 200 tons light
Sponsor:: Ocean Wreck Divers
Sunk:: Wednesday October 8, 1997 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°00.587' -73°59.391'

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Axel Carlson Artificial Reef

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Boat Diving

Dive boat operations in the Northeast are significantly different from those you may be used to in the tropics. For this discussion, "Northeast" may be taken to mean any place north of Florida, or south at least to North Carolina.

The typical going rate for boat diving in New Jersey is about $65 for a one-tank excursion, $90-100 for a two-tank excursion. With recent fuel prices, you can expect a small surcharge as well. Longer, deeper, or special trips may cost more. A non-refundable deposit or credit card number is generally required to make the reservation. Once onboard, the crew will do all they can to make your trip a good one, so don't forget that it is customary to leave a tip for them as well - at least $5-$10, more if one of them did something special, like retrieve what you dropped overboard, or save your life. Tips go to the chief mate, not the captain.

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