Delaware Artificial Reef Sites (3/4) ~ New Jersey Scuba Diving

Delaware Artificial Reef Sites (3/4)

Delaware Artificial Reefs

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Shearwater FS-411

USNS Shearwater reef — *Shearwater*, with *Tamaroa* behind

Type:: artificial reef, freighter, purse seiner
Built:: 1945, Hickinbotham Brothers, Stockton CA USA as FS-411 (US Army)
Specs:: ( 166 x 32 ft ) 542 tons
Sunk:: Dec 11, 2015 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°31.661' -74°30.607'
Depth:: 120 ft

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Southern Sword

Type:: shipwreck, freighter, USA, converted to barge
Built:: 1918, Globe Shipbuilding, Superior WI, as Contoocook, later Elda
Specs:: ( 251' x 43 ft ) 2344 gross tons
Sunk:: Monday March 18, 1946
foundered
GPS:: 38°36.769' -74°56.878' (DNREC)
Depth:: 60 ft

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Tamaroa WMEC-166

Type:: artificial reef, fleet tugboat, cutter
Built:: 1943, Commercial Iron Works, Portland, OR, as USS Zuni AT-95
Specs:: ( 205 x 38 ft ) 1,235 tons (light)
Sunk:: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°31.144' -74°30.747'
Depth:: 125 ft

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TD-21 DPC-21

Type:: artificial reef, tugboat
Built:: 1944, Lawley & Sons, Neponset MA, as DPC-21
Specs:: ( 86 ft )
Sunk:: Saturday June 22, 2024 - Delaware #11 Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°40.427' -74°43.073'

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Texas Star

Type:: artificial reef, scallop dredge
Built:: 1977, Halter Marine, Lockport LA USA, as Southern Prince
Specs:: ( 156 x 39 ft ) 269 gross tons
Sunk:: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 - Delaware #11 Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°40.494' -74°43.868'
Depth:: 85 ft

The Texas Star was built in 1977 on a multi-purpose supply ship hull, probably to service offshore oil platforms. The vessel was refitted as a floating casino in 1986, originally named Millionaire’s Casino, out of Savannah Georgia, but later moved to Texas and renamed Texas Star Casino. "The 12,000 square-foot vessel featured games such as craps, blackjack, roulette, poker and slot machines, with a bingo parlor situated on the nearby dock."

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Twin Capes

Type:: artificial reef, ferry
Built:: 1975, Todd Houston, Houston, TX
Specs:: ( 320 x 68 ft ) 2,139 tons
Sunk:: Friday, June 15, 2018 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°30.882' -74°30.848'
Depth:: 125 ft

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USS Arthur W Radford DD-968

USS Arthur W. Radford reef — *Radford* with an experimental stealth mast

Type:: artificial reef, Spruance-class destroyer, US Navy
Built:: 1975, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula MS USA
Specs:: ( 563 x 55 ft ) 8,040 tons
Sunk:: Wednesday, Aug 10, 2011 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°30.850' -74°30.656' originally, now ???
Depth:: 130 ft

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William C Snow

Delaware Artificial Reef #11 — *Fells Point* leads the string, *Cittie Point* in the middle, and *William C Snow* brings up the rear

Type:: artificial reef, tugboat
Built:: 1962, Southern Materials Co, Norfolk VA USA
Specs:: ( 50 ft )
Sunk:: Monday June 2, 2008 - Delaware #11 Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°40.540' -74°43.957'

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YC-1479

Type:: artificial reef, barge
Built:: 1953, Avondale Shipyards, New Orleans LA, as BCL-1103
Specs:: ( 110 x 34 ft ) 144 tons
Sunk:: Friday Oct 20, 2000 - Delaware #11 Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°40.540' -74°43.957'

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YC-725

Type:: artificial reef, barge, US Navy
Built:: 1941, Dravo Corporation, Wilmington DE USA
Specs:: ( 110 x 35 ft ) 400 tons dead weight
Sunk:: Wednesday March 10, 2010 - Delaware #10 Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°36.608' -74°56.494'

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Delaware Artificial Reef Sites

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Red Fox

Vulpes fulva

Size: to 25" (about the size of a beagle)

Habitat: wherever there is food

Notes: Alright, this is not exactly a marine mammal. However, these rascals are becoming so common along the Jersey Shore that I thought I would mention them. They are especially common at Sandy Hook and Long Beach Island, where they live on handouts from beach-goers. It is important not to feed them, as this has caused a population explosion, and also makes them bolder with humans, and potentially dangerous. In the off-season, they prey on certain threatened shorebirds as well.

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