Fire Island Artificial Reef ~ New Jersey Scuba Diving

Fire Island Artificial Reef

110' barge
Air Force Scow
Alec N
Big Time
Courtesan
Drydock
DS-24
Hudson
Irvington
Mary N
Piano Scow
Zeeliner

2.0 nautical miles south of Fire Island Lighthouse, 1.33 sq miles
Depth: 62 - 73 ft

Alec N

Type:: artificial reef, clam dredge, USA
Built:: ?
Specs:: ( 45 ft )
Sunk:: 1999 - Fire Island Artificial Reef
Depth:: 70 ft
GPS:: 40°35.961' -73°13.012'

More: Alec N ...

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.

More: Army Tanks ...

barges - Fire Island Artificial Reef

The "Ocean Prince" drydock (above) was sunk in 1986 and is well-attested. New York has photos of a clearly different drydock which they place here, but I believe is actually at Shinnecock, and I have placed it there.

Type:: artificial reef, barges
Depth:: 62 - 73 ft

Name	Description	Sunk	GPS
	110 ft steel	Thursday Sept 9, 1999	40°35.973' -73°13.242'
Air Force Scow	110 ft steel	Sunday Oct 14, 2018	40°35.914' -73°11.986'
Dump Scow DS-24	100 ft steel	Sunday Oct 14, 2018	40°35.838' -73°12.015'
Irvington	60 ft steel	2024	40°35.949' -73°12.308'
Piano Scow	30 ft steel	Sunday Oct 14, 2018	40°35.872' -73°12.022'
"Ocean Prince" Drydock #4	200 ft steel drydock	Saturday Nov 29, 1986	40°35.704' -73°11.968'

More: barges - Fire Island Artificial Reef ...

Big Time (Peter's Reef)

Type:: artificial reef, USA
Built:: 1956, Holland
Specs:: ( 55 ft )
Sunk:: August 2021 - Fire Island Artificial Reef
Depth:: 70 ft
GPS:: 40°36.027' -73°13.151'

More: Big Time (Peter's Reef) ...

Courtesan

Type:: artificial reef, sailboat, USA
Specs:: ( 34 ft )
Sunk:: Monday July 27, 1998 - Fire Island Artificial Reef
Depth:: 70 ft
GPS:: 40°35.896' -73°12.934'

More: Courtesan ...

Hudson

Type:: artificial reef, work boat, USA
Built:: 1963, Paasch Marine Services, Erie PA, USA
Specs:: ( 53 ft )
Sunk:: Saturday, August 3, 2019 - Fire Island Artificial Reef
Depth:: 70 ft
GPS:: 40°35.711' -73°11.684'

More: Hudson ...

Mary N

Type:: artificial reef, clam dredge, USA
Built:: 1950, J.W. Nolan & Sons, Erie PA USA
Specs:: ( 50x15 ft ) 14 gross tons
Sunk:: 2003 - Fire Island Artificial Reef
Depth:: 70 ft
GPS:: 40°35.996'-73°12.926'

More: Mary N ...

Rock & Rubble

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.

More: Rock & Rubble ...

Zeeliner

Type:: artificial reef, ferry, converted WWII Navy patrol boat, USA
Built:
Specs:: ( 63 ft )
Sunk:: Friday May 10, 1985 - Fire Island Artificial Reef
Depth:: 75 ft
GPS:: 40°35.587' -73°11.221'

More: Zeeliner ...

BD 1738

from AWOIS:

H10224/86 -- OPR-C121-WH-86; WRECKAGE WITH 52 FT PNEUMATIC DEPTH GAUGE LEAST DEPTH, WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE THIS ITEM, APPROXIMATELY 100M SW OF AWOIS POSITION; DIVERS FOUND THE WRECK OF A BARGE, APPROXIMATELY 20 X 45 M; THREE BOILERS AND NUMEROUS OTHER TYPES OF SHIPYARD DEBRIS WERE FOUND STREWN OVER AN AREA OF 360 X 165 FT; IN THE NW CORNER OF THE SITE THE REMAINS OF ANOTHER WRECK WAS FOUND WITH ONLY THE SHELL PLATING AND FLOOR FRAMING REMAINING; APPROXIMATELY 200 FT LONG, 27 FT BEAM AND SHELL PLATING EXTENDING 5 FT ABOVE THE BOTTOM; BOTH ENDS OF THE WRECK TAPERED INTO THE SAND WITH NO BOW OR STERN VISIBLE; ONE OBJECT CONSISTING OF GUARD RAIL TYPE METAL, APPROXIMATELY 2 FT WIDE, 3/8 INCH THICK, AND 40 FT LONG, FORMING A 60 DEGREE ARCH WITH THE MIDDLE STANDING 10 FT OFF THE BOTTOM; SITE CONSISTED OF TWO WRECKS AND SHIPYARD DEBRIS, INCLUDING A BOOM CRANE; LEAST DEPTH TAKEN ON THE TOP OF THE BOILER LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST SECTION OF SITE. (UPDATED MSD 4/91)

More: BD 1738 ...