City of Athens (1/2)

Shipwreck City of Athens
Type:
shipwreck, liner, USA
Built:
1911, New York Shipbuilding, Camden NJ USA, as Somerset
Specs:
( 309 x 46 ft ) 3648 gross tons, 135 passengers & crew
Sunk:
Wednesday May 1, 1918
collision with French Navy cruiser La Gloire - 67 casualties
Depth:
110 ft

Today the City of Athens sits in 110 ft of water on a sandy bottom. The wreck is in one contiguous piece, however, quite broken up. The most distinctive features are the large boilers near her midsection. Decking and hull plates have collapsed in on her. There is a small section of wreckage believed to be the bridge not far off the port side, some 30 yards or so. The mass of twisted wreckage gives good home to fish and lobsters. Artifacts are also found. Ammo, bottles, brass, and china, have all been found. While some can still be found amidst the metal, most artifacts require digging. Because of her distance from shore, visibility is usually quite good, averaging around 35-40 ft, and occasionally exceeding 60.

The bow is quite intact with the anchor resting at the same place it was stowed. The depth at this point is 93 ft and drops to around 108 as you descend into the hold.

Fish are everywhere, but few large specimens. A nice school of Spadefish cruised the wreck during our visit. Artifacts are present for the patient hand-fanner, along with lobsters. Bits of broken glass and pottery shards lie exposed from earlier artifact hunters. Mussels hang in pods from the rusting hulk.

Visibility is better when a current is present on this site. We had around 25 ft with nice ambient light. Conditions can be on the intense side at times - darkness and a swift current are not uncommon. This should be considered an advanced dive.

- Jeff Barris

Shipwreck City of Athens New York Times
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Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentina

Size: to 15" (body)

Habitat: hides on the bottom in any type of water

Notes: Generally docile and easily approached in the water, but should be treated with respect for its powerful bite. This turtle can easily amputate a finger or toe and becomes pugnacious when landed. If you have the patience, try to see how long this turtle can go between breaths. A lot longer than you or me, that's for sure.

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