New Jersey Scuba Diving

Type:

shipwreck, scallop dredge, USA

Built:

1973, Pascagoula MS USA, as Dorinda

Specs:

( 71 x 21 ft ) 104 gross tons, 4 crew

Sunk:

Sunday October 31, 1976
foundered in rough seas - no casualties

Depth:

90 ft

This little wreck is almost completely intact and upright, although now badly rusted and beginning to cave in. The hatch covers over the cargo holds are missing, and problems with these are probably the reason the vessel sank in the first place. The masts are broken off and lying in the sand, and the entire wreck is covered with sea life. Mussels are a foot thick on the top of the pilothouse, along with thick stands of anemones. Lobsters can be caught in the sandy recesses around the hull, and be sure to shine your light into the big washout under the stern, where there is always a big bug lurking well out of reach. This is also sometimes a good wreck for scallops, and even the occasional Blackfish, although this small wreck can quickly be fished out of everything.

In the cargo hold, you can see the Lana Carol's final haul of scallops. Higher up, the small cabin is opened up and safely and easily penetrated, although the doorway is a little tight. Under good conditions, this is probably the most picturesque wreck of the New Jersey coast. Over the winter of 2002-2003, storms moved the wreck about 10 feet "forward", leaving her rudder embedded in the sand behind her.

The picture above is a sister ship of the Lana Carol. This vessel appears to be rigged for trawling, rather than scalloping, however. It is possible that this was her original configuration, which was probably for shrimp trawling in the Gulf of Mexico. In any case, it is very similar.