Shipwrecks
The Almirante was built in 1909 and sunk in 1918 in a collision with the USS Hisko off Atlantic City. The Almirante was a 3,121 ton passenger freighter owned by the United Fruit Company. It is also known as the Flour Wreck since flour was part of it's cargo and it washed up on nearby beaches. This wreck sits in 65 feet of water. It is a big wreck, having been wire-dragged twice and depthcharged, so good navigational skills are a must. Yet it still contains good artifacts and plenty of brass. The wreck has a lot of structure for lobster to hide in and large mussel beds. The Flour normally has great visibility. This is a fantastic wreck that every diver should visit.
In the spring of 1942 the Arundo was torpedoed by the U-136. It hit the number 2 hull the vessel had a 90 degree list to starboard side in 5 minutes. This vessel was a powered by coal fired steam and is 412 feet in length. At the time of its sinking the Arundo was carrying cargo cases of evaporated milk, canned herring, lubricating oil, 123 three ton GMC trucks, 2 locomotives and 5000 cases of beer. For a noncombat freighter she was suited with a 4 inch gun mounted on the after deck, 2 20-mm antiaircraft, 2 twin marlins, and 2 30-caliber Hotchkiss guns. The wreck now lies in 130 feet of water.
The Ayuruoca was 6,872 ton freighter sunk in 1945 during a collision. Also known as the Oil Wreck, this wreck is deep, dark and dangerous. It sits at 170 feet in the "Mud Hole." It is covered in monofilament fishing line waiting to catch an inattentive diver. For experienced divers only!
This 414 foot Norwegian freighter is still loaded with navigation equipment and lies in 190 foot of water (Rarely Dived).
The Brunette was a freighter sunk during a collision in 1870. It is also known as the Door Knob Wreck since many porcelain doorknobs were recovered after it's discovery. The Brunette sits in about 75 feet of water and is another digging wreck. Visibility can vary on this wreck since it lies just outside Manasquan Inlet.
This passenger freighter was built in 1896 and powered by coal-fired stem. This 380 foot freighter was shelled by U-151, part of the six vessels sunk during what is known as Black Sunday. It now lies in 240 feet of water.
Cayru (False or Galimore's Cayru)
Rarely visited, this massive teak decked wind jammer with auxiliary steam power was thought to be the Brazilian freighter Cayru lost during WWII. Much investigation is still needed to uncover it's true identity.
Champion (Offshore Paddlewheeler)
This is one of my favorite wrecks! This deep-water paddlewheeler lies at 165 feet and is in an area with usually very clear water.
This steel hull freighter was built in 1960 and has a length of 249 feet. The Chaparra was carrying sugar from Havana Cuba to New York, when it was hit on the port side just in front of the bridge by a mine placed by the U-117. At the same time a wall of water hit the vessel covering the bridge, the freighter sank in 2.5 minutes. This wreck now lies on the bottom in 80 feet of water.
Lost in a storm on February 26, 1918, this tug remains upright on the sandy bottom. Divers can dig in the bow area for brass casings and assorted hardware. The gun has been salvaged, yet the debris field on the port-side still yields rare wheelhouse artifacts.
This passenger steamer sank in a collision with the French armored cruiser La Gloire on May 1, 1918. Today, the remains provide the artifact and lobster hunter an infinite store of rifle ammunition, bottles, and assorted war surplus as well as large lobsters dwelling throughout the hull plates. Rifle butts can be located 15 feet forward of the boilers and ammo is in the port bow.
Gary Gentile positively identified this wreck when he discovered a brass barrel stencil in the debris field. The Cleopatra, a passenger freighter, sank together with the paddelwheeler, Crystal Wave, nearby in a collision on October 29, 1889. Whale oil lamps, bells, pumps, portholes, deadeyes and numerous hardware pieces continue to be uncovered by divers using scooters moving the sand.
This shallow wreck lies in 45 feet of water and used mostly for training. However, it is an excellent spot for spearfishing. This large, steam-powered dredge was used to dig the Delaware Canal. Today it remains a haven for large tautog and sea bass, and it is festooned with sponge and cold water coral.
The Delaware has a length of 250 feet and was powered by coil-fire steam. This wooden hull, passenger freighter was built in 1880. She sank in July 1898, when the ship caught fire. The Delaware was heading to Jacksonville Fl when the ship caught fire, said to be carrying ammunitions for Admiral Sampson of the American Navy (at that time contracted out to the US Navy). The company denies carrying ammunitions and none have been seen or recovered from the wreck that lies in 70 feet of water.
The Emerald is an unknown steamer at 80 feet. A great digging wreck, the Emerald was named by the late Capt. George Hoffman for it's emerald colored bottles and the green copper piping that littered the wreck when it was first dove. Recent crates we've uncovered has led to evidence that this may be the wreck of the Alexander Oldham, a coastal steamer lost on Dec. 31, 1873. This wreck has many fantastic artifacts waiting to be found. Some of the items recovered so far have been bottles, china, silverware, beads, ink wells, bone toothbrushes, leather shoes, a clock and it's key, and even a small, unmarked dinner bell. Above the sandy bottom lies four, almost buried boilers, the engine and twin prop shafts. The props are missing.
Francis Perkins (January Wreck)
The Francis Perkins was a Pilot Boat that sunk in 1887 in 80 feet of water. It is mostly known as the January Wreck since it was first found and dove in January 1981 and is a traditionally dove during January. It is our first dive of every year. The January Wreck is a very low-lying wreck and, therefore, hard to locate since very little structure remains. Just a small wooden beam. It is a digging wreck, so bring your scooter! Gene Peterson, owner of Atlantic Divers, found gold coins on this wreck. Other artifacts include china dishes, silverware, bottles, deadeyes and portholes to name just a few.
The Great Isaac was a large ocean-going tug that sank due to a collision in 1947. This is an awesome dive! The Great Isaac sits in 90 feet of water and is intact lying on it's port (left) side. It's sunk about half way into the sandy bottom and it's rapidly deteriorating. This is a great wreck for all wreck divers! It offers something for everyone. Artifacts are everywhere, as are lobster and fish. Mussels can be scraped from the upper parts of the wreck and are, therefore, cleaner with less sand in them. The Great Isaac now has many entrances into her inner compartments for divers with experience and training in wreck penetrations. Oh, and if anyone finds a hammer on the wreck with a double-snap clip on it, it's mine!
Bow
This 6,776 ton oil tanker was torpedoed on March 10, 1942 by the U-588 (Kapitanleutnant Vogel). The wreck lies in two sections. The bow grounded after the attack and now lies in 60 ft. of water 5 miles SE of Barnegat Light. This section was cleared to a depth of forty feet. Here divers can find some boilers, parts and brass mechanisms scattered throughout the hull plates. A popular site for lobster and
spear fisherman. Although it has been overlooked by artifact hunters, the wheelhouse was leveled and has been covered over by sand since its' sinking. Divers have recovered china,
gravy boats, cups, thermometers, .50 caliber bullets and several portholes here. Divers should be aware that live hedgehog bombs dropped from blimps during the war are occasionally found at this site. DO NOT RECOVER THESE!
Stern
The stern section drifted 10 miles NNE from the bow and remains nearly intact and upright. The stern deckhouse was wire-dragged off the top deck. It now lies scattered on the starboard side of the main hull section. Divers will find this section interesting because one can penetrate the hull with plenty of overhead light and escape routes. Large lobster and all-mouth (Monk fish) are prevalent in the debris field. Artifact hunters can still find portholes buried in the sand near the debris field.
This 314 ft. long four-stack destroyer was torpedoed by the U-578 (Korvettenkapitan Rewinkel) on February 27, 1942. Ninety men perished from the attack which not only the explosion caused by the German torpedo, but also by the depth charge explosions from the destroyer's own devices erupting upon reaching the sea floor. Today, the mid-section remains one of the few contiguous sections. Here divers can find 3 inch brass casings crushed by the pressure at the 110 ft. depth. Many valve wheels and brass machinery parts are intermixed throughout the hull. The bridge section is a small piece lying SE of the main wreckage. Rarely visited, this section has large lobsters but only the main helm stand is left, covered by allot of sand. Many other small pieces are great distances from the mid-section. Divers should be aware that a few depth charges remain near the stern section, a torpedo with a small brass propeller sticks out from under a hull piece and much live ordinance remains. DO NOT DISTURB OR RECOVER THESE!
Lake Frampton The freighter was built in 1918 and has a length of 251 feet. In July 1920, the Lake Frampton sank to 70 feet due to a collision with the SS Comus.
This 437 foot collier was built in 1917 and sank in 1942 by three torpedoes from the U-404.
This collier type vessel was built in 1916, and has a length of 253 feet. In June 1944, the Maurice Tracey collided with Jesse Billingsley, traveling south from New York to Norfolk VA with coal. On the bottom the wreck was a serious navigation hazard and now lies flattened on the bottom in 70 feet of water.
This converted subchaser was sank while patrolling off Cape May, New Jersey, due to a collision with the US Destroyer Greer on October 15, 1942. This once luxurious private yacht was well outfitted with a 3-inch deck gun that still sits in place on the bow. Much of the hull has collapsed, pancaking the decks below. The intact hull leans to the portside. Teak decks are in fair condition after nearly 60 years. Divers can find artifacts including personal crew items by digging in the sand aft of the collapsed wheelhouse. Divers beware: What remains of the depth charges still lie in racks in place on the stern. DO NOT DISTURB OR RECOVER THESE! Visibility is usually excellent on this wreck and the depth, 125 feet, makes a good choice for advanced wreck divers.
The Vessel was built in 1920, and sunk February 1939. The Northern Lillian sank due to the collision with SS Wiegand in dense fog at night, carrying sugar from Puerto Rico to NY. The Lillian struck the vessels starboard side at 33 degrees. It lays on the bottom at 150 feet like pick up sticks and has to boilers that are very identifiable.
The Revenue Cutter Mohawk sank on October 1, 1917 due to a collision with the British tanker S.S. Vennacher, while on patrol off Sandy Hook, NJ. Good visibility is now common on this exciting wreck loaded with marine hardware and china. The china has the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service embossed mark.
Discovered by Captain, Ed Boyle, the remains of this old schooner have produced dead eyes and lobster strewn through out bricks.
By far, the most spectacular wreck off the coast for advanced divers. This humongous tanker was torpedoed and burned for two days before sinking. Divers can visit the 6-inch foyer deck gun at the stern or search the bridge and bow for lobsters and artifacts. Large lobster prowl the corridors and cod fish slumber below the hull plates.
Built in 1904, this coal-fired steam freighter sank in 1942 due to the collision with the SS Santa Elisa. The wreck now lies in 110 foot of water.
This freighter was built 1879, powered by coal-fired steam. She was sunk on October 1918, while heading south from New York to Florida. The San Saba was carrying general cargo for the US Railroad administration when it struck a mine off the New Jersey coast. The mine was set by the German U-boat U-117.
The Stolt, as she is known as, was a 582 foot Norwegian tanker, rammed by the Israeli luxury liner S.S. Shalom on November, 26, 1964. Only the stern half of the ship went to the bottom. The rest was towed into port. (There, they welded on a new stern and she continues to be in service today!) Now, the stern section lies in 130 feet of water, about 18 miles East of Point Pleasant. The remaining wreckage rises to a shallow 70 feet. Great visibility and the gigantic features of the Stolt make it a spectacular dive for all.
This 331 foot vessel was built in 1913. The wreck lies in 220 feet of water due to the bombs placed by the U-151, part of the Black Sunday sinkings. The wreck was first dived and discovered by Atlantic Divers.
The Tolten was built in 1938, with a 280 foot length. This Chilean freighter, was a neutral ship during the war but when unloading in the US required to follow US Navy guidelines of running with the lights blacked out. Due to running with no lights she was torpedoed by U-404 in March 1942. She now lies on the bottom in 90 feet of water.
This 470 foot twin screw tanker was built in 1925. In January 1942, the Varanger was torpedoed by the U-130. The wreck lies in 150 feet of water, about 22 miles of AC, NJ and lies on her keel with the top relief of about 110 ft. The tanker has a 4in deck gun that fell of the stern ripping the deck open like a can opener. Stacks of gun shells, dishes, ammo boxes, flashlights and gallery pots were exposed.
On October 30, 1890, this Spanish steamer carried a group of rich Cuban businessmen and their families when it was struck by the sailing vessel Cornelius Hargraves and suddenly sank. Many treasures remain buried beneath the sands.
For more information on these wrecks and others stop by the shop and pick up Gary Gentile's "Popular Dive Guide Series Shipwrecks of New Jersey" (North, Central, South). Also check out NJ SCUBA Diver. another site to get more information.