Underwater Ship Scuba Diving Sites Created Offshore Jacksonville Florida

Two ships were sunk to benefit the marine environment and create additional fishing and scuba diving opportunities offshore Jacksonville Florida. The new underwater scuba destinations were created by recycling decommissioned metal vessels. This video shows the cleaning and preparation effort that was required to make these boats suitable for artificial reef creation.
The freshly scuttled ships are already teaming with marine life. In a short period of time, they will be covered with growth that will provide resources for an abundance of ocean critters. Visiting scuba divers will have the opportunity to swim around these large ship reefs and observe a great diversity of fish as well as sea turtles. Underwater photographers will appreciate the iconic sunken ship structures when shooting wide angle but will also enjoy the macro photography opportunities when capturing coral growth and juvenile fish pictures.
The new Jacksonville scuba diving sites GPS coordinates are below.
Greater Jax Kingfish Reef: (sailboat ship)
30°22.011'N
80°54.320'W
Jimmy Dales Reef: (tugboat)
30°21.969'N
80°54.365'W
Visit the Visit Jacksonville website for more information on these new scuba diving reefs as well as other fishing and scuba diving opportunities.
#scubadive #jacksonville #divedestination

[@MrKistel]

Max depth at each ship reef site is 90 feet and the top of the tugboat is 60 feet from the ocean surface. Very cool for scuba diving.

[@Drydock8]

Amazing ,another reef project for you thanks for adding more!!

[@MrKistel]

thanks@@Drydock8

[@CaptDavesSportfishing]

Thanks to the Jacksonville Offshore Sport Fishing Club, who started it all in 1960. No GoPro's back then.(so soon forgotten) I've cleaned Tugs.

[@uwjax]

Very cool!

[@RailPreserver2K]

Just wondering if the interior of the ship could be shown flooding next time because I find that part inttesting

[@uwjax]

there is more footage of the vessel sinking we may publish at some point

[@lexwaters6945]

Any follow-up vids on how these two particular boats are being colonized and populated? Be nice if there’s a species list (any data from JRRT?), so marine science teachers can blend this into their curriculum!😉🧐

[@UWPICVID]

Lex, Thanks for the comment. The current plan is to revisit and investigate the ship reefs this spring. Looking forward to seeing how the underwater habitats will have evolved by then.

[@lorimelanson6231]

Can we get the coordinates? How far out is this? How long before concretion and vegetation start? Thanks!

[@uwjax]

Thanks Lori. The reef location coordinates have been added in the video description area. Growth has already started to encrust the ship structure and marine life will continue to aggregate and become more diverse with time.

[@lorimelanson6231]

Do any of the dive sites out of Jax have tie off buoys, or do you have to drop anchor to dive ?

[@uwjax]

No mooring buoys per regulations in the region. We typically anchor carefully or set up a temporary mooring.

[@amandanewport9483]

Ooo

[@johnwilliamsscuba6487]

Who is taking divers out to them?

[@uwjax]

There area local dive charters that are able to take scuba divers to the wreck diving locations.

[@johnwilliamsscuba6487]

I will be diving these this weekend.

[@rob_9876]

@@johnwilliamsscuba6487 What dive op did you go with? And how was it? Thanks!

[@johnwilliamsscuba6487]

​@rob9876 Nautical Divers is the dive outfit I use there is a review on my channel

[@boricualeague3205]

00:56 so are you guys gonna collect rent from the sea creatures ? 🤔

[@uwjax]

Check it out now ruclips.net/video/tNQayezOnQg/видео.html

[@rmoran113]

Joe we met at our yard(Mobro). Contact me when got a second. Call office they will transfer