Popular dive sites
USS Strength,
a Naval mine sweeper. It's 184 feet long with a
33-foot beam. It's located 5.75 miles from the St. Andrews Pass in
75 feet of water. Decommissioned and used as a Navy dive salvage
training site. The bow is broken and laid over the port side. The
back three quarters is intact and sits on its keel. The highest
superstructure is 55 feet. Loran C coordinates: 14076.8, 46943.9.
Hovercraft,
weighs 165 tons, is nearly 100 feet long and has
a 48-foot beam. It is located about 6 nautical miles from the pass
in 75 feet of water. The craft is made of aluminum and has little
growth. Loran C coordinates: 14038.6, 46976.8.
B. J. Putnam, a 180-ft supply vessel sitting at 105 feet. The supply boat had been converted for use as a processing platform. It was sunk in 1993. It holds a large variety of marine life, and is a good fishing and diving site for advanced divers. Loran C coordinates: 13991.6, 46909.1.
Black Bart,
a 185-foot oil field supply ship sits upright in about 75 feet of
water. Her bow points due south. The bridge can be reached at 40
feet and the main deck is at 66 feet. The cargo holds are open for
exploration. Divers can also explore the head (complete with
toilets) and the galley which still has several appliances. The
Black Bart is a popular spot for wreck training and for photography.
There is an abundance of fish in and around the ship. Turtles have
been spotted at times, along with catfish, flounder and grouper. The
bottom is a bit silty; visibility is generally 20-25 feet at the
main deck. Be sure to bring a dive light. One Halloween, a prankster
chained a skeleton, complete with mask and snorkel, to the
wheelhouse. No word on whether the skeleton is still there.
Loran C
coordinates: 14030.1, 46972.
Dive Sites
NEAR SHORE 4 HOUR DIVE SITES| NAME | TOP (Feet) | BOTTOM (Feet) |
| Black Bart | 50 | 75 |
| Strength | 63 | 75 |
| Chickasaw | 63 | 70 |
| Twin Barges | 70 | 80 |
| Loss Pontoon | 45 | 65 |
| Stage II | 45 | 55 |
| Blow UP Barge | 60 | 65 |
| Bridge Span #14 | 45 | 72 |
| Bridge Span #1 | 45 | 70 |
| Bridge Span #5 | 45 | 75 |
| Warsaw Hole | 78 | 82 |
| B&B Barge | 40 | 45 |
| Murphy's Barge | 45 | 50 |
| Atlantis | 35 | 45 |
| Navy Trash Pile | 45 | 50 |
| J&B Reef | 35 | 40 |
| Wet & Wild Spot | 40 | 50 |
| Navy Barge | 50 | 55 |
| Bridge Span #12 | 45 | 72 |
| PCMI Barge | 60 | 65 |
| Long Beach Barge | 45 | 53 |
| Jeff A Hover Craft | 70 | 75 |
| Dan Barge** | 50 | 60 |
| OFFSHORE 6 HOUR DIVE SITES | ||
| Name | TOP (Feet) | BOTTOM (Feet) |
| Chippewa | 55 | 92 |
| Tarpon | 90 | 100 |
| Stage I | 60 | 105 |
| B.J. Putnam | 70 | 105 |
| Commander | 75 | 90 |
| Accokeek** | 60 | 90 |
| Century Barge ** | 92 | 100 |
| Twin Tugs *** | 70 | 100 |
| Mac's reef * | 72 | 97 |
| EXTENDED OFFSHORE 8 HR DIVE SITES | ||
| Grey Ghost | 85 | 105 |
Various limestone reefs depths ranging from 80' to 100' off Philips Inlet.
* New sites sunk in 2007. ** New sites sunk in 2000. *** New sites sunk in 2003.