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| MileMarker: | 100 |
| Location: | Lat 24 59.38 Long 80 22.92 6 nautical miles offshore, approximately 1 mile south of Molasses Reef tower; 1/2 mile south of the Bibb. |
| Markers: | 2-3 Mooring bouys |
| Depth Range: | 40 to 120 feet deep |
| Skill Level req.: | advanced |
| Risks/Warnings: | depth, strong current, remoteness, wreck penetration |
| History | |
| The Duane was built in 1935. She is 327 feet long, with a 41 foot beam. She served as a US Coast Guard Cutter, seeing service patrolling offshore of Florida during WW II, in Europe during the invasion of France, and patrolling the coast of Vietnam. She did search and rescue in later peacetime years and was decommissioned in 1985. A consortium of diveshops and other organizations arranged for the Duane and the Bibb (the Duane's sister ship) to be stripped and prepared as artificial reefs and divesites. The doors were removed above the main deck and the lower compartments were sealed. Both ships were sunk in 1987. | |
| Dive Description | |
| The Duane sits upright in 120 feet of water. As it is outside the reef line, the current is often quite ripping. This is an advanced dive, and few diveshops will take divers without proper documentation (i.e., logbooks showing deep dives, Advanced C-cards, etc.). Boats should tie off to the buoys, which are secured to the bow and the stern of the wreck. Divers should always descend and ascend along the anchor line to avoid being swept away by the current. A 15' safety stop is mandatory. Due to the variable depths, this should be considered a multi-level dive. Dive computers are a great aid. Don't forget your divelight either. The Duane is one of the most spectacular dives in the Florida Keys. It should be a centerpiece of any dive trip for qualified divers. Visibility is often over 100 feet. Penetration is easy and safe (for wreck-certified divers). The hull is heavily encrusted with corals. Large animals like jewfish, cobia, turtles, big amberjacks, etc. frequent the site. Schools of barracuda hover at about 50 feet, giving you something to check out while you ascend/descend. Divers will reach the wreck at either the stern or bow anchor line. First time Duane divers should stay as shallow as possible (to maximize downtime). Avoid going deeper than 100' as there is nothing worth seeing any deeper. Pass along each side of the ship, stopping at the wheelhouse in the middle. Some of the easier entry points can yield spectacular penetration experiences as you come face to face with a large Jewfish or Nurse Shark. The forward deck has a large circular hatch, marking the ammunition storage area of the gun turret. Always stay alert and look around for the big animals. The Duane is so cool that 1 tank and 25 minutes is insufficient to satisfy you. People often overstay their air and deco times because they are having so much fun. Enjoy, but beware! For further information, visit this link: Indiana University-Duane Info |
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| Divesite info by: Jonathan Brinkman | |
Divelog for USCG Duane
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