Mercedes I

Located in 97 feet of water, just offshore of Ft. Lauderdale, the 200 foot wreck is broken into 2 parts due to Hurricane Andrew. There are strong currents in the area and that with the depth make this more of an Open Water dive – not for the novice. Probably one of the most well documented sinking of a vessel for an artificial reef, the 200+ foot freighter beached during a storm in November of 1984. A Palm Beach socialite was surprised to find it resting close to her ocean side pool. In March of 1985, after being acquired before the Palm Beach Reef Committee could get her, she was loaded with 350 tons of TNT, stripped, cleaned and holes were cut in her sides and bulkheads. She was floated out to the chosen spot and with full media attention and amazing pyrotechnics and local festivities, she was sunk. Intact until Hurricane Andrew broke her amid ship, she is still a beautiful site. The intact bow faces north on the outside of the third reef system. Average visibility is 50-60 feet. The current and depth make this more of an advanced dive.