USS Wilkes-Barre

Located 14 miles east-southeast of the Boca Chica Channel in 140 to 320 foot depths, this is an ADVANCED dive site for the Technical Deep Diver only. The superstructure of this 608 foot Cleveland Class cruiser can be reached at 145 feet. This 608 foot Cleveland Cruiser is sitting upright in 320 feet of water. She was used as a test subject for underwater explosives. The ship broke in 2 pieces and although the stern sank right away, the rest of the ship required another explosive charge to sink completely. The superstructure begins at 145 feet and the main deck begins at 210 feet. This site attracts the really big marine life – sperm whales, whale sharks, manta rays and loggerhead turtles have been seen here. This is a decompression dive only and is for the more highly advanced technical divers familiar with decompression dives. Each half of this ship is considered a separate dive.