USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg
The USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a former missile-tracking ship, now resides 6 miles off the Key West in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Scuttled on May 27th of 2009, the reef has become the most “economically successful artificial reef in the world“. Divers have reported algae and sponges quickly colonized the exterior surfaces of the 523-foot-long vessel and at least 113 different species of fish now make their homes in and around the hulk. (image via Florida Fish and Wildlife)
USS Spiegel Grove
The 510 feet long USS Spiegel Grove was a Thomaston-class dock landing ship launched in 1955 and decommissioned in 1989. Title to the ship was given to the State of Florida in 1998 with the intention it should be sunk to form an artificial reef but red tape and environmental studies delayed the actual scuttling for almost 4 years. Finally, on May 17th of 2002, the ship was in position over the Dixie Shoal 10 miles off the coast of Key Largo. Misfortune continued, however, as the ship sank too soon, rolled over, and settled on the seafloor upside down! A difficult and costly salvage operation was undertaken several weeks later that righted the ship and divers began visiting the new artificial reef 134 feet below the sea soon after. (image via Scott Hughes)
