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Northeast: Shipwrecks
Add Northeast Florida's many reefs and shipwrecks to offshore depths from 40 to 120
feet, natural limestone reef ledges and a 25-year history of reef building, and the area offers divers a wide range of options
One of the most popular reefs in the area is Coppedge Reef, named for the W.T.
Coppedge, a 75-foot tugboat, which is still intact in about 80 feet of water. The reef is in Jacksonville about 20 miles southeast of the Mayport jetties. It is home to marine vegetation, barracuda, angelfish, cobia, snapper and tangs.
For a slightly deeper dive, try The Anna, a 225-foot freighter, sunk in 1986 in 110 feet of
water. Today, the boat has broken into two pieces. This large site is also home to many fish and vegetation. Contact the Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau at (904) 798-9148 or <http://www.jaxcvb.com/>
St. Augustine's Intruder Reef is made up of 30 stacked A-6 Intruder attack bombers
sunk in 110 feet of water. It's an interesting site for divers and a healthy habitat for game fish and marine plants. Call St. John's Visitors and Convention Bureau (St. Augustine) at (800) old-city for more info.
To the North, Amelia Island is home to many natural and artificial reefs offshore ranging
from 10 to 30 miles and depths of 60 to 120 feet. Snorkelers, on the other hand, typically hug the beaches and inland waters. <http://www.ameliaisland.org/index_beach.php>
Typically, visibility on dives ranges from 20 to 120 feet depending on the season and the
tide. Numerous dive companies operate along the Northeast Florida coast |
