Just about every diver dreams of exploring a massive, mysterious shipwreck; and for decades, enormous wrecks were out of reach to all but the most serious professional divers. Today, tankers and other large ships have been made accessible thanks to various artificial reef programs, making larger wrecks much easier to get to! One of the very best of these huge wreck sites is the USAFS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg. Let’s take a brief look at one of the most desirable wrecks in the United States.
The History of The Vandenberg
Launched in 1943 as the USNS General Harry Taylor, this C4-S-A1 design transport ship served in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, the Palau Islands, and the Philippines, hauling troops and supplies for the war effort, until she was transferred to the Atlantic in 1945. She then made two Magic Carpet voyages, carrying American troops home from the European theatre, and was finally decommissioned on June 13, 1946.
After serving as a US Army transport ship for a time, she was reinstated to Naval duties in April of 1950, then placed back in reserve in 1958 after many voyages to and from Europe and the Caribbean. After some time spent in the “mothball” fleets of Texas, she was transferred to the Air Force, and renamed USAFS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg on June 11, 1963. She was then fitted with radar and telemetry equipment, and was used to help track and analyze ballistic missile test flights and work on other space-related projects.
In 1998, after being stricken from the register of military ships once more, she was used in the movie Virus. She played the part of the Russian vessel, Akademik Vladislav, and the Russian lettering can still be seen on her hull!
In 1999, the ship was transferred to the Maritime Administration, then was approved by the state of Florida for use as an artificial reef in 2007. After two years of political haranguing and preparation for safe penetration by divers, the Vandenberg was finally deployed on her final mission – that of serving as one of the best artificial reefs in Florida! She was sunk on May 27, 2009, about 6 miles south of Key West.
Diving the Vandenberg
The 523 foot long Vandenberg has a beam of 71.5 feet and boasts 6 mooring buoys. She sits upright on the ocean floor with her keel in 150 feet of water. Her dish array antennae were blown off during the sinking, so even though the ship is intact, she is missing a few pieces!
The crow’s nest platforms, the tops of the bridges, and the communication center can be accessed at 40 feet, which means even divers with less experience can dive the Vandenberg. There are numerous decks, measuring from 70 to 475 feet long, which are accessible at depths from 45 to 90 feet. Eight foot by ten foot holes were cut into the ship’s sides, to allow divers to penetrate and exit the wreck with ease. In addition, there are 18 stair towers, cargo hold shafts, and 11 elevator shafts that allow for vertical access. The enormous propeller and the rudder, which is a massive 25 feet tall, are both intact at 150 feet, providing the most experienced divers with some outstanding photo ops.
This incredible wreck takes several dives to explore, particularly if you are interested in accessing the ship’s deeper features. Already, goliath groupers and big jewfish have taken up residence inside the wreck, and it is attracting shimmering clouds of baitfish and small tropicals. As it is such a huge artificial reef, one can see a splendid array of life at every level, and the ship is already beginning to acquire a little coral and sponge growth.
If you are visiting Key West and have time for only a single wreck dive, consider visiting this amazing historic ship. Dive on a weekday if you can, and you’ll be able to avoid the swarms of divers that flock to the site on weekends – but don’t worry. The ship is almost the length of two football fields, so even if she is busy, there is lots of room for everyone!
Comments
This is one site I'd like to visit on my next trip to the Keys. Can't wait for August.