Liveaboard diving in

The Duane Wreck

  • Diver level:

    Advanced

  • Depth max:

    40 m

  • Visibility:

    to 30m
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Must see
Wreck

The USCG Duane was built as a cutter in 1935 and served for different purposes till 1985. It is well-known for saving lots of lives accomplishing escort duty in Florida Keys expanse. It was intentionally sunk in 1986 in Key Largo to create another artificial reef dive site in the area. The wreck sits in an upright position and is almost intact, what creates wonderful diving conditions. Diving in the USCG Duane is possible inside the wreck. Divers can enter multiple opened rooms, penetrate the ship and admire the interior. The dive site is also frequently chosen for underwater photography.


 

When To Go Diving

Key Largo, Florida has a tropical climate. Diving in the USCG dive site is better from May to October, as average air temperatures in those months are of 30-32C/86-89F and water temperatures of 28-30C/82-86F. The approximate air and water temperatures from November to April are of 15-17C/59-62F.

What to see

The condition of the cutter is so great, that divers can even spot the smallest details of the hull, including tiny screws, bolts, rudders and rails. Nowadays, the wreck is also covered with various coral formations, sponges, gorgonians and sea fans, which attract local fish. Diving in the USCG Duane let divers encounter various underwater species, such as amberjacks, barracuda, cobia, snappers, hogfish, groupers and occasional nurse, bull and whale sharks.


Reviews about The Duane Wreck

Great Key Largo wreck
The USCGC Duane is another great wreck dive in the Key Largo area, close to other wrecks and reefs. This is a deep dive, with the top of the ship mast at 60 feet and the max depth at 130 feet. Beware of potentially strong current in this area, we experienced very strong currents from 25 feet up (below 25 feet was not bad). There are quite a few options for penetration into the wreck, the upper decks and hatches are open for swimming through. The ship is very much intact including rudders, props, ladders, etc. making it a ver... Read more
y cool wreck dive
2015-03-31
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