Scuba diving in The Duane 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
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.