Key West Scuba Diving the Florida Keys Artificial Reefs.

   There are many wrecks in the Florida Keys, both old and new. In this section
I will try and cover some of the most popular one that are drove on. Just to
give you an idea of the number of old wrecks that are in Key West and the
Florida Keys. In one of the local books used by the school system for teaching.
I came across this piece of information.
    Before 1935 not much was known about the maritime history of the Florida
Keys other than the men who got rich being Wreckers in the 1800's. More on
that in the general information part of this site. But around 1935 a black man
from Cuba approached a plantation owner on Big Pine Key. The Cuban asked the
man if he wanted to know where there were some cannons in the ocean. The
man was curious and paid the Cuban to take him to the area. There was not dive
equipment in those days but the wreck was fairly shallow, and the man was able
to get enough information as to the name of the ship.
     Just by chance another man in Key Largo came across another ship. Both men
wrote letters to the respective countries. One of the wrecks was Spanish and
the other was English. Both Spain and England sent back replies to the inquires
they got. To the men's surprise both countries sent back a list of all the ships
each one loss over the years. With there locations included. Remember both of
these countries took great pride in their maritime heritage. Plus both countries
keep very good records of all their shipping accidents. When both the men in
the Florida Keys got together and examined the list the combined lost of ships
in the Florida Keys from both countries was about 1000 ships. That right 1000
ship sank in the area of the Florida Keys since the 15th century.
    All that you find today if you look carefully is a pile of ballast stone lying
on the ocean floor all the timbers eaten away by worms many years ago. The
average wreck site yields about 250,000 artifacts. From spikes, rigging, men's
personal articles, to the cargo the ship was carrying.

Clyde's Key West Scuba Diving