![]() |
Spiegel Grove
Also known as LSD Spiegel Grove, LSD-32, Spiegel Grove Wreck, USS Spiegel Grove
|
Water
Sea (Salt water)
Features Wreck, Artificial Reef Depth
20.4 m (avg)
40 m (max)
Diver Level
Advanced Only
|
|
![]() |
|
Spiegel Grove was decommissioned 2 October 1989 and her name struck from the Navy list on 13 December 1989. The vessel was transferred to the Maritime Administration in the James River fleet. In 1998, title passed to the state of Florida, with the plan of sinking the hull to make an artificial reef off Key Largo. To achieve this, the EPA had to increase the acceptable amount of PCB (a toxic chemical substance) remaining in future wrecks from 2 ppm to 50 ppm. Red tape and financial problems delayed the sinking of USS Spiegel Grove for several years, but the ship was finally moved from Virginia to Florida in May 2002. The ship sank prematurely, on 17 May 2002. During the sinking the ex-Spiegel Grove suddenly started rolling on her starboard side, ending up upside down on the sea bottom and leaving her bow protruding slightly out of the ocean. On 10–11 June, at a cost of $250,000 dollars, the ship was rolled onto her starboard side by Resolve Marine Group, and on 26 June the site was opened to recreational divers. In the next week, over a thousand divers visited the site. The depth of wreck requires that divers have an advanced diving certification. The ex-Spiegel Grove is located on Dixie Shoal, 6 miles (10 km) off the Florida Keys in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Her exact location is 25°04′00.2″N 80°18′00.7″W Coordinates: 25°04′00.2″N 80°18′00.7″W. In July 2005, Hurricane Dennis shifted the former USS Spiegel Grove onto her keel, right-side-up, which was the position originally intended when she was sunk. Source: Wikipedia |
|
|
Nearby Photos
Dives at this site
- Spiegel Grove by Christina Schrant 6 years ago
- It's a Big Blue World by Jen Kobrick 8 years ago
- Burying Ryan's Treasure by Jen Kobrick 8 years ago
- Scary Descent by Jen Kobrick 8 years ago
- Dive 2 for Advanced Open Water Certification: Deep Adventure Dive #1 by Chelsea Anne Shields 8 years ago
People who dived here
Top operators for Spiegel Grove
-
Ocean Divers 17 km
-
Silent World 17 km
-
Florida Keys Dive Center 16 km
-
Horizon Divers 11 km
-
Ocean Divers 11 km
-
Capt Slates 18 km
-
Conch Republic Divers 16 km
-
Scuba-Do 12 km
-
Captain Slates Atlantis Dive Center 18 km
-
Dive In 11 km
-
Central Coast Dive Center 1,606 km
Stats for this site
Nearby Dive Sites
Eagle Ray Alley 92 m
Logan's Run 108 m
Spanish Anchor 156 m
Winch Hole 155 m
Fire Coral Cave 203 m