Where the Professionals Train            800-451-1113

USS SPIEGEL GROVE
The first thing sport divers notice about the Spiegel Grove wreck is its immensity.

"Imagine a ship lying along the bottom that's almost two football fields long. That's the Spiegel Grove," said Miami scuba enthusiast Jerry Apple, a veteran wreck diver who explored the ship soon after its June 2002 sinking. The vessel is 510 feet long, 84 feet wide, and lied on her starboard side until Hurricane Dennis up righted it in 2005.

Spiegel Grove was laid down on September 7, 1954 by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. Pascagoula, Miss. Launched on November 10, 1955 and commissioned on June 8, 1956. Spiegel Grove was decommissioned October 2, 1989 and her name struck from the Navy list December 13, 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. 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 June 10-11, 2002 the ship was rolled onto her starboard side, and on June 26th 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 Spiegel Grove is located on Dixie Shoal, 6 miles (10 km) off the Florida Keys in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Depth range 50-130 ft.

Look at the other locations in Pennekamp Park and the National Marine Sancatuary of Key Largo Florida
French Reef
Christ of the Deep
North Dry Rocks
Grecian Rocks
Pickles Reef
Snapper Ledge
Sand Island
Molasses Reef
Benwood
USCG Duane
 

When you are planning to dive on the LSD Spiegel Grove you may consider the following classes to enhance your experience and skills.
PADI Deep Diver
PADI Wreck Diver
PADI Enriched Air Nitrox
Spiegel Grove Specialty

Ocean Divers supports the Upper Keys Artificial Reef Fund by requiring all divers doing the Spiegel Grove or the Duane to purchase an Artificial Reef Medallion

PLEASE NOTE:
It is Ocean Divers' policy to recommend
against making any "penetration" dives
 

Call Ocean Divers at 800-451-1113