Reported By: Jay Cashmere
March 8, 2006
It was sunk as an artificial reef in December of 1985 off Islamorada. Today at 110 feet below the surface... "The Eagle"...stands as the oldest artificial wreck in the upper keys. Its also the focus of this weeks Underwater Wednesday's report.
"The Eagle" is a unique wreck in that it recently marked its 20 year anniversary.
Two decades beneath the surface it has withstood the effects of time and multiple hurricanes. So we went down to find out more on how this reef has changed over the years.
Its sits at 110 feet below the surface and serves as the pride and joy for diving in the upper keys. Joanie Follmer remembers taking the plunge like it was yesterday.
Follmer was part of dozens who brought "The Eagle" to the keys, watched it sink on December 19, 1985 and saw the instant underwatertransformation.
"Little by little over next several weeks we could see little algae grow it was like lawn we just planted."
Now 20 years later having just celebrated an anniversary, The Eagle, at 287 feet in two sections, has stood the test of time. Grouper, Snapper, Cobia and Amberjacks are just a few fish species inhabiting its interior.
"The nice thing about the eagle is that its been down for a long time and it becomes a fish attracting device because it has so much growth on it...there's so much resident population you can always be assured you'll see something there."
Jupiter Dive Center's Randy Jordan remembers his look at the oldest wreck in the upper keys. He had company on that day....
"A large manta ray about 12 feet came across came up on to the group and stayed with us for about 45 minutes throughout the entire dive. Most amazing thing I've ever seen underwater"
Each dive is a new experience. Rarely is one similar to the other and in 1988 when hurricane Georges hit, the look of The Eagle was forever changed.
"It is amazing the power of the universe., That shipwreck broke in half and separated."
It meant a brand new diving experience shaping what has become one of the most popular dives in the keys. A must visit, not just for marine life, but for the history of this vessel in its life above water and now two decades below the surface.
"There's always something on it..it has a life of its own. I'm gonna keep going until i've seen it all."
For more information on "The Eagle" and how you can take a dive in for a closer look:
www.fla-keys.com/listing
FLORIDA KEYS DIVE CENTER
Phone: 305-852-4599
Toll Free: 800-433-8946
Fax: 305-852-1293
Email: scuba@floridakeysdivectr.com
MM 90.5
Tavernier , FL 33070
FLORIDA KEYS DIVE CENTER is a PADI 5-Star IDC facility which has been serving the upper Keys since 1983.
