Who ever heard of a shipwreck getting a Do Over? In July, Hurricane Dennis blew by the Florida Keys, leaving behind an unexpected benefit: After sitting on its side for three years, the USS Spiegel Grove was flipped upright, allowing divers a whole new perspective on one of the largest artificial reefs in the world.
The 510-foot Navy ship is now positioned as originally intended by Key Largo's sport diving industry who invested eight years to acquire, cleanse and sink the ship as an artificial reef ecosystem, only to have it sink upside down. Said project manager Rob Bleser, "In its upright orientation, one is overwhelmed by a feeling of its history, massive size and the ship's ability to continue making history."
The Spiegel Grove sits at 130 feet, about six miles off Key Largo. Now, it's as though the Keys have gained a brand new dive site but one already encrusted with corals and that's long provided a cozy home to a thriving community of marinelife (fla-keys.com/spiegelgrove/). Dive the Spiegel Grove next time you're in the Keys with www.oceandivers.com or www.seadwellers.com.
