City of Washington
Built by the shipyard of John Roach and Sons in Pennsylvania in 1877, the steamship City of Washington was 320ft long with a 38ft beam. In addition to her engines, the ship was fitted with two masts and a full set of sails. For many years the ship carried passengers between New York and Havana, and she was anchored near the battleship USS Maine when that ship exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898. The City of Washington’s crew rescued 90 sailors from the tragedy.
In 1908 her engines were removed, and the ship was converted to a barge. While under tow by the tugboat Edgar F. Luckenbach, City of Washington struck the reef and sank. The wreckage was later considered a hazard to navigation and was dynamited. The basic hull form is still intact, but the other parts of the ship have been reduced to large pieces of metal plate. The maximum depth on the wreck is 25ft
Great barracuda and green moray eels have been hand-fed at this site for many years, acclimating them to contact with divers. Don’t be alarmed if you suddenly find one about 4 inches from your mask, expectantly looking you in the eye. Curl your fingers up so they won’t be mistaken for small baitfish, and keep your hands by your sides.
The wreck of the City of Washington is a superb night dive. Its shallow depth makes it perfect for the last dive of the day, and navigation is easy because you can just stay on or near the wreck. The marine life you see at night is very different from that seen during the day, as an entirely new cast takes the stage, including spider crabs and brittle stars.
Reproduced with permission from Diving & Snorkeling Florida Keys 2001 Lonely Plant Publications www.lonelyplanet.com