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Spiegel Grove
Named for the Ohio estate of Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th president of the United States, Spiegel Grove was built in Pascagoula, Mississippi, by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. Launched on June 8, 1956, the ship was designated LSD-32 (landing ship, dock), with a cavernous well deck that could be flooded to launch amphibious craft during a beach assault. The ship could also accommodate hundreds of troops during the journey to a war zone anywhere in the world.
Based in Norfolk, Virginia, Spiegel Grove supported military exercises in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Mediterranean, but her greatest service was in welfare, not warfare. In 1961 Spiegel Grove carried tons of medical supplies, food, books and toys to Africa, visiting Gambia, Zanzibar, Kenya, South Africa and the Seychelles during a four-month goodwill tour. In 1963 the ship embarked on a similar mission, steaming 21,000 miles to visit nine countries.
At 510ft long with an 84ft beam, Spiegel Grove will be one of the largest diveable shipwrecks in the world. Her steam turbines produced 24,000 horsepower, giving her a top speed of 24 knots. The well deck, enormous deck cranes, antiaircraft batteries and large superstructure will make this wreck an extremely effective artificial reef. The bottom at the wreck site is between 100 and 130ft.
Expect to see the entire marine food chain represented on the wreck. Upper-level predators like barracuda and jacks are always the first to arrive on a new shipwreck, but they are swiftly followed by the spectrum of fish and invertebrates. As the wreck matures, and encrusting corals and sponges grow thick, it will support a burgeoning marine life population.
The project to sink Spiegel Grove in the waters off Key Largo was initiated in 1994 by a small group from the local business community, who enlisted the help and support of Monroe County, the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce, the state of Florida, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Maritime Administration and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The ship will be thoroughly cleaned and inspected prior to the sinking to avoid any possible contamination. The interior of the superstructure will also be opened and marked to allow safe diver access. Penetration below the prepared areas will be dangerous and is not recommended. Be prepared to face strong currents at this site.
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Reproduced with permission from Diving & Snorkeling Florida Keys 2001 Lonely Plant Publications www.lonelyplanet.com
