List of shipwrecks of Florida

This is a list of shipwrecks located in, and off the coast of, Florida.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Map of Florida, 1864

Bay County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
USCS Belle	United States	1857	A schooner that ran aground off St. Andrews Bay.
SS Tarpon	United States	30 August 1937	A steamship that foundered off Panama City.	30°5′42.12″N 85°56′33.3″W
Vamar	Panama	19 March 1942	An English ship that sank near Mexico Beach.	29°53′56″N 85°27′48″W

Brevard County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Cities Services Empire		22 February 1942	A tanker that was torpedoed by U-128 off Cape Canaveral in 240 fsw.[1][2]
SS Ocean Venus		3 May 1942	An Ocean ship that was torpedoed by U-564 12 nautical miles (22 km) East south east of Cape Canaveral, Florida	28°23′N 80°21′W

Broward County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
SS Copenhagen	United Kingdom	1900	A steamship that crashed into a reef at Pompano Beach.[1][3]	26°12′20″N 80°05′06.46″W
MV Mercedes I	Venezuela	30 March 1985	A merchant vessel that was scuttled as an artificial reef off Fort Lauderdale.

Charlotte County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
USS Annie	United States Navy	30 December 1864	A schooner that sank near Charlotte Harbor.

Dixie County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
City of Hawkinsville	United States	1922	A paddle steamer that was abandoned in the Suwannee River.	29°36′26″N 82°58′15″W

Duval County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
SS Gulfamerica	United States	11 April 1942	A tanker torpedoed by U-123 off Jacksonville.	30°14′N 81°18′W
Maple Leaf	United States Navy	1 April 1864	An American Civil War troopship that struck a naval mine near Jacksonville.[4][5]	30°09′30″N 81°41′12″W

Escambia County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
USS Massachusetts (BB-2)	United States Navy	January 1921	An Indiana-class battleship that was sunk as a target for shore batteries off Pensacola.	30°17′49″N 87°18′41″W
USS Oriskany (CV-34)	United States Navy	17 May 2006	An Essex-class aircraft carrier that was sunk as an artificial reef off Pensacola.	30.042500°N 87.006383°W / 30.042500; -87.006383 (USS Oriskany (CV-34))
USS Preble	United States Navy	27 April 1863	A sloop-of-war that exploded off Pensacola.
San Juan	Spain	19 September 1559	A Spanish galleon that was sunk by a hurricane.	30.34°N 87.23°W / 30.34; -87.23 (Emanuel Point Shipwreck Site)

Franklin County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Benjamin C. Cromwell	United States	1 August 1899	An American schooner that was wrecked and beached in a hurricane on Dog Island.
Capitola		1 August 1899	A steamship that was wrecked and beached in a hurricane on Dog Island.[citation needed]
Cortesia	Italy	1 August 1899	An Italian barque that was split in half and beached in a hurricane on Dog Island.[citation needed]
Elsbeth	Norway	1 August 1899	A Norwegian barque that was wrecked and beached in a hurricane on Dog Island.[citation needed]
Empire Mica	United Kingdom	29 June 1942	A British cargo ship torpedoed and sunk by U-67 off the coast of Apalachicola[citation needed]	29°29′N 85°17′W
HMS Fox (1799)	Royal Navy	1799	A 14 gun schooner that was sunk off Dog Island.[citation needed]
Grace Andrews	United States	1 August 1899	An American schooner that was wrecked and beached in a hurricane on Dog Island.
Hindoo	Norway	1 August 1899	A Norwegian barque that was wrecked in a hurricane and beached on Dog Island.[citation needed]
Iola		1 August 1899	A steamship that was wrecked and beached in a hurricane on Dog Island.[citation needed]
James A. Garfield	United States	1 August 1899	An American barque that was wrecked and beached in a hurricane on Dog Island.
Jafnhar	Norway	1 August 1899	A Norwegian barque that was wrecked in a hurricane and beached on Dog Island.
Latara	Russia	1 August 1899	A Russian barque that was wrecked in a hurricane and beached on Dog Island.[citation needed]
Le Tigre		16 February 1766	A merchant vessel that was stranded on Dog Island during a hurricane.[citation needed]
Mary E. Morse	United States	1 August 1899	An American schooner was wrecked in a hurricane and beached on Dog Island.[citation needed]
Ranavola	Norway	1 August 1899	A Norwegian barque that was destroyed in a hurricane at Dog Island.[citation needed]
Vale	Norway	1 August 1899	A Norwegian barque that was wrecked and beached in a hurricane on Dog Island.[citation needed]
Warren Adams	United States	1 August 1899	An American schooner that was wrecked and beached in a hurricane on Dog Island.[citation needed]
Vidette	United States	1 August 1899	An American brigantine that was wrecked and beached in a hurricane on Dog Island.

Hillsborough County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
USS Narcissus (1863)	United States Navy	4 January 1866	A steamboat that sank off Egmont Key.

Indian River County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
SS Breconshire (1883)	United Kingdom	April 29, 1894	A British steamship en route from New York City to Tampa that ran aground and sank a quarter mile off Vero Beach in 15 to 20 feet of water.[6][7]	27°39′8.86″N 80°21′3.5″W

Manatee County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Bessie Whiting		January 11, 1918	A schooner that ran aground off Perico Island.[8]
Doc's Barge		Unknown	A barge that sunk in 65 feet of water roughly 18 miles from Longboat Pass. Little to nothing is known about the vessel.[9]
Fin Barge		Unknown	Little to nothing is known about the vessel. It sank in 85 feet of water, 25 miles from shore[10]
Nohab (Lensahn III)	Germany	1934	The former steam yacht of Friedrich Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1852-1931). In September 1926, while in Biscayne Bay, the ship was damaged by a hurricane and five of the seven crew died, including the captain. She was towed to the Port of Miami by tugs. In 1928, she was moved to Tampa Bay but she was not repaired and she sank in 1934. Her hulk was towed 15 nautical miles out to sea and abandoned to sink. The location of her wreck was forgotten and only rediscovered in 2007.[11]	27°26′45″N 82°59′59″W
SS Regina		1940	A tanker that sank near Bradenton Beach.	27°28′08″N 82°42′07″W

Martin County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Georges Valentine	Italy	16 October 1904	A barquentine that sank in a storm off Hutchinson Island.	27°11′55.8″N 80°9′49.8″W
USS Muliphen (AKA-61)	United States Navy	21 January 1989	An Andromeda-class attack cargo ship that was sunk as an artificial reef off Stuart.	27°24.331′N 80°00.337′W
USS Rankin (AKA-103)	United States Navy	24 July 1988	A Tolland-class attack cargo ship that was sunk as a fishing and diving reef off Stuart.

Miami-Dade County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
HMS Fowey (1744)	Royal Navy	26 June 1748	A warship that struck a reef offshore from Biscayne Bay.
SS Arratoon Apcar	United Kingdom	20 February 1878	A freighter that struck the reef where the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse was under construction.	25.590283°N 80.096667°W / 25.590283; -80.096667 (SS Arratoon Apcar)
SS Bud Krohn	Spain	3 December 1989	A Spanish cargo ship that was sunk as an artificial reef.[12]
Half Moon	Germany	1930	A German racing yacht that ended its life as a floating restaurant and dance hall off Miami, where it sank near Key Biscayne.	25°43′39″N 80°8′4″W
SV Ingrid	Norway	18 April 1895	A Norwegian (originally Canadian) barque carrying lumber on a trip from Pensacola to Rio de Janeiro that was wrecked on the Fowey Rocks.[13]
SS Potrero del Llano	Mexico	14 May 1942	An oil tanker that was torpedoed by U-564.	25°35′N 80°06′W

Monroe County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Adelaide Baker			A barque that ran aground on a reef off Duck Key.[1]
MV Adolphus Busch	United Kingdom	24 September 1998	A cargo ship that was sunk as an artificial reef off Looe Key.	24.5307°N 81.4615°W / 24.5307; -81.4615 (MV Adolphus Busch)
USS Alligator	United States Navy	23 November 1822	A schooner that ran aground on Alligator Reef.
USS Amesbury (DE-66)	United States Navy	1962	A Buckley-class destroyer escort that sank under tow off Key West.[14]
Angustias	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.	24°47.16′N 80°51.31′W
Benwood	Norway	9 April 1942	A cargo ship that collided with Robert C. Tuttle off Key Largo.[15]
USCGC Bibb (WPG-31)	United States Coast Guard	28 November 1987	A Treasury-class cutter that was sunk as artificial reef off Key Largo.[4]	24°59.71′N 80°22.77′W
Chavez	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.
City of Washington	United States	10 July 1917	A steamship that ran aground off Key Largo.[1][16]
USS Coco	United States Navy	9 September 1919	A patrol vessel that was wrecked at Key West in the 1919 Florida Keys hurricane.
USS Curb (ARS-21)	United States Navy	23 November 1983	A Diver-class rescue and salvage ship that sank off Key West as an artificial reef in 185 fsw.[1][14]
USCGC Duane (WPG-33)	United States Coast Guard	27 November 1987	A Treasury-class cutter that was sunk as an artificial reef near Key Largo.[4][14]	25°00′25.98″N 80°20′47.22″W
Eagle		19 December 1985	A cargo ship that was sunk as an artificial reef off Florida Keys after heavy fire damage.	24°52′11″N 80°34′13″W
El Gallo Indiano	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.
El Infante	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.
El Rubi	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.
USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858)	United States Navy	14 May 1972	A Gearing-class destroyer that was scuttled off Key West as an artificial reef. In 1973, the research submersible Johnson Sea Link became entangled in the wreckage, resulting in the deaths of two of its occupants.	24°27.8′N 81°33.3′W
Guerrero	Spain	19 December 1827	A Spanish-Cuban slave ship that wrecked on a reef in the Florida Keys after a running gun battle with a Royal Navy anti-slavery patrol ship.
USS Helena I	United States Navy	11 September 1919	A yacht that was wrecked off Key West in the 1919 Florida Keys hurricane.
Henrietta Marie	England	1700	A slave ship sunk off Florida Keys.
Herrera	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.
Isaac Allerton	United States	28 August 1856	A merchant ship that sank in a hurricane off the Saddlebunch Keys.
USS Katherine K.	United States Navy	10 September 1919	A patrol vessel that was wrecked off Key West in the 1919 Florida Keys hurricane.
USS Kendrick (DD-612)	United States Navy	After 1966	A Benson-class destroyer that was sunk off Key West in tests, in 320 fsw.
HMS Looe	Royal Navy	5 February 1744	A frigate that ran aground off Big Pine Key during the War of Jenkins' Ear.	24.5477°N 81.4052°W / 24.5477; -81.4052 (HMS Looe)
Major General Wallace F. Randolph	United States	6 March 1986	Renamed Thunderbolt. A mine planter that was sunk as an artificial reef off Marathon.
USS Morris	United States Navy	11 October 1846	A schooner that was wrecked off Key West in a hurricane.
USS Nemes	United States Navy	21 August 1917	A patrol vessel that exploded off Key West.
Nuestra Señora de Atocha	Spain	6 September 1622	A Spanish galleon that sank 40 miles (64 km) off the coast of Key West. The wreck was found on 20 July 1985 by treasure hunters, who soon began to raise $400 million in coins and silver.
Nuestra Señora del Populo	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.
USS Patrol No. 1	United States Navy	10 September 1919	A patrol vessel that was wrecked off Key West in the 1919 Florida Keys hurricane.
Queen of Nassau	United States	2 July 1926	A patrol boat that flooded and sank off Florida.
USS R-12	United States Navy	12 June 1943	An R-class submarine that foundered south of the Florida Keys.	24°24′30″N 81°38′30″W
USS S-16 (SS-121)	United States Navy	3 April 1945	An S-class submarine that was sunk off Key West as a target, in 260 fsw.[4]	24°25.207′N 82°02.393′W
San Felipe	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.	24°50′45.66″N 80°42′51″W
San Francisco	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.
San Jose	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.	24°56′55″N 80°29′20″W
San Pedro	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.
Santa Margarita	Spain	1622	A Spanish ship that sank in a hurricane off Key West.
USS Saufley (DD-465)	United States Navy	20 February 1968	A Fletcher-class destroyer that was sunk as a target in 420 fsw off Key West.
USS Sea Hawk	United States Navy	10 September 1919	A patrol boat that was wrecked off Key West in the 1919 Florida Keys hurricane.
USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32)	United States Navy	17 May 2002	A Thomaston-class dock landing ship that was sunk as an artificial reef off Florida Keys.[4]	25°04′00.2″N 80°18′00.7″W
USS St. Sebastian	United States Navy	9 September 1919	A patrol vessel that was wrecked at Key West in the 1919 Florida Keys hurricane.
USS Sturtevant (DD-240)	United States Navy	26 April 1942	A Clemson-class destroyer that ran into a friendly mine-field in the northwest channel.	24°45′N 82°1′W
USS Sylvia	United States Navy	9 September 1919	A patrol vessel that was wrecked at Key West in the 1919 Florida Keys hurricane.
Sueco de Arizon	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.
Tres Puentes	Spain	1733	A ship in the 1733 Spanish Plate Fleet that was wrecked along the Florida Keys.
HMS Tyger	Royal Navy	11 January 1741	A frigate that ran aground on a reef in the Dry Tortugas.
U-2513	United States Navy	7 October 1951	A Type XXI U-boat that was sunk west of Key West during rocket tests by the destroyer USS Robert A. Owens.[4]	24°52.015′N 83°18.594′W
SS Valbanera	Spain	September 1919	A steamship that sank in a hurricane 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Rebecca Shoal (about 45 miles (72 km) west of Key West).
USS Wilkes-Barre (CL-103)	United States Navy	12 May 1972	A Cleveland-class light cruiser that was sunk as a target off the Florida Keys.[1][17]	24.6101°N 81.7630°W / 24.6101; -81.7630 (USS Wilkes-Barre (CL-103))

Okaloosa County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
USS Ozark (LSV-2)	United States Navy	1981	A Catskill-class amphibious assault ship that was sunk as a target off Destin.

Palm Beach County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Amaryllis	Panama	22 August 1968	A cargo ship that ran aground at Singer Island on 7 September 1965, during Hurricane Betsy. After several salvage attempts, the ship was abandoned and became a tourist attraction. Eventually, the Army Corps of Engineers succeeded in towing the ship three-quarters of a mile out to sea, where she was scuttled as an artificial reef.	26°47′17″N 80°00′58″W
Inverrosa	United Kingdom	8 May 1968	An ore carrier ran aground off Boca Raton. She was refloated on May 23, subsequently laid up and scrapped.	26°19′29.9″N 80°04′25.2″W
SS Inchulva	United Kingdom	11 September 1903	A British Steamship that ran aground and sank off Delray Beach in a hurricane.	26°27′12″N 80°03′22″W
Lofthus	Norway	1898	A barque that sank near Boynton Beach.	26°33′46″N 80°02′18″W
Lubrafol	Panama	9 May 1942	A Panamanian tanker that sunk after being torpedoed by U-564.[18]	-
SS Ohioan	United States	8 May 1942	A Cargo Ship that was sunk off Boynton Beach by U-564.	26°31′N 79°59′W

Pinellas County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391)	United States Coast Guard	28 January 1980	A USCG seagoing buoy tender that collided with the tanker Capricorn in Tampa Bay, in the Egmont channel. The wreck was raised and re-sunk 20 mi (32 km) off Clearwater.[1]

Sarasota County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Antonio Ensenat	Cuba	1 November 1943	A Cuban schooner that sank after colliding with a Honduran schooner bow to bow on 1 November 1943.[9]	27°05.12′N 82°41.00′W
Bay Ronto	United Kingdom	13 September 1919	A British freighter that sank during a hurricane.[19]	26°45.751′N 82°50.862′W
Zalophus	United States	4 February 1930	A private yacht that was owned by John Ringling and sank after hitting an uncharted metallic object 1 mile off Lido Key. New York Mayor Jimmy Walker and his mistress Bettie Crompton were notably onboard.[20]

St. Johns County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
USS Basilone	United States Navy	9 April 1982	A Gearing-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off St. Augustine.
Industry	Kingdom of Great Britain	6 May 1764	A British supply sloop en route from New York, wrecked off St. Augustine Light.[citation needed]
USC&GS Isis	United States	January 1920	A survey ship that was wrecked off Crescent Beach.	29.77212°N 81.22192°W / 29.77212; -81.22192 (USC&GS Isis)

St. Lucie County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Urca de Lima	Spain	1715	A Spanish ship, and part of the 1715 Treasure Fleet, that sank near Fort Pierce	27°30′19″N 80°17′57″W
SS Amazone		6 May 1942	A Cargo ship that was torpedoed off of Fort Pierce by U-333.	27°21′N 80°04′W
SS Halsey		6 May 1942	A Cargo ship that was torpedoed off St. Lucie Inlet by U-333.	27°14′N 80°03′W

Tampa Bay

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
A.B. Noyes	United States	October 16th, 1863	A Union barge that was captured and burned by Confederates near Fort Brooke Fort Brooke	27°30′19″N 80°17′57″W

Volusia County

Ship	Flag	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
SS Commodore	United States	2 January 1897	A steamboat that foundered off Ponce de Leon Inlet Light. Stephen Crane, a passenger on the ship, was stranded for thirty hours in a dingy, and based his story "The Open Boat" on the experience.
USS Mindanao (ARG-3)	United States Navy	1980	A Luzon-class auxiliary ship that was sunk as an artificial reef off Daytona Beach.	29°12.00′N 80°44.87′W
Nathan F. Cobb	United States	1 December 1896	A schooner that ran aground off Ormond Beach.

References

1. Barnette, Michael C. (2003). Shipwrecks of the sunshine state: Florida's submerged history. Association of Underwater Explorers. ISBN 0-9743036-0-7.
2. Barnette, Michael C. "German U-Boat Attacks Off Florida Coast". Association of Underwater Explorers. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
3. Barnette, Michael C. "SS Copenhagen". Association of Underwater Explorers. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
4. Barnette, Michael C. (2008). Florida's Shipwrecks. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-5413-6.
5. FJ Cantelas, BA Rodgers (1997). "Tools, Techniques, and Zero Visibility Archaeology". In: EJ Maney, Jr and CH Ellis, Jr (Eds.) the Diving for Science...1997, Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, Seventeenth Annual Scientific Diving Symposium, Northeastern University, Boston, MA. Archived from the original on April 3, 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2009.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
6. "'BOILER WRECK' OFFERS EASY ACCESS OFF VERO BEACH". Retrieved 2020-04-20.
7. "'SS Breconshire: An Unexpected Final Voyage". Retrieved 2023-04-18.
8. "SV Bessie Whiting (+1918)". wrecksite.eu. October 23, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
9. "Central West Reefs & Shipwrecks - Florida Go Fishing". www.floridagofishing.com. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
10. "Central West Reefs & Shipwrecks - Florida Go Fishing". www.floridagofishing.com. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
11. Internationales Maritimes Museum Hamburg. "The Lensahn (III) was originally the steamer yacht of Friedrich Augu..." Retrieved 2019-08-09 – via Facebook.
12. "SS Bud Krohn (+1989)". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
13. "SV Ingrid". wrecksite.eu.
14. "Shipwrecks of Florida". electricbluefishing.com. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
15. Barnette, Michael C. "Benwood". Association of Underwater Explorers. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
16. Barnette, Michael C. "City of Washington". Association of Underwater Explorers. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
17. Barnette, Michael C. "USS Wilkes-Barre". Association of Underwater Explorers. Archived from the original on 23 October 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
18. "Lubrafol (Panamanian Motor tanker) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
19. "Central West Reefs & Shipwrecks - Florida Go Fishing". www.floridagofishing.com. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
20. "Ringling Shipwreck Still an Unsolved Mystery | National Underwater and Marine Agency". www.numa.net. Retrieved 2019-05-19.

Further reading

• Marx, Robert F. (1987). Shipwrecks in the Americas. New York: Dover. pp. 191–235. ISBN 0-486-25514-X.