About Who's Been Here Photos Dive Log Revisions USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg 6 miles west of, Key West, FL 33040 More Info Max Depth: 131-140ft/40-43m Average Viz: 26-30ft/8-9m Entry Type: Boat Bottom Composition: Sand Aquatic Life: Plenty To See Rating: 4.34 by 41 divers Spring: 71-75°F/22-24°C Summer: 76-80°F/24-27°C Fall: 76-80°F/24-27°C Winter: 66-70°F/19-21°C View All 41 Members View All 9 Photos jmbeachsurf: Avg Viz: 21-25ft/6-8m. Water Temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. 12/18/2011 7/19/2010 8:48 AM

The Ship that now carries the name, Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, has a long and unique history spanning two generations in service to her country.

The ex-USAFS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg was first commissioned as the troop transport USNS Gen. Harry Taylor. The ship saw service in WWII, post-war immigration, the Hungarian Revolution, and the Cold War. After decommissioning, it even starred in a popular motion picture. As an artificial reef, the ship will not only be a recreational resource for divers and fishermen, but will serve as an underwater classroom for the Florida Keys Community College, and be a platform for ground-breaking research in reef monitoring as mandated by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan.

The ship’s distinguished history will continue in its final disposition as a recreational, educational and scientific resource.

Comments

Hawkeye54 - 1 day 15 hours ago. Rating Added: 3 Visibility can vary greatly on this wreck:  One day I had 30’-40’, the next it was less than 10.  Be sure to check the conditions before embarking on a $100+ charter to go see it.  On a good day, she must be a spectacular sight!  For a real creepy experience, descend through one of the open elevator shafts in poor visibilty - careful to avoid overhead structures unless prepared and properly trained!

deepdr - 9 days 6 hours ago. Rating Added: 5 Massive!

mermaidseeker - 9/14/2012 11:52 PM Rating Added: 5 Awesome dive Huge fish.  Will be great as more sessile life begins to grow

Scuba-Smurf - 8/19/2012 11:38 AM I’d love to dive this wreck! It’s almost worth the 7000 mile journey to see it :oD Might see a trip to Florida in the cards!!! Agojo - 8/22/2012 3:14 AM Make the trip Jun/Jul 2013 might be able to make also, still 14 hour drive from Navarre, Florida Scuba-Smurf - 8/22/2012 1:16 PM Well it’s still on the bucket list for now as its just too far to pop over for a week :o( Will have to combine it with some NY shopping and some Vegas fun :oD

oceanpro4 - 8/19/2012 6:50 AM Rating Added: 5 Did it twice zero current, we could see sand from when we jumped in. The perfect dive. Lost Reef Adventures dive operators were very good.

Nesto - 8/08/2012 4:04 PM Rating Added: 5 Not as good as zenovia but good zielit - 8/08/2012 5:30 PM You mean Zenobia right (near Cyprus)? It’s first of all bigger and it sunk by accident which is always "cooler"... and it made top 10 wreck diving sites by The Times. Nesto - 8/13/2012 12:10 PM oh yea bud! if u ever get the chance check it out!

Agojo - 7/05/2012 3:03 AM Rating Added: 4 Went August 2011with Sub-Tropic (now is Seaduction) and I got 2 dives same day.  Tough current but well worth it.

scottvtr - 7/04/2012 5:09 PM Rating Added: 5 An Amazing dive. Although relatively deep, was easy to descend to the main deck and to enter into the bridge and electrical room. Felt relatively safe as the ship was prepared for divers but I stayed within my training and let my gut be my guide.  Our guide was well prepared with extra tanks, just in case. Did 4 dives on the Vandenberg and barely scratched the surface of everything there is to see.  And talk about Clear Warm Water. 95ft with only swim trunks and a t-shirt on and was comfortable.  Visibility at depth was incredible.  Took video without the need for lights and it turned out well.

ScubaDreaminn - 1/19/2012 10:17 AM Rating Added: 5 This is a great dive to do a few times each year. It’s such a new wreck that you can witness for yourself as it changes from year to year from all steal to a beautiful marine ecosystem. Lots of cool passageways to to explore. Nitrox is a must as you will want every second of bottom time you can get. zielit - 1/25/2012 8:25 AM Nitrox will be good only if you want to do "fly over" or maximum to 1st deck, as it is quite deep dive if you plan to go to second deck or deeper or penetrate the wreck. Hawkeye54 - 1 day 14 hours ago. zielit, there are Nitrox mixtures to take you all the way to the sand within the MOD. (EAN28 or less) Just know your mix and know its limitations. :)

jmbeachsurf - 12/18/2011 11:46 PM Rating Added: 4 I went scuba diving here on 12/18/2011. Average viz: 21-25ft/6-8m. Water temp: 71-75°F/22-24°C. Good dive with a moderate current.  Didn’t get to see the entire ship, but it was a good dive all around.  A must see for any diver in Key West. Skipster - 12/22/2011 10:57 AM Dove that ship three days in a row last year and still didn’t get to see everything... great dive, indeed!