About Who's Been Here Photos Revisions Viscaya "The Spanish Steamer" 12 Miles east of, Barnegat Light, NJ More Info Max Depth: 81-90ft/25-27m Average Viz: 26-30ft/8-9m Entry Type: Boat Bottom Composition: Sand Aquatic Life: Might See Something Rating: 3.75 by 4 divers Spring: 61-65°F/16-18°C Summer: 66-70°F/19-21°C Fall: 66-70°F/19-21°C Winter: Under 50°F/10°C 7/12/2012 5:46 AM

Viscaya "The Spanish Steamer" is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located at 12 Miles east of, Barnegat Light, NJ. This dive site has an average rating of 3.75 out of 5 from 4 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 81-90ft/25-27m. The average visibility is 26-30ft/8-9m.

The sinking of the Vizcaya was truly a maritime tragedy. The coal schooner Cornelius Hargraves was apparently under full sail at night with no running lights when it struck the Vizcaya, almost cutting the steamer in half. The Hargrave’s bowsprit then raked across the Vizcaya’s deck, demolishing the lifeboats and everything else in its path. The Vizcaya sank in minutes, and soon afterwards the Hargraves settled to the bottom nearby.

Survivors of the Cornelius Hargraves picked up several from the Vizcaya in their lifeboat, while a few survived by clinging to the protruding mast tops or were picked up by passing ships. None of the women and children aboard the Vizcaya survived.

Today, the Vizcaya is a large low debris field, the highest points being the boilers and engine. It occasionally produces artifacts, and is known as a good lobster wreck. I am told that the deck beams in the drawing below are greatly exaggerated, and that the boilers are much bigger than shown.

You tube dive on the wreck, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9izPMeiwsI

Comments

JMH115 - 6/25/2017 3:53 PM I went scuba diving here on 6/17/2017. Average viz: 21-25ft/6-8m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C. Dove with Mark Foggy and rainy Saw some small seabass Saw some nice big tog but they were out of season

JMH115 - 7/19/2016 1:49 PM I went scuba diving here on 7/10/2016. Average viz: 21-25ft/6-8m. Water temp: 50-55°F/10-13°C. Poor viz but still a nice dive. Decent structure. Some fish around. Missed a nice seabass spearfishing.

terapin - 9/10/2014 9:16 AM Rating Added: 4 Fun dive when visibility is good.

xxSubSeaxx - 7/30/2013 11:18 AM Rating Added: 4 Another good spearfishing/lobstering wreck. In close proximity to the Hargraves for a 2nd dive.

LatitudeAdjustment - 4/02/2012 7:28 AM Every once in awhile a diver will post that he found a Spanish coin on this wreck, I suspect a diveboat Captain is seeding the wreck to increase traffic :)