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Long Branch "The Dual Wrecks" Adonis-Rusland
 717 Ocean Ave., Long Branch, NJ
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Max Depth: 26-30ft/8-9m
Average Viz: 11-15ft/3-5m
Entry Type: Shore
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Might See Something
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Spring: 50-55°F/10-13°C
Summer: 66-70°F/19-21°C
Fall: 71-75°F/22-24°C
Winter: Under 50°F/10°C
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The "Dual Wrecks" consists of a low debris field of interlocking wreckage, millstones, and ballast stones, no longer accessible from shore.
The Rusland might have been pulled off the beach and saved, had it not run aground directly atop the old wreck of the little Adonis and become impaled on her cargo of large millstones. The Rusland now lies along the beach, with the smaller Adonis perpendicular to it. The French steamer L’Amerique went aground in the same storm nearby, but was successfully gotten off the beach.
Best viz here is at high tide and with a west wind.
This is my favorite Jersey shore dive HOWEVER doing it from shore becomes an expedition with a high Sherpa factor. There used to be easy access thru San Alfonso’s Catholic retreat but some rowdy divers ruined that. Now you need to drop off a scout at the hidden beach access path between the two condos just north of the retreat Beach access path just N of 717 Ocean who goes to the beach to see if the surf is doable. IF when he gets out of the car you can hear the surf booming you can eliminate this step and move on to plan B. The advent of online beach cams has saved me some long drives. If the surf is doable drop the gear at the beach access path, I have a beach cart for this. There is no parking on Ocean Ave., if nothing is going on at the church on the west side two blocks south I have used their parking lot. The beach access path is about 500’ long, there is a wall to sit on and rest at the beach. There is a step going down to the beach, you will need someone, that Sherpa to help lower the cart to the sand. Head south on the beach and over the rock jetty, set up on the beach directly in front of San Alfonso’s, swim straight out from the statue to the wrecks. That was the easy part, now you need to haul that wet gear back and it’s all uphill. RayC