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Pinta
7 miles east off, Shark River Inlet, NJ
Max Depth: 81-90ft/25-27m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Plenty To See
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Spring: 50-55°F/10-13°C
Winter: Under 50°F/10°C
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How two ships in the age of radar and on a clear day could collide on the open sea is a mystery. Nonetheless, we now have the Pinta as one of the best dive sites in New Jersey. This relatively small vessel lies on its port side on a clean sandy bottom. It is still quite recognizable as a ship, and is the perfect size for sightseeing - you can swim from end to end several times on a single tank of air. It also makes a good multi-level training dive.
The first time I saw the Pinta in 1995, the hull was still pretty much intact ( as illustrated below ), but it is now really beginning to decay. The bow is still in good shape, but the rest of the wreck is wrecked. Little of the top hull-side remains aft of the break amidships. The stern is exploded, and I believe the engine room is now open.
YouTube;
youtube.com/watch?v=9JtMGeNXb08More info;
aquaexplorers.com/pinta.htm