Florida’s divers have a new place to play. A former World War II warship has been sunk 28 nautical miles off Sanibel Island on Florida’s south-west coast to create an artificial reef.
The U.S.S. Mohawk CGC, or “Mighty Mo” as she’s affectionately known, fought submarines between 1942 and 1945 in the Battle of the Atlantic, however her greatest claim to fame was being the last ship to radio General Dwight D. Eisenhower that the weather was clearing for the D-Day invasion.
Now 90 feet under water, her replica guns, huge smokestack, crow’s nest, bridge, deckhouse and massive propeller make an exceptional wreck dive site. The challenge of descending the smoke stack and exploring the engine room will appeal to experienced divers.
To celebrate the creation of U.S.S. Mohawk CGC Veterans Memorial Reef, celebrity adventurer Pat Croce has hidden artefacts from his St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum aboard the old warship, including an 18th-century rum bottle with authentic 17th-century shot (non-explosive projectile) and a hand-drawn treasure map inside. Croce also secreted a case of premium, aged Caribbean Pyrat Rum. Good news for the first diver to discover the treasure – it’s theirs to keep.
Check out the explosion and sinking in this video…
… and see her starting out her new submarine life in this video shot 3 hours after the sinking…
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Images: USS Mohawk CGC Veterans Memorial Reef)
