SS Tarpon - Dive Site Map of Florida & Bahamas from www.ScubaLessonsInc.com (sitios de interés)
Descripción del sitio
The wreck of Tarpon is located in 95
feet of water on a sand and live-rock
bottom at latitude 30° 05.702' N and
longitude 85° 56.555' W. The wreck is
7.8 nautical miles from shore, and 11
nautical miles from the pass to St.
Andrew Bay on a heading of 265°.
The twin-screwed freight and passenger steamer Tarpon was constructed in 1887 at Wilmington, Delaware. Originally named Naugatuck, the iron-hulled vessel measured 130 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, with 8 feet depth of hold. She was powered by twin compound fore-and-aft steam engines driving twin iron propellers.
Two years after she was built, Naugatuck’s owners sold her to Henry Plant, whose railroad empire terminating at Tampa, Florida, was one of the largest conglomerates in the United States. In 1891, she was sent back to her builders, who lengthened the vessel by 30 feet. Renamed Tarpon, she returned to her Florida career, and may have been one of the dozens of Plant vessels used to transport troops and supplies to and from Cuba during the Spanish-American War. In 1902, the vessel was sold to the newly incorporated Pensacola, St. Andrews & Gulf Steamship Co., and was put in the charge of Captain Willis G. Barrow.
The twin-screwed freight and passenger steamer Tarpon was constructed in 1887 at Wilmington, Delaware. Originally named Naugatuck, the iron-hulled vessel measured 130 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, with 8 feet depth of hold. She was powered by twin compound fore-and-aft steam engines driving twin iron propellers.
Two years after she was built, Naugatuck’s owners sold her to Henry Plant, whose railroad empire terminating at Tampa, Florida, was one of the largest conglomerates in the United States. In 1891, she was sent back to her builders, who lengthened the vessel by 30 feet. Renamed Tarpon, she returned to her Florida career, and may have been one of the dozens of Plant vessels used to transport troops and supplies to and from Cuba during the Spanish-American War. In 1902, the vessel was sold to the newly incorporated Pensacola, St. Andrews & Gulf Steamship Co., and was put in the charge of Captain Willis G. Barrow.
This is an Advanced-level dive due to
depth. Diving the steamer is not
recommended for novices, or those
uncomfortable with deep-water dives.
Pay attention to time limits and
remember to display a "divers down"
flag when diving. A laminated underwater guide is available from local dive shops to orient
divers on a self-guided tour of the preserve.
As with all other historical and archaeological sites on public uplands and submerged bottomlands,
Tarpon is protected by Florida laws prohibiting unauthorized disturbance, excavation, or removal of artifacts. Please help keep the site intact for others.
This is a Florida Underwater Museum and more information can be found here:
http://www.museumsinthesea.com/tarpon/index.htm
feet of water on a sand and live-rock
bottom at latitude 30° 05.702' N and
longitude 85° 56.555' W. The wreck is
7.8 nautical miles from shore, and 11
nautical miles from the pass to St.
Andrew Bay on a heading of 265°.
The twin-screwed freight and passenger steamer Tarpon was constructed in 1887 at Wilmington, Delaware. Originally named Naugatuck, the iron-hulled vessel measured 130 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, with 8 feet depth of hold. She was powered by twin compound fore-and-aft steam engines driving twin iron propellers.
Two years after she was built, Naugatuck’s owners sold her to Henry Plant, whose railroad empire terminating at Tampa, Florida, was one of the largest conglomerates in the United States. In 1891, she was sent back to her builders, who lengthened the vessel by 30 feet. Renamed Tarpon, she returned to her Florida career, and may have been one of the dozens of Plant vessels used to transport troops and supplies to and from Cuba during the Spanish-American War. In 1902, the vessel was sold to the newly incorporated Pensacola, St. Andrews & Gulf Steamship Co., and was put in the charge of Captain Willis G. Barrow.
The twin-screwed freight and passenger steamer Tarpon was constructed in 1887 at Wilmington, Delaware. Originally named Naugatuck, the iron-hulled vessel measured 130 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, with 8 feet depth of hold. She was powered by twin compound fore-and-aft steam engines driving twin iron propellers.
Two years after she was built, Naugatuck’s owners sold her to Henry Plant, whose railroad empire terminating at Tampa, Florida, was one of the largest conglomerates in the United States. In 1891, she was sent back to her builders, who lengthened the vessel by 30 feet. Renamed Tarpon, she returned to her Florida career, and may have been one of the dozens of Plant vessels used to transport troops and supplies to and from Cuba during the Spanish-American War. In 1902, the vessel was sold to the newly incorporated Pensacola, St. Andrews & Gulf Steamship Co., and was put in the charge of Captain Willis G. Barrow.
This is an Advanced-level dive due to
depth. Diving the steamer is not
recommended for novices, or those
uncomfortable with deep-water dives.
Pay attention to time limits and
remember to display a "divers down"
flag when diving. A laminated underwater guide is available from local dive shops to orient
divers on a self-guided tour of the preserve.
As with all other historical and archaeological sites on public uplands and submerged bottomlands,
Tarpon is protected by Florida laws prohibiting unauthorized disturbance, excavation, or removal of artifacts. Please help keep the site intact for others.
This is a Florida Underwater Museum and more information can be found here:
http://www.museumsinthesea.com/tarpon/index.htm