How to Do Florida: Diving the Spiegel Grove Wreck, Key Largo

The Spiegel Grove, named for the Ohio estate of President Rutherford B. Hayes, was commissioned in 1956 and served for more than 30 years before joining the nation’s Mothball Fleet.
In its heyday, the "Spiegel Beagle" ferried troops and landing craft throughout the world during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The ship evacuated U.S. nationals from Beirut and assisted with the splashdown of Apollo 14.
But before the Spiegel Grove could become one of the most popular shipwreck dives in the U.S., workers had to make sure that its presence would not have an adverse impact on the fragile coral reefs of the Florida Keys.
So an industrial demolition and recycling company removed 400,000 linear feet of cable and flushed 110 fuel tanks in order to get the necessary environmental permits for sinking. They also welded doors and hatches shut, then scored another 83 holes to give diverse access throughout the super structure.
After nearly a decade of work, the ship arrived in Key Largo in the spring of 2002. But as the demolition crew prepared to sink the Spiegel, the ship flooded prematurely, flipped and when straight to the bottom.
Salvage crews righted the ship and laid it on its side, but the decks were much deeper than planned. The ship also ended up perpendicular to the current, making it more difficult for divers. But where man failed, Mother Nature prevailed. A summer storm came through and pushed the ship into an upright position.
Today, the upper decks can be reached at a depth of about 50 feet. The superstructure is teeming with tropical fish, another reason why this wreck is so popular with underwater photographers.
And while you are in the neighborhood, check out the former Coast Guard cutters Bibb and Duane, widely considered two of the best shipwreck dives in Florida. So, under ideal conditions, a diver can visit all three wrecks in two days.
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[@eamonshields2754]

So excited to dive this wreck !! Love South Florida

[@VISITFLORIDA]

Thanks for watching and please subscribe!

[@discoverfloridachannel]

This was one of the most incredible wreck dives, also check out the Vandenburg.

[@phaedrusbjb]

nice day on the wreck, not so much current, good viz. our dive there was a real hang on and squint day.

[@jesspeoples3292]

I dove the spiegel grove last September. Love it my favorite dive site.

[@yungbuck9478]

This was my dad's ship when he was in the Navy. I would love to dive and check it out one day.

[@rimotivri]

under surface things are welcome. Cool.

[@robbinstaup7469]

That would be so cool to dive a sunken ship or a plane .

[@xproDJx]

i wanna freedive this beast