Benwood Shipwreck - a Florida Keys Dive

Location	25°03.16 80°20.02 (AKA Dixie Shoal) (Near-by dives: French Reef) US Hwy 1 MM 105		view FKNMS map
Markers	Marker Buoy and 4 anchoring buoys
Depth	25'-45'	Experience Level: Novice to Intermediate
History Present Condition	360' long with a 51' beam, the Benwood was built in England and registered as a merchant marine freighter. Traveling blacked out at night during WWII, she collided with the Robert C Tuttle. The Tuttle suffered little damage, but the Benwood's bow was crushed and the Captain turned her towards shore and abandoned her. She was extensively salvaged after sinking. The remains of the Benwood are scattered over a wide area. The bow of the ship is the most intact feature, forming a 25-foot profile in the water column. The hull structure is mostly intact up to the level of the first deck. Large steel knees join the deck plate to the outer hull and sides of the vessel. These knees are massive reinforced triangles of steel which outline the ship’s hull shape despite the loss of the hull plates themselves. The first deck has been punctured in many places, forming a network of “nooks and crannies” perfect for fish habitat. Divers can peer through these holes into the cargo hold and see the space where ore was once carried.
Sea-Life	parrotfish, morays, grouper, snook, lobster
Risks Warnings	Moderate current
Web Sources	The Wreck of the Benwood Benwood Historic Shipwreck 1942 Dive site: The Benwood - Wreck

Florida Keys Dive Sites - The Wreck Benwood