SS Hispania - Scottish West Coast

The Boca Grande wreck isn't just another pile of metal; it’s a proper piece of history, sunk deliberately in 1984. We always enjoy a wreck that has settled in a way that feels natural, not just a haphazard drop. This former shrimp boat sits upright in about 30 meters of water, making it a comfortable depth for advanced open water divers who want some solid bottom time. You can spend a good chunk of your dive exploring the bow and stern, poking around the wheelhouse, which is still remarkably intact. What we really love about the Boca Grande is the way it’s been completely taken over by the reef. The metal hull is a canvas of colourful sponges and corals, and it’s always buzzing with fish. Look for schools of grunts and snappers hanging around the structure, and we’ve often spotted large green morays peeking out from beneath plates of steel. It’s a comfortable wreck dive, not too deep, and without the strong currents you sometimes get on other Keys sites, which is always a bonus. Go early in the morning for the best light, casting some excellent shadows inside the wreck, and fewer boats on the surface.

Location
Scottish West Coast, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
56.530000, -5.920000
Type
wreck

Wreck History - SS Hispania

Year Sunk
1998
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
scuttled
Tonnage
1,140 tons

The vessel known to divers as the Boca Grande Wreck had a long and storied career above the waves as the USS Amesbury (DE-66). A Buckley-class destroyer escort, she was launched in 1943 and served with distinction in the Atlantic during World War II, primarily on anti-submarine and convoy escort duties. After the war, she was converted into a high-speed transport and continued her service before eventually being decommissioned.

Instead of being scrapped, the USS Amesbury was given a new purpose. In 1998, the vessel was carefully prepared and intentionally sunk off Key West, Florida, to create a new artificial reef. Renamed for its location near the Boca Grande channel, it quickly began its transformation from a decorated warship to a vibrant marine habitat.

Today, the Boca Grande is a premier advanced wreck dive in the Florida Keys. The 306-foot ship lies on its starboard side in approximately 30 meters (100 feet) of water. Its impressive size allows for extensive exploration of its decks, superstructure, and large compartments. The wreck is a magnet for marine life, and divers are often greeted by resident goliath groupers, large schools of barracuda, and countless other reef fish that now call this historic vessel home.

Marine Protected Area: Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura

Nearby Dive Sites in Scottish West Coast

Nearest Dive Centres to SS Hispania

Marine Life in Scottish West Coast

Home to 127 recorded species including 50 reef fish, 15 whales & dolphins, 10 seagrass & algae, 9 sharks & rays, 8 other, 7 crabs & lobsters.

Notable Species