wreck

Log This Dive

USS Maine

Diving the USS Maine isn't about deep exploration, it’s about touching a piece of history. We love it because it’s a tangible link to a pivotal moment, right there in the shallows off Key West. You’ll find her broken up, scattered across the seafloor – more debris field than intact ship, but that’s part of her charm. The big draw here is the bow section, still pretty imposing, and the gun turrets, which are just massive. You feel the scale of the battleship when you’re finning past those plates. The Maine sits in just 10 metres of water, so it’s a brilliant second dive or a relaxed morning dip. Visibility is often 10-15 metres, and it’s a magnet for schooling fish. We’ve seen huge schools of grunt and snapper hanging around the structure, and the occasional barracuda patrolling the edges. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too; the morays love the nooks and crannies. Our favourite time to dive it is first thing in the morning, before the dive boats from Key West really start rolling out. It’s a gentle wreck dive, perfect for anyone who appreciates the historical narrative as much as the fish.