Phoenix - New England
Diving the *Phoenix* is less about technicolor reefs and more about a palpable sense of history, a real connection to the past. This isn't your typical tropical jaunt; it's New England diving at its best – challenging, rewarding, and full of character. We love the dramatic scale of the wreck, even with its age, the way the bow still points purposefully into the gloom. You can spend a good hour exploring the cargo holds, imagining what this steamer carried on its final voyage, and picturing the steam engines that once drove it. The marine life here has a rugged charm, too. We’ve seen respectable American eels slithering through the broken plating, and the occasional sea lamprey suctioned onto a beam. It’s not a riot of colour, but the fish are just as much a part of the wreck now as the barnacles and rust. Our tip for the *Phoenix*? Take your time. Don't rush it. Let your eyes adjust to the low light and let the wreck reveal its secrets. It suits divers who appreciate historical sites, aren't afraid of chillier water, and enjoy a dive that feels like an archaeological expedition.
- Location
- New England, United States, North America
- Coordinates
- 44.549507, -73.334780
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 10-30m
Nearby Dive Sites in New England
- Ahern State Park - 10m
- Andrea Doria (wreck)
- (Approximately 65 ft long steel fishing trawler) - 27.400000000000002m (wreck)
- Brace Cove (reef)
- Brant Rock
- Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park
- Burlington Bay Horse Ferry - 15.24 (wreck)
- Burnham Rocks
- Cape Neddick Nubble
- Cathedral Rocks
- Cedar Island Ledge
- Champlain II (wreck)
- Chester E Poling Wreck (wreck)
- City Of Portland (wreck)
- City of Rockland Wreck (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Phoenix
Marine Life in New England
Home to 35 recorded species including 26 reef fish, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 other, 1 sharks & rays, 1 octopus & squid, 1 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)
- Banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) - Reef Fish
- Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus) - Reef Fish
- brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) - Reef Fish
- Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) - Reef Fish
- Sea Trout (Salmo trutta) - Reef Fish
- Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) - Reef Fish
- salmon (Salmo salar) - Reef Fish
- American eel (Anguilla rostrata) - Reef Fish
- Cisco (Coregonus artedi) - Reef Fish
- pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) - Reef Fish
- Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) - Reef Fish
- Great Pond Snail (Lymnaea stagnalis) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Edible periwinkle (Littorina littorea) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic oyster drill (Urosalpinx cinerea) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) - Reef Fish
- Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) - Reef Fish
- Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus)
- White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii) - Reef Fish