Sun Nov 29 10:00
AM
Orion Wreck
88 ft Wreck
Seats open
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DEMA Trader
Wreck · Miami Beach also known as miami wreck trek,key biscayne wrek trek
25° 42.218' N 80° 05.215' W
Advanced Open Water Max 80 ft Avg 65 ft Temporary Line
Today PMPoor
Details
Advanced Open Water
Minimum recommended certification
- Max depth
- 80 ft
- Average depth
- 65 ft
- Access
- Temporary Line
- Sea state today
- AMPoor PMPoor
Video
🎥 ISDC
Pictures 4
Where it is
25° 42.218' N 80° 05.215' W
Next boats to this site 3
Sat Dec 5 9:00
AM
Sheri-Lyn
80 ft Wreck
Seats open
Book
Sun Dec 13 10:00
AM
The Princess Britney
88 ft Wreck
Seats open
Book
Operators that dive here
Best Gas
Gas prices
| Diluent tank | $35.50 |
| O2 tank | $10.00 |
atm
atm
Gas prices
| Aluminum 80 | $10 |
| Steel HP 100 | $10 |
| Steel LP 85 | $10 |
NDL at is
24 hr min surface interval
Always use a dive computer
Wreck Details
Sunk October 28th, 2003
Freighter
165 ftLength
? ftBeam
Site description
The DEMA Trader - once an active freighter, now rests in approximately 80 feet of water, about 3.5 miles off Key Biscayne. Its keel lies down in the sand, with the stern at 80 feet and the bow at 75 feet. Large openings were cut into the superstructure, allowing safe penetration dives into the former galley and cabin areas. Inside, tons of concrete culvert pipes and junction boxes were loaded as ballast, creating additional habitat beyond the open cargo hold.
The aft part of the vessel offers also penetration opportunities to the engine room - accessible through the cargo holds - and to the bridge (although the space is tight and there is no much interesting left there).
The ship’s large profile makes it easy to find using a decent fish finder. Most of the dive can be enjoyed at around 60 feet of water. As you explore, expect to encounter a diverse array of marine life—parrotfish, butterflyfish, and perhaps even the occasional whale shark. The DEMA Trader serves as both a captivating wreck dive and a thriving ecosystem for underwater enthusiasts.
Route & typical conditions
Route
Although dive operators in the are will mostly do this site as an anchor dive, it's not uncommon for divers to plan a drift dive on the "Key Biscayne Wreck Trek" - which starts in the south end at the wreck of the South Seas (or even south of that at the Belcher barge) and finishes at the Proteus wreck.
If staying at the wreck, it advisable to do a couple of laps at the main deck level to get familiarized with the wreck. Then visit the cargo holds and the bridge. Only if qualified divers may attempt penetration to the engine room - the space is tight and often silted by the first diver in. Be careful and always dive within your limits.
If current are null, straight east from this site lies the Miami River barge - a mostly feature less barge, but rich in marine life (the swim is around 300 feet).
Typical conditions
Visibility varies a lot in this site. Divers may find a nice 80 feet visibility day (probably at the expense of strong currents), but may also encounter a 40 feet visibility scenario. If so, probably staying within the limits of this site is recommended (do not try to find the other wrecks near by).
Wreck history
The D.E.M.A. Trader, originally a 333-ton general cargo ship built in 1957, later became the Belizean-flagged G.G.D. Trader. After being seized by the U.S. Customs Service for smuggling narcotics, it underwent a transformation. In conjunction with the 2003 Dive Equipment and Marketing Association (D.E.M.A.) annual convention in Miami, the G.D.D. Trader was renamed the D.E.M.A. Trader and intentionally sunk as an artificial reef off Key Biscayne on October 28, 2003. Resting upright and intact in approximately 80 feet of water, the wreck lies just north of the tug Rio Miami and west of the Sarah Jane artificial reef site. Large openings were cut into the superstructure to allow safe access to the former galley and cabin areas. Additionally, tons of concrete culvert pipes and junction boxes were loaded into the ship’s cargo hold to create additional complex habitat for marine life
Divers' uploaded pictures
No diver pictures yet.
