Jay Scutti

The Jay Scutti, originally launched on December 29, 1960, was built by Jonker and Stans in the Netherlands for the Aruba Ports Authority. Serving as a harbor tug in Oranjestad, it later changed hands and was sold to the Meta Corporation of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. However, its most notable chapter unfolded when, on November 18, 1984, the U.S.C.G.C. Cherokee seized the vessel 30 miles north of Grand Bahama Bank, discovering 15 tons of marijuana on board. Renamed from “Arikok” to “Jay Scutti,” the vessel took on a new purpose after being forfeited. Fort Lauderdale businessman Dale Scutti purchased it at a public auction for $14,000. His intention was to sink the tugboat off his beachfront property, transforming it into an artificial reef in memory of his son, Jay Scutti—an avid diver. On September 19, 1986, after an initial failed attempt, the Broward County Sheriff Department’s bomb squad successfully detonated 45 pounds of dynamite, sending the rusting tugboat to the ocean floor. Now, the Jay Scutti rests amidst a cluster of other wrecks that divers can explore during the same dive. To the south lie the remains of the Moonshot (formerly the Sanctuary) and the sailboat Pride (also known as the Harbour Towne). To the north, divers encounter the hull of the sailboat B. H. Lake, the offshore supply vessel Ken Vitale (formerly the Tracy), and the freighter Merci Jesus. This underwater site offers a unique blend of history, marine life, and adventure for those who venture below the waves.