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Miss Lourdes

Wreck · Deerfield Beach

26° 19.188' N 80° 03.200' W

Advanced Open Water Advanced Open Water Max 140 ft Avg 120 ft Temporary Line Today PMPoor

Details

Advanced Open Water
Minimum recommended certification
Max depth
140 ft
Average depth
120 ft
Access
Temporary Line
Sea state today
AMPoor PMPoor

Video

🎥 ISDC

Pictures 6

Where it is

26° 19.188' N 80° 03.200' W

Next boats to this site 1

Operators that dive here

Best Gas

atm
atm
Overlay Image
Gas prices
Aluminum 80 $10
Steel HP 100 $10
Steel LP 85 $10

Wreck Details

Sunk June 10th, 2009
Workboat
165 ftLength
39 ftBeam

Site description

The freighter-class ship, built in 1971, spans 167 feet in length and 39 feet in width. Its bow points southward, and the forward wheelhouse towers to an impressive height of 101 feet. Aft of the wheelhouse lies a 130-foot expanse leading to the deck, while 140 feet extend to the sandy shoreline. Notably, a 14-foot bronze angel statue graces the area just behind the wheelhouse, positioned 120 feet from the bow. The wreck remains intact and upright. This site teems with marine life. Schools of grunts, hogfish, and various tropical fish patrol the wreck. At its depth, encounters with large pelagic species like Caribbean reef sharks, bull sharks, and barracudas are not uncommon. Divers have opportunities for penetration, exploring both below the main deck and into the bridge. A well-defined path begins at the stern and continues to the bow, allowing divers to explore the bridge area, passing through crew berths. There are many concrete blocks resting in the lower compartments of this wreck, which were used to help the sinking of the vessel. Recreational divers should be mindful of their non-decompression limits, especially since the main deck lies around 120 feet deep. Nitrox is highly recommended to enhance the experience at this captivating wreck.

Route & typical conditions

Route

Depending where the dive operator set the temporary line, divers may want to start exploring the stern for then continuing to the bow. Make sure you visit the bridge which offers a great picture opportunity with the status of the angel in the background.

Typical conditions

This site often has mild north currents, but it may be hit by stronger currents that may make this dive hard for novice divers. Visibility is typically ranging from 40 to 60 feet - occasionally divers may encounter low visibility given the site proximity to the Boca Raton inlet.

Wreck history

Miss Lourdes historic photo
The Miss Lourdies has a storied history. On June 29, 2008, during a random search, U.S. Customs discovered 154 kilos of cocaine aboard the vessel and subsequently seized it. Later that year, U.S. Customs offered the ship to the Broward County Artificial Reef Program for sinking, pending a court decision. Artificial Reef Coordinator Ken Banks selected a permitted location near the Palm Beach / Broward County line. The process of permitting and sinking involved collaboration between Palm Beach and Broward Counties, as well as private donations. Daniel Fasano, the largest contributor, drew inspiration from a life-saving bone marrow transplant and established the “Miracle of Life Foundation.” The wreck is affectionately known as the Miracle of Life.

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