Mon Oct 19 7:50
AM
Sea Emperor / Reef
80 ft Wreck
Departed
Details
Sea Emperor
Wreck · Deerfield Beach also known as boca wreck trek,aqua zoo
26° 19.337' N 80° 03.547' W
Open Water Max 80 ft Avg 55 ft Temporary Line
Today PMPoor
Details
Open Water
Minimum recommended certification
- Max depth
- 80 ft
- Average depth
- 55 ft
- Access
- Temporary Line
- Sea state today
- AMPoor PMPoor
Video
🎥 ISDC
Pictures 4
Where it is
26° 19.337' N 80° 03.547' W
Next boats to this site 20
Tue Oct 20 9:00
AM
Sea Emperor Wreck 60'/ Boca Artificial Reef 60'
80 ft Wreck
26 seats
Book
Sat Oct 24 1:30
PM
Aqua Zoo
80 ft Wreck
29 seats
Book
Sun Oct 25 7:50
AM
Sea Emperor / Reef
80 ft Wreck
Full
Details
Thu Oct 29 12:20
PM
Sea Emperor / Reef
80 ft Wreck
20 seats
Book
Sun Nov 1 7:50
AM
Sea Emperor / Reef
80 ft Wreck
13 seats
Book
Mon Nov 2 7:50
AM
Sea Emperor / Reef
80 ft Wreck
20 seats
Book
Sun Nov 8 8:30
AM
Aqua Zoo
80 ft Wreck
30 seats
Book
Operators that dive here
3D Model
Visit "By The C Media" website
📸 Candice Heizman
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 3rd, 1991
Barge
171 ftLength
43 ftBeam
Site description
The Sea Emperor, a 171-foot-long hopper barge, was intentionally sunk off the coast to create an underwater haven for marine life. This deliberate act transformed what was once a functional vessel into an ecological masterpiece. Here’s more about this captivating site:
The Sea Emperor’s journey began when a dredging company damaged a section of reef in Palm Beach County. Rather than letting the barge go to waste, it was repurposed as an artificial reef. In 1985, the Sea Emperor was carefully positioned and sent to the ocean floor. Along with it, 1,600 tons of concrete drainage culverts were placed strategically around the wreck.
As the Sea Emperor descended, it tipped over, settling upside down on the sandy seabed. This unique orientation created a diverse habitat for marine organisms. The overturned hull provides shelter, hiding places, and exploration opportunities for divers. Light filters through openings, illuminating the chambers within.
Divers affectionately refer to this site as the “Aqua Zoo” due to the incredible variety of marine life found here. A resident green moray eel gracefully weaves through the culverts, while nurse sharks glide by. Occasionally, lucky divers spot hammerhead sharks patrolling the area. The Sea Emperor’s structure—now adorned with encrusting corals and sponges—supports a multitude of smaller organisms. Colorful fish, crustaceans, and sea fans thrive in this underwater oasis.
Adventurous divers can explore the wreck via multiple access points. Swim through openings, peer into chambers, and discover hidden corners. The Sea Emperor’s interior is a maze of possibilities. Each nook and cranny reveals a new surprise—a glimpse of marine life, a play of light, or a hidden passage.
Over the years, the Sea Emperor has become a vital part of the local ecosystem. It attracts schools of fish, provides shelter for juvenile species, and contributes to the overall health of the reef. Conservationists and divers alike appreciate the barge’s transformation from industrial relic to thriving habitat.
Route & typical conditions
Route
This is a very easy site to navigate. Diver will typically do a couple of laps around the wreck. Although it's completely featureless, the marine life in the site will make the time fly. Check on the pile of concrete pipes on the east side of the wreck where marine life tends to congregate.
For divers wanting to kick a little bit, follow the rock pile in the south end that will lead to the United Caribbean - and for the "brave" one, from there swim east past the reef to find the Noulla Express.
Typical conditions
Visibility on this site ranges from 30 to 80 feet. Currents are often mild and north.
Wreck history
The Sea Emperor, a 171-foot-long and 43-foot-wide barge, was intentionally sunk as an artificial reef on October 3, 1991. This action served as mitigation for reef damage caused by the Great Lakes Dock and Dredge Company in 1988. Loaded with approximately 1,500 tons of concrete culverts, the barge found its final resting place in 70 feet of water off Boca Inlet.
During the sinking process, the Sea Emperor unexpectedly flipped, spilling the concrete culverts onto the sandy seabed. The barge came to rest upside down, creating a fascinating playground for marine life and divers alike. Goliath Groupers, eels, stingrays, nurse sharks, and hundreds of other fish now call this reef home—a photographer’s paradise.
Interestingly, divers can follow a line of rubble from the Sea Emperor to the nearby wreck of the freighter United Caribbean, which was also intentionally scuttled. Together, these wrecks form a captivating underwater triangle waiting to be explored.
Divers' uploaded pictures
No diver pictures yet.
