USS Muliphen

On November 2, 1988, the U.S.S. Muliphen was transported to Fort Pierce, FL to prepare it for transformation into an artificial reef. After being thoroughly cleaned, the vessel was towed 16 nautical miles offshore to a site nearly equidistant from the Fort Pierce and St. Lucie Inlets. On January 20, 1989, it was scuttled in this location. The wreck of the U.S.S. Muliphen is truly immense. Though it remains largely upright and intact, the vessel's hull was split in two during the 2004 hurricane season, causing the bow and stern to sink almost 20 feet deeper and collapsing one of the cargo boom support towers, which once stood 90 feet below the surface. Due to a tilt to the starboard side, the ship’s main deck lies at depths ranging from 145 feet on the port side to approximately 160 feet on the starboard side. Divers can explore the wreck at a maximum depth of roughly 170 feet near the seafloor, with depths exceeding 200 feet in the trench formed by the ship's impact on the limestone bottom. Oriented with its bow pointing eastward, the wreck is a convenient target for divers, as the prevailing northward-moving current allows for relatively easy hot drops. The site teems with marine life, including abundant gag grouper, sheepshead, snapper, and spadefish. Numerous cargo holds provide opportunities for interior exploration, and the superstructure offers extensive penetration routes. When conditions are favorable, the Muliphen wreck promises a truly remarkable and rewarding diving experience.