Vitric
Wreck · Key Largo also known as vitric
24° 58.020' N 80° 18.986' W
Technical Hypoxic Trimix Max 300 ft Avg 290 ft Hot Drop
Today AMNo dive
Details
Technical Hypoxic Trimix
Minimum recommended certification
- Max depth
- 300 ft
- Average depth
- 290 ft
- Access
- Hot Drop
- Sea state today
- AMNo dive PMNo dive
Video
🎥 Michael Barnette
Where it is
24° 58.020' N 80° 18.986' W
Next boats to this site 0
No confirmed trips to this site are listed yet.
Operators that dive here
Best Gas
Gas prices
| Diluent tank | $35.50 |
| O2 tank | $10.00 |
Gas prices
| Aluminum 80 | $10 |
| Steel HP 100 | $10 |
| Steel LP 85 | $10 |
Wreck Details
Sunk March 29, 1944
Schooner
165 ftLength
35 ftBeam
Site description
In March 1944, the wooden schooner barge, known today as the Vitric or Molasses Wreck, met her fate under circumstances that remain shrouded in mystery. The vessel, owned by the National Transportation Corporation, was en route from Havana, Cuba to West Palm Beach, under tow by the tug Syosset, when disaster struck. Laden with a cargo primarily consisting of 130,000 gallons of molasses syrup, the ship succumbed to the depths, leaving behind scant traces of its once formidable structure.
For decades, the wreck lay unidentified, its existence known only through fragmented tales passed down by local fishermen. It wasn't until March 2000 that its true identity was confirmed by a dedicated team of divers affiliated with the Association of Underwater Explorers. Inspired by folklore and equipped with modern diving technology, these explorers pieced together the ship's history, unveiling a vessel lost in time and largely forgotten.
Although the Vitric Wreck remains relatively obscure compared to more accessible dive sites in the area, its historical significance and unique ecosystem continue to draw adventurous divers seeking to unravel its secrets. For those willing to brave the depths and navigate its maritime legacy, the Vitric Wreck offers a rare glimpse into a bygone era of seafaring and commerce.
Route & typical conditions
Route
Today, the Vitric Wreck rests at a depth of 300 feet off Key Largo in the Florida Keys—a site seldom visited due to its challenging conditions. Divers brave enough to descend to its chilly depths encounter remnants of its cargo holds, notably the large molasses tanks that earned the wreck its enduring nickname. These tanks, positioned on both port and starboard sides, serve as poignant reminders of the ship's ill-fated journey and subsequent demise. Despite the wreck's age and exposure to the elements, divers may still uncover scattered relics—bits of wood, rusted machinery, and portholes—interspersed among the marine life that now calls the wreck home.
Typical conditions
Due to its depth and the unpredictable nature of the currents, visiting the Vitric Wreck demands meticulous planning and favorable weather conditions. Exploring this underwater relic requires not only technical certification but also a readiness to contend with variable currents that can range from calm to fierce. Due to its depth and the unpredictable nature of the currents, visiting the Molasses Wreck demands meticulous planning and favorable weather conditions. Surface temperatures in the balmy Florida climate can sharply contrast with the cooler waters surrounding the wreck, where temperatures hover in the mid to upper 50s Fahrenheit. Experienced divers should anticipate encountering multiple thermoclines as they descend, further emphasizing the wreck's isolated and challenging environment.
Wreck history
The Vitric, a wooden schooner barge with a stern deckhouse, was originally constructed in 1911 by Robert Palmer & Son Ship Building Company in Nona, Connecticut. Measuring 165 feet in length and boasting a beam of 36 feet, the ship's early history remains largely obscure. Its true identity remained a mystery until March 2000, when a team of divers affiliated with the Association of Underwater Explorers conducted an investigation that finally unveiled its name and historical significance.
In March 1944, the Vitric met its demise under circumstances that have yet to be fully explained by historical records. What is known is that the vessel was laden with a substantial cargo at the time of its sinking, primarily consisting of 130,000 gallons of syrup. This cargo bestowed upon the wreck the moniker "Molasses Wreck," a name it carried for over six decades. Interestingly, the presence of this cargo may have also lent its name to one of Key Largo's renowned diving sites, Molasses Reef, underscoring the enduring impact of the Vitric's tragic fate on local maritime geography.
The exact details surrounding the sinking of the Vitric and the events leading up to its loss remain a subject of speculation and intrigue among maritime historians and diving enthusiasts alike. Due to its historical significance, the wreck of the Vitric continues to be a focal point for underwater exploration and a testament to the mysteries that lie beneath the ocean's surface.
The exact details surrounding the sinking of the Vitric and the events leading up to its loss remain a subject of speculation and intrigue among maritime historians and diving enthusiasts alike. Due to its historical significance, the wreck of the Vitric continues to be a focal point for underwater exploration and a testament to the mysteries that lie beneath the ocean's surface.
