USCG Duane Key Largo Florida 29 08 2019
USCG Duane:
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Duane lies upright on a sandy bottom in 120 feet of water one mile south of Molasses Reef off Key Largo.
After being decommissioned on August 1, 1985, as the oldest active U.S. military vessel, the Duane was donated to the Keys Association of Dive Operators for use as an artificial reef. On November 27, 1987, she was towed to Molasses Reef, her hatches opened, her holds pumped full of water, and down she went to begin her final assignment.
She is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
History
The Duane was built in 1936 at the U.S. Naval Yard in Philadelphia. She was a 327-foot long Treasury Class Cutter, one of seven such vessels, and was named for William J. Duane, Secretary of the Treasury under Andrew Jackson. She had various assignments before being sent to the Atlantic in 1941, where she eventually served with the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Her service included an impressive wartime and peacetime record.
On April 17, 1943, the Duane and her sister ship, the Spencer, sank the German U-boat U-77. She participated in four rescues at sea, picking up a total of 346 survivors. In 1980, she was an escort vessel for thousands of Cuban refugees coming to the United States. Her last assignments included search and rescue work and drug enforcement.
Archaeology :
On a clear day, the outline of Duane's intact hull can be seen from above. The mast and crow's nest, protruding high above the hull, can be seen at 60 feet. At 70 feet, just forward of amidships, is the navigating bridge. The superstructure deck is at 90 feet and the main deck lies at l00 feet. The hull structure, completely intact with the original rudders, screws, railings, ladders and ports makes an impressive display.
Duane Wreck | Key Largo Wreck SCUBA Diving
Duane Wreck | Key Largo Wreck SCUBA Diving
Visit the link below to learn more about scuba diving the Duane Wreck.
The Duane Wreck is one of the most popular wrecks in the Florida Keys. While it's not nearly as massive as the Spiegel Grove Wreck which rests 7 miles northeast, you can take an amazing visit on a single dive with 32% Nitrox. However, we recommend doing a double dip to really enjoy the beauty of the Duane Wreck.
History of the Duane Wreck:
The USCGC William J. Duane (WPG-33), better known as the Duane, was one of seven 327ft Coast Guard Cutters built between 1935-1936. This specific vessel's keel was laid on May 1, 1935 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. She was then launched on June 3, 1936 as a search/rescue and law enforcement vessel.
These seven vessels were known as the Treasury/Secretary Coast Guard cutters which were all named after former Secretaries of the Treasury Department. The Duane was named for William John Duane, who served as the Secretary of the Treasury under President Andrew Jackson.
The Duane served the United States Coast Guard for 49 years and became one of the oldest warship in service. After servicing the United States for nearly half a century, her age began to show. Replacement parts were nearly nonexistent and the Coast Guard decided it would be more feasible to decommission the Duane than to keep putting money into this cutter.
The Duane was decommissioned on August 1, 1985 and was laid up in Boston for two years. On November 27, 1987 the Duane was deliberately sunk of the coast of Key Largo to create this amazing artificial reef we advance open water divers get to explore! Then On May 16, 2002 the Diane Wreck was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Diving the Duane Wreck:
The amazing Duane Wreck rests upright at a maximum depth of 128ft. Her deck is around 102ft. The crow’s nest is close to 54ft and make sure to visit it as there's a hawks bill sea turtle that calls it home!
Duane Wreck | Key Largo Wreck SCUBA Diving
U.S.C.G.C. Duane Key Largo, FL
Wreck Diving on the USCGC - Duane HD1080p - Key Largo Florida - GoPro Hero4 Black
My first dive in this wreck which is one of the prime ones in Key Largo area and the USA! The dive was done on the 24th of December, just before Christmas.
History:
The USCGC Duane is a 327-foot cutter that was decommissioned on August 1st, 1985, as the oldest active U.S. military vessel that served in many duties in the North Atlantic and Viet Nam. As a convoy escort duty in 1942, served as the flag ship for Major General John O’Daniel who headed Operation Dragoon during the D-Day invasion and assisted in the sinking of a German U-Boat. The Duane has a connection to the history of the State of Florida. She served escort duty during the Mariel Boat Lift which brought thousands of Cuban Refugees to the Florida Keys in 1980. Her proudest accomplishments were the hundreds of lives saved during her service.
The Duane was sunk in 1987 and quickly became the number one wreck dive in the United States of America. She sits upright in the sand at a maximum depth of 125ft. Her deck is at 100ft. and top of the crow's nest and mast become visible just 50-60 feet below the surface. Many decks and rooms were intentionally left open to allow divers room to explore the interior of the cutter. Bring a dive light if you plan to penetrate the interior. The hull structure is completely intact with the original rudders, screws, railings, ladders and ports. You can see most any of the varied reef fish that Key Largo offers. The really exciting part of diving on the Duane is the squadron of Great Barracuda that patrol the area and the pelagic species that just might swim by such as Bull Sharks, White Sharks and the occasional Whale Shark in the early spring.
This dive is an advanced level dive with a great visibility at around 100 feet. All dive operators require either and Advanced Dive Certification with recent diving experience or to be able to show two eighty foot or deeper dives in your log book within the last 12 months.
Thank you to my friend Dudu for the recommendation!
Turtle on USCG Duane, Key Largo, FL
Turtle on USCG Duane, Key Largo, FL
Wreck dive: USCGC Duane, Key Largo, FLA March 2013
This video is combination of two days of diving on the USCGC (United States Coast Guard Cutter Duane) Duane Wreck in Key Largo, FLA. Day 1 (shout-out to dive buddy Bill from KC), diving with Ocean Divers, and Day 2 was with Horizon Divers dive charter (both are excellent Key Largo-based dive operations).
Both days were exemplary dives - viz was in the 40-60 foot range, depth profile is 90 - 120 ft, and the seas were calm. We got some decent current on the wreck one day, watch for the drift maneuver out to the tower at the end of the dive.
The conning tower is a signature of the Duane wreck and makes for a picturesque, if a bit 'otherworldly,' view at the end of the dive.
The Duane is loaded with sea-life and healthy coral growth - that combined with some fun swimthroughs makes for a truly memorable Florida Keys wreck dive!
I created this video with a GoPro 2 camera and the YouTube Video Editor (
Scuba Diving The Treasury Class US Coast Guard Cutter, The Duane | Key Largo, Florida | June 2018
Scuba Diving The Treasury Class US Coast Guard Cutter, The Duane | Key Largo, Florida | June 2018
USS Duane, Key largo, FL
Wreck dive
Key Largo, Florida; Diving the USCGC Duane - Scuba Adventure
Diving the USCGC W. Duane at Key Largo Florida.
A bit of history: - Per Wikipedia: The USCGC Duane was a cutter in the United States Coast Guard;. built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was launched on June 3, 1936 as a search and rescue and law enforcement vessel. Her construction started: May 1, 1935. and launched in June 3, 1936.
Final Duty SINKING OF BIBB & DUANE
This video is the documentary of the USCGC Bibb and Duane's final journey to become an artificial reef in the Florida Keys. Both of the ships were reefed November of 1987 off the coast of Key Largo. These ships were referred to as the Secretary or 327-foot class cutters and were all named after former Secretaries of the Treasury Department.
The USCGC Ingham which was a sister-ship was decommissioned in Portsmouth, VA May 27th 1988, and now serves as a public museum.
For more information regarding the museum go to: uscgcingham.org
For more information regarding the dive site go to:
divespots.com/scuba-diving-spots/florida/florida-keys/key-largo/spots/uscg-duane
Video Footage Credit:
CAPT CORKY OF KEY LARGO
U.S.S. Duane - Key Largo, FL
Video of the inner passage of the USS Duane in John Pennykamp National Park, Key Largo, Florida Keys
USCG Duane
Advance open water with Pirate Island Divers in Key largo Florida
I do not own the rights to any of the songs played!!
Yanni - Nostalgia
Yanni - Moments without time
Yanni - The rain must fall
120 foot dive at the USCG Duane wreck in Key Largo, Florida
This wreck dive was in Key Largo, Florida at the USCG Duane. There was great visibility that day. The USCG Duane was decommissioned as the oldest active U.S. military vessel and sits at 125 feet. The GoPro easily made it all the way down and the footage was taken without any lights.
USCG Duane
The Duane was a US Coast Guard Cutter launched in 1936 as a search and rescue and law enforcement vessel. This 327ft ship saw action in WWII and the Vietnam War, and was put down as an artificial reef in the mid 80s. The main deck of the Duane is at roughly 100ft, while the crow's nest reaches up to nearly 70ft. The hull structure is completely intact with the original rudders, screws, railings, ladders and ports. The Duane is closer to the Gulf Stream than most adjacent wrecks, which provides for exceptional visibility. Many divers call this a perfect wreck dive.
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divedocumentaries.com
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USCG Duane, Wreck Dive, Florida Keys, USA
Deep Wreck Dive on USCG Duane
Diving on the Duane Wreck Key Largo Florida
Wreck diving on the Duane in key Largo Florida. The Sea Turtle seems to be trying to scrape the barnacles of his back on the crows nest structure.
Wreckdive - USCG Duane - Key Largo - Full HD
Wreckdive USCG Duane - Key Largo - Floriada Keys
Diveschool: Rainbow Reef Dive Center.
USS Duane Key Largo Florida Dive 2
USS Duane Key Largo Florida Dive 2. I edited this video with iMovie vs Dive one with GoPro app. I think i like the iMovie better. Much easier to use. However, you lose resolution in iMovie.
USCG Cutter BIBB W 31 Ocean Station Bravo North Atlantic
USCG Cutter BIBB W 31 Ocean Station Bravo North Atlantic: Super 8 movie taken from the ship on Ocean Station Bravo in the North Atlantic in March 1967. This was a weather patrol done before the days of satellite weather. A weather balloon was launched twice a day, deep water samples were taken, rescue of other ships or airplanes were in the mission. For additional information on this trip check out the photos at :
Link updated March 2017
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