| SPONSORED IN PART BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SNORKELER | |
 |
 |
| UPDATE: We are pleased to announce the support and endorsement of EcoGuides by the Rainforest Alliance | |
EcoGuide
Florida Keys | The Thunderbolt
| CLICK
HERE FOR PDF VERSION |
The Thunderbolt
by Richard H. Stewart
AUTHOR/PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Marathon
In 1942 the USS Randolph began its career as a U.S. Army cable-laying ship and later as a lightening
research vessel for Florida Power and Light. In the 1980, while awaiting a geological survey mission, the Randolph sank at a dock on the Miami River. In 1986 the Marathon diving community purchased the vessel from a salvage company for its final assignment as an artificial reef. The Thunderbolt was sunk in March 1986.
Resting upright at 115 feet, the Thunderbolt is heavily encrusted with coral and sponges and attracts thousands of Silver-sides that school around the huge cable-laying wheel mounted on the bow. Large
Blackjacks and ominous Barracuda make the wreck their permanent home where they feed on the swarm of small fish. The Thunderbolt is fully intact making it a visually pleasing wreck dive and great for
photographers.
During the cleaning of the vessel all of the doors and hatches were removed, making it safe to penetrate the structure, swim up staircases or view the large bronze propellers at the stern.
THUNDERBOLT DIVE OPERATORS
Halls Diving, 1994 Overseas Hwy, 305.743.5929. www.HallsDiving.com
Tilden’s Diving, 4650 Overseas Hwy, 305.743.7255. www.TildensDiviing.com.
MORE READING
FEATURES |
WRECKS |
BACK TO EcoGuide FRONT | EcoDESTINATIONSDirectory.com | VOLUSIA COUNTY TOURISM INFORMATION TDC. FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES VISIT www.FloridaKeys.com FRONT or www.KeyWest.com FRONT.
EcoGuide Florida Keys is part of the EcoGuide Series published by EcoMedia & Marketing (www.EcoGuides.info, Richard H. Stewart, Founder/CEO/Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, PO Box 2388, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170. Richard@EcoMediaMarketing.com, 352.817.5893.
For editorial or advertising questions please contact:
U.S.
H.Q. EcoMedia & Marketing Group Richard Stewart CEO/Publisher/Editor-in-Chief EcoMedia & Marketing EcoMedia & Marketing - Central/South America Lucia Anreus-Hall, Managing Partner/Co-Publisher EcoMedia & Marketing - Caribbean Tim Hall, Managing Partner/Co-Publisher EcoMedia & Marketing - Pacific Sherry Sabety, Managing Partner/Co-Publisher EcoMedia & Marketing - Europe & Africa Mandy Young, Managing Partner/Co-Publisher EcoMedia & Marketing - Australasia Tanicio Ruiz , Managing Partner/Co-Publisher REGIONAL PUBLISHERS/EDITORS Lucia Anreus-Hall Regional Publisher EcoGuide Costa Rica Lucia@EcoGuideCostaRica.com Sherry Sabety Regional Publisher EcoGuide Fiji Islands Sherry@EcoGuideFiji.com Christi Allen Regional Publisher/Editor EcoGuide Florida Keys Christi@EcoGuideFloridaKeys.com Sheila Greenfield Regional Publisher/Editor EcoGuide Florida Green Lodges Sheila@EcoGuideFloridaGreenLodges.com Richard H. Stewart Regional Publisher/Editor EcoGuide Indian River Lagoon (Volusia to Indian River Counties) Owen@EcoGuideIndianRiver.com Mandy Young Regional Publisher/Editor EcoGuide Southern Africa Mandy@EcoGuideSouthernAfrica.com
|
S.A.H.Q
Guides In Development EcoGuide Florida Emerald Coast |
