Diving with Killfish Charters

Check the chart below for diving locations of Cape San Blas, Mexico Beach, St. George Island, and Appalachicola.

Captain Eric will custom design your dive trips.  The friends and family special is an easy 2 tank dive day and includes water play and beach time for the non diver.  The benefit of the custom trips is designing something that fits into your vacation.  Captain Eric  also does the famous Empire Mica Dive. 



#1 - The "Lumber Ship", a.k.a., The "S. S. VAMAR", a.k.a., Eleanor Bolling,  Built in 1919...
[Originally christened:  "KILMARNOCK"; later renamed:  "CHELSEA"; later renamed:  "ELEANOR BOLLING"]
The remains of the old 170' lumber hauler which mysteriously sank 3/21/42 on a sunny day in 25' of water. The wreckageluding the rudder post and anchor chain rises 10' off the sandy bottom. The shallow dive and its close location to the cut make this a nice spot for a night dive and an excellent shallow water/beginner/refresher dive.  Under the command of Admiral Richard E. Bird, this was the first metal-hulled vessel to be used in Antarctic waters in his voyages to the South Pole.

#2 - The "KAISER"
The remains of a wooden tugboat in 42' of water which sank 12/31/32. The hull has broken down, but the boiler and heavy deck machinery remain. The remaining steel has an 8' profile off a 42' sandy bottom.

#3 - "Six Mile Bridge"   The scattered remains of the bridge that once crossed the Intercoastal Waterway just east of Port St. Joe.

#4 - "Willy Krause Reef"
In 60' of water.

#5 - "Bainbridge Reef Ball Site"
In 75' of water.

#6 - "Box Car Site - 2 / Mexico Beach"
Scrap Steel & Tires in 55' of water. This is an old artificial reef site that has been acquiring a variety of materials for 20 years.

#7 - "Keith Reef"
In 75' of water.

#8 - "Hathaway Bridge *17"
3 Spans, concrete decks in 60' of water.

#10 - "Sharks Hole"
A shell wall has formed by the tidal currents that sweep out of St. Joseph Bay. Miles of beautiful open beach stretch south. The bank is in 10' of water and varies in height from three to 30 feet.

#15 - The "Tower"
Metal radio tower lying on it's side in 68' of water.  This stainless steel tower has a profile of 56' off a sandy bottom.  This structure makes for a fantastic day and/or night dive. 

#16 - "Barrier Dunes Barge", a.k.a., "TL James Barge"
In 1987, a barge loaded with heavy machinery started taking on water in high seas. The tug captain headed for the beach, but the 170' barge sank short of the mark. The equipment was salvaged, but the intact barge remains in 30 feet of water. She is hard to enter as only three manhole covers are open. Currents have blown out a hole next to her side, uncovering remnants of an ancient forest.

#17 - "Gatewood Barge"
A 70' barge with steel tanks in 80' of water.  An excellent dive site. 

#18 - "Twelve Mile Barge", a.k.a., "Bill's Barge"
An old barge that flipped upside down when it sank in 80' of water. The center has collapsed, but the four corners rise six feet above the sand.

#19 - "Liberty Ship"
In 74' of water.

#20 - "C of C Reef"
Concrete rubble & prefab concrete in 40' of water.

#21 - "Jaycee Reef"
This site has been added to continually since 1968. A large number of concrete pilings, concrete culverts & scrap steel rise 2 to 3 feet off the bottom in 45' of water.

#22 - "Virginia Reef"
Bridge rubble, concrete boxes & scrap steel in 66' of water.

#23 - "Shrimper's Junkpile"
A few years back a group of Carolina shrimpers worked the area. Not being familiar with the Gulf bottom, they brought up in their nets an unusual assortment of material placed down by private fisherman to attract fish. It was collectively dumped on this site. Expect to find boat hulls, metal crates, refrigerators, stoves, concrete rubble and plenty of fish in 65' of water.

#24 - "Mexico Beach Barge" This Barge measures 250' X 80' and sits on a sandy bottom.  The deck is at 59'-60' and the port side has broken free and is lying sideways...in 70' of water. 

#35 - "Captain Jim"
A 65' Shrimp boat sits upright and intact with her outriggers extended in 110' of water. The steel vessel rises 30' off the bottom.

#36 - "Sandy Reef / 1st Load of 4"

#37 - "Sandy Reef / 2nd Load of 4"

#38 - "Sandy Reef / 3rd Load of 4"

#39 - "Sandy Reef / 4th Load of 4"
All bridge rubble in 95' of water.

#41 - "Hathaway Bridge *11 / Mexico Beach", a.k.a., "Eighteen Mile Bridge"
Steel truss spans in 108' of water. A section of the old Hathaway Bridge from Panama City was sunk in the Port St. Joe waters. The span is 165' long and rises 36 feet off the bottom.

#42 - "Old Cape San Blas Lighthouse"
The remains of the old 65' #3 lighthouse is submerged in 25' of water. The bricks nearly rise to the surface. The structure, built in 1859, was the last brick lighthouse built on the site. Its light is still in use in the steel tower on shore.

#43 - "Captain Kato"
65' Shrimp boat which burned to the waterline in 1988 lies in 65' of water.

#44 - "LST- Port St. Joe"
This old military landing craft sank during delivery in 1963 while rounding the Cape. The vessel, 75' long and 12' high, rises 10' from a 90' sandy bottom.

#45 - "Sandy Reef - 2"
In 100' of water.


Last revised: January 4, 2003
Information provided by: Ned DeLoach's: Diving Guide to UNDERWATER FLORIDA