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Key Largo Chamber Of Commerce News

11 Jun 2002

Resolve Sinks Spiegel Grove on the Side

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Resolve Marine Group concluded its salvage work on the 510-ft. retired Navy vessel that prematurely sunk off the coast of Key Largo, Fla., on May 17 before crews could scuttle it to create the world's largest artificial reef. The Resolve team sank the ship on June 10 at 6:35 p.m. (EST) on its starboard side, according to Rob Bleser, project director for the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce Artificial Reef Committee. The vessel, which is currently lying on its side at the bottom of 130 ft. of water, was sunk with the assistance of two tugboats providing 110 tons of pull and a series of 70 inflatable lift bags, attached to certain areas of the vessel's port side to provide approximately 500 tons of buoyancy.

07 Aug 2002

Spiegel Grove: Saved to be Sunken

It was supposed to be the world's largest artificial coral reef for scuba diving, located off the coast of Key Largo. More than eight years ago, a group of divers from the area devised a plan to sink a 510-ft. (155.4-m) retired Dock Landing Ship (LSD) to the bottom of 130 ft (39.6 m). of water. For the next several years, Spiegel Grove became Key Largo Chamber of Commerce's pet project. With various local dive shops, businesses and dedicated individuals participating in this venture, the vessel, which had been decommissioned in 1989, was towed last June from the James River Reserve Fleet, to a shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., so that workers could ready the vessel for its intentional sinking.