Dive· Man-O-War Cay· Bahamas — North
USS Adirondack Wreck (Man-O-War Reef)
26° 37.1′ N · 77° 1.4′ W · approximate
The Union Navy steam sloop USS Adirondack ran onto the reef off the north-east end of Man-O-War Cay at about 4:00 am on 23 August 1862, on her way to Nassau. The scattered wreck and the heavy guns her crew threw overboard lie on the outer reef, Man-O-War's signature dive.
Practical
Position approximate: the coordinate given on Wikipedia's USS Adirondack article; Wikipedia's Man-O-War Cay article places the wreckage on the reef just north-east of the island, so treat this as a search area, not a mooring mark, and check it against your chart before going. Published depth: none found; the crew first jettisoned her 11-inch Dahlgren guns to lighten her, then spiked and dumped the rest, so expect guns and debris spread over the reef. This is open Atlantic reef: go only in light winds and low swell, by dinghy from Man-O-War's harbours through the reef gaps only with good light and local knowledge, or with a dive operator. Anchor in sand only, never on coral. Wrecks in Bahamian waters are protected; look but do not remove anything.
Best for
Historic Civil War wreck dive or snorkel on a calm day
Season
Calm days with little or no ocean swell
Nearby
- Fowl Cay Reef Preserve1.2 NM away
- Man-O-War Scopley Rock Anchorage1.3 NM away
- Albury's Sail Shop (Man-O-War)1.6 NM away
- Edwin's Boat Yard (Man-O-War)1.6 NM away
- Hibiscus Cafe (Man-O-War)1.6 NM away
- Albury Boatbuilding Heritage (Man-O-War)1.7 NM away
- Dock N' Dine (Man-O-War)1.7 NM away
- Man-O-War Cay Harbour1.7 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).