Explore the historic City of Washington shipwreck with Sail Fish Scuba in Key Largo, Florida. Located at Elbow Reef within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, this shallow wreck sits at depths of approximately 20–32 feet, making it a great dive site for beginners and experienced divers alike. Much of the wreckage is scattered across the seafloor, with recognizable features such as drive shaft arches and engine mounts still visible today.
The remains of the City of Washington are now home to a variety of marine life, with corals, sea fans, and sponges growing across the wreckage. Schools of tropical fish, barracuda, and nurse sharks are commonly seen around the site. Between its maritime history, shallow depths, and abundant marine life, the City of Washington is one of Key Largo's most interesting shallow wreck dives.
Join Sail Fish Scuba for a small-group, guided scuba diving trip to explore the City of Washington and the surrounding reefs of Key Largo.
Sail Fish Scuba, a premier PADI Five-Star Dive Center in Key Largo, offers small-group, guided scuba diving trips to the City of Washington shipwreck, with a maximum 7:1 diver-to-guide ratio. At depths of 20–32 feet, this shallow wreck is suitable for beginners and experienced divers, with opportunities to encounter barracuda, moray eels, nurse sharks, and other marine life.
Join Sail Fish Scuba for a small-group, guided scuba diving trip to the historic City of Washington shipwreck in Key Largo. Every recreational dive includes an in-water professional guide and complimentary underwater photos.
Explore the remains of a vessel grounded in 1917.
A beginner-friendly wreck dive with shallow depths ideal for newer divers.
Discover fish, corals, and other reef inhabitants.
The City of Washington shipwreck is home to a variety of marine life, including barracuda, nurse sharks, moray eels, parrotfish, and schools of tropical fish. Over time, the wreckage has become an artificial reef, providing habitat for corals, sponges, and other marine species.
The City of Washington has a fascinating history that dates back to 1877, when the iron-hulled steamship was built in Chester, Pennsylvania. Originally designed to transport passengers and cargo between New York, Cuba, and Mexico, the approximately 300-foot vessel spent decades traveling the Caribbean before eventually becoming one of Key Largo's most recognizable historic shipwrecks.
One of the most significant moments in the ship's history occurred on February 15, 1898, when the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, an event that helped lead to the Spanish-American War. The City of Washington was anchored nearby and sustained damage from flying debris. Its crew immediately assisted in rescuing survivors from the Maine, bringing injured sailors aboard for medical attention. The vessel later served as a troop transport during the Spanish-American War.
After returning to commercial service, the City of Washington was retired in 1908 and eventually converted into a coal barge in 1911. On July 10, 1917, while being towed toward Cuba, the vessel ran aground on Elbow Reef off Key Largo. Unlike the accompanying tugboat and barge, which were eventually freed, the City of Washington could not be recovered and was declared a total loss.
Today, the remains rest in approximately 25 feet of water within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Although much of the original structure has collapsed, divers can still explore sections of the iron hull, engine mounts, and drive shaft tunnel. More than a century after its sinking, the City of Washington is both a historic landmark and a thriving marine habitat, offering divers a chance to explore an important piece of maritime history beneath the waters of Key Largo.
There’s so much to see underwater when you slow down and look closely. Keep your eyes open for the little details—tiny creatures tucked into the reef, fish hiding in plain sight, and marine life you might swim right past if you’re not paying attention. Sometimes the smallest discoveries make the best dives.
Key Largo Scuba Diver joins small group tour at the City of Washington
The City of Washington sank on Elbow Reef in 1917 and today rests in about 30 feet of water, making it one of Key Largo’s most accessible historic wreck dives.
The historic City of Washington wreck is a great site for PADI Wreck Specialty training and Advanced Open Water courses.
Small group scuba diving tours in Key Largo's National Marine Sanctuary at City of Washington wreck
Over time, the City of Washington wreck has become part of the reef itself, with coral growing across its remains and marine life gathering throughout the wreckage. Its shallow depth gives divers plenty of time to slow down, explore, and discover the details hidden throughout this historic Key Largo wreck.
Discover Key Largo scuba diving with Sail Fish Scuba, a small, family-run PADI 5-Star Dive Center offering daily guided trips to the Florida Keys’ coral reefs and historic wrecks. Whether you’re trying scuba for the first time, working toward your PADI certification, or an experienced diver looking to explore more of Key Largo, our focus is on small groups, personal attention, safety, and plenty of time in the water.
Since 2012, Sail Fish Scuba has welcomed divers from around the world to experience what makes diving in Key Largo so special. Our guests often describe our crew as patient, knowledgeable, professional, and welcoming, with many saying their dives feel more like diving with friends than being part of a crowded charter. Every recreational scuba trip includes a PADI dive professional in the water at no additional charge, along with complimentary underwater photos and videos so you can enjoy the dive while we capture the memories.
From shallow coral reefs filled with tropical marine life to some of Key Largo’s best-known wrecks, we’re here to help you experience the Florida Keys one dive at a time.
Small-Group Guided Scuba Diving Trips in Key Largo
Daily recreational dive trips with an in-water PADI guide and complimentary underwater photos and videos
Open Daily in Key Largo
PADI Courses in Key Largo
Learn to scuba dive or continue your training in a small-group setting with experienced PADI dive professionals
Hours of Operation
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Private Dive and Snorkel Charters in Key Largo
Plan a private Key Largo dive or snorkel charter to the City of Washington, tailored to your group’s experience and interests
"Creating Dive Memories Since 2012"
.png/:/)