USCG Cutter Duane: Historic Key Largo Wreck
This 327-foot intentionally sunken US Coast Guard Cutter joined the Florida Keys artificial reef in 1987. USCG Duane - which boasted an impressive wartime and peacetime record while in service - now serves as an anchor for corals and other critical features of our underwater ecosystems. This incredible dive site is beautifully preserved, allowing divers to cruise along the hull’s nearly intact superstructure, and investigate the main deck, and spiral up the crows nest.
If you love history, this nearly intact warship is the perfect opportunity to dive through a window to the past and experience one of Key Largo's truly unique hidden gems.
Underwater photography of USCG Cutter Duane during a guided scuba diving tour
American flag waving poetically underwater during a guided scuba trip
Barracuda seen during a deep wreck guided scuba trip in the Florida Keys
PADI scuba divers take a selfie at the historic USCG Duane shipwreck during a guided scuba diving tour
Shark swimming over the USCG Cutter Duane in Key Largo during guided scuba tour
PADI Advanced Open water scuba divers descend down onto the USCG Duane in Key Largo
USCG Duane | The Fast Facts
What Makes USCG Duane Wreck Special
What Makes USCG Duane Wreck Special
- Type: US Coast Guard Cutter
- Date of Service: 1936-1985
- Depth: 60–120 feet (21–36 meters)
- Diver Level: Advanced Open Water divers
- Currents: Moderate to heavy
- Coordinates: 24° 59.388' N and 80° 22.888' W, about 1 South of Molasses Reef in Key Largo, Florida
- Highlights: Intact hull, mast with crow's nest, and original rudders, propellers, railings, ladders, and ports
- Great for: Underwater photography and those who love history
What Makes USCG Duane Wreck Special
What Makes USCG Duane Wreck Special
What Makes USCG Duane Wreck Special
The USCG Duane is one of the most popular dive sites in the Florida Keys, sitting upright in 120 feet of clear blue water just south of Molasses Reef. Divers can explore the ship’s towering mast at 60 feet, swim through the bridge at 70 feet, and take in the vibrant marine life that now calls this artificial reef home. With its impressive size and excellent visibility, the Duane offers an unforgettable underwater experience for advanced divers.
With a storied past that includes World War II convoy escorts, U-boat chases, and Cuban refugee rescues, the Duane is not only a vibrant reef but also an underwater museum and a registered historic place.
A Thriving Ecosystem At USCG Duane
What Makes USCG Duane Wreck Special
A Thriving Ecosystem At USCG Duane
Diving the Duane offers not just an incredible wreck experience, but also a chance to encounter a thriving community of marine life.
Nurse sharks and Caribbean reef sharks are often seen cruising around the hull, while lucky divers might spot graceful eagle rays gliding past or sea turtles drifting effortlessly through the water. Schools of snapper, grunts, and angelfish dart through the ship’s passageways, and colorful anemones cling to the railings and decks. Grouper often lurk in the shadows of the lower levels, adding to the sense of mystery and life that surrounds this vibrant artificial reef.
From Sea Duty to Sea Floor: The Life of the Duane
Commissioned in 1936, the USCG Duane is a 327-foot Treasury-class cutter built for long-range missions. She began her career on the West Coast and later moved to the Atlantic, where she conducted Grand Banks patrols and escorted convoys during World War II. In 1943, Duane helped sink the German U-boat U-77 and rescued dozens of survivors from torpedoed ships.
Following the war, Duane served in a wide range of roles -from weather patrols in the North Atlantic to command duties during the Allied invasion of southern France. In 1980, she escorted vessels carrying thousands of Cuban refugees to the U.S. during the Mariel boatlift. Her final years were spent on search and rescue and drug enforcement missions before being decommissioned in 1985 as the oldest active military vessel in the country.
Now resting peacefully beneath the waves, the Duane offers divers the rare chance to explore a living piece of maritime history.
Know Before You Go! USCG Duane Safety Guide
USCG Duane | What to Expect
USCG Duane | Depth and Buoyancy
USCG Duane | Depth and Buoyancy
When you dive the USCG Duane with Sail Fish Scuba, you're not just getting a tour - you’re diving with seasoned professionals who know this wreck inside and out. We help you enjoy the best of Key Largo scuba diving safely and confidently.
Our experienced scuba diving team closely monitors sea conditions before every dive. We provide all guests with a full dive briefing that includes current direction, descent techniques, and a safe dive plan for exploring this legendary Florida Keys wreck dive.
Before every USCG Duane dive, your dive guide will lead a full safety briefing covering entry and exit procedures, current direction, air management, and emergency protocols. We will also check in with you throughout the dive to confirm air pressure, dive time, and comfort levels, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience at one of the most iconic wreck dives in the Florida Keys.
USCG Duane | Depth and Buoyancy
USCG Duane | Depth and Buoyancy
USCG Duane | Depth and Buoyancy
The USCG Duane shipwreck is quite deep, which means air consumption increases quickly and bottom time must be managed carefully. We advise all divers to follow the rule of thirds—reserving one-third of your air for emergencies—and recommend diving with Enriched Air Nitrox to extend their no-decompression limits. A dive computer is required, and our guides will help you monitor your depth, air, and ascent rate throughout the dive.
Exploring this magnificent battleship offers an unforgettable Florida wreck diving experience, but also requires strong buoyancy skills and awareness. The ship may contain sharp edges, silt, and rusty features. If you are not sure about your buoyancy skills, check out our PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy course.
USCG Duane | Navigating The Current
USCG Duane | Navigating The Current
USCG Duane | Navigating The Current
One of the main factors divers must be prepared for when diving USCG Duane is the strong and shifting ocean current. Even on calm-weather days, this offshore site can be deceptively “sporty” beneath the surface, at the surface, or both.
We use a surface line system that includes a trail line from the stern of our dive boat, a granny (wreck) line leading to the mooring buoy, and a mooring line that descends directly to the wreck. This line system makes it easier and safer for divers to reach the wreck and return without consuming air in their tanks (given they use their snorkels while surface-swimming), especially when currents are active or surface conditions are sporty.
We advise all divers to stay connected to the line system at all times—never let go of one line without first securing a hand grip on the next. Our dive crew will guide you in moving hand-over-hand from the trail line to the granny line, guiding you safely toward the mooring. If the boat is swinging with the waves, maintain a slight distance from the hull by holding the line and swimming slightly outward.
Once you're on the mooring line, grab it securely, fully deflate your BCD, breathe from your regulator and begin a controlled descent. We emphasize buddy contact and using a hand-over-hand technique to reach the USCG Duane shipwreck smoothly and safely.
When you arrive at the wreck, take a moment to assess the underwater current. At Sail Fish Scuba, we often guide dives that begin against the current, allowing you to finish the dive gliding along, with the current assisting you back toward your exit point. This dive strategy helps conserve both air and energy, while maximizing your Key Largo diving experience.
USCG Duane | Wreck Diving Tips
USCG Duane | Navigating The Current
USCG Duane | Navigating The Current
When diving the historic USCG Duane in Key Largo, having the right gear is essential for safety, comfort, and maximizing your underwater adventure. At Sail Fish Scuba, we recommend every diver come prepared with essential equipment to ensure a smooth and responsible dive.
An underwater slate is useful for communicating with your buddy, sketching features of the wreck, or noting points of interest during your dive.
A powerful dive light enhances your view of the wreck’s darker corners, helping you spot hidden marine life and appreciate the Spiegel Grove's impressive structure.
Durable, gloves protect your hands from sharp edges, barnacles, and rusted surfaces on this massive shipwreck (remember: gloves are for your protection. They are not to be used to touch marine life or the wreck).
For signaling, bring a surface marker buoy (SMB) to mark your position for the boat crew and a whistle for surface communication in case of strong current or low visibility.
We also recommend checking out our Florida fish ID cards or marine life guides available at Sail Fish Scuba to help identify the amazing species you’ll encounter around this thriving artificial reef.
Unlock Nitrox For Your Next Dive
Maximize your time on this historic Key Largo deep wreck dive by using Enriched Air Nitrox. With a PADI Nitrox certification, enjoy extended bottom times and shorter surface intervals — ideal for fully exploring the USCG Duane shipwreck, one of Florida’s top advanced scuba diving sites.
sailfishscuba.com
103100 Overseas Highway #33 Key Largo, FL 33037